Playing for the US Beach National Team

Last summer I was introduced to Chris Toth, a third–generation soccer player and the starting goalkeeper for the USA Men’s Beach Soccer Team. Although I have had prior instances where I’ve seen highlights of professional beach soccer on FIFA’s YouTube, I never realized the sport’s popularity and progression within the United States. It wasn’t until I met Chris, that I realized how fast paced and exciting the beach soccer really is.

The following is an excerpt from my interview with Chris Toth while training with MOALIFC at San Deigo’s Mission Beach.

What’s your name and where do you play?

My name is Chris Toth, I play for the San Diego Sockers and the US Beach National Team.

What is it like playing for the US Beach National Team?

Oh there’s nothing like it, it’s amazing. When you can go and represent your country around the world and just play and compete in these tournaments and play against some of the highest level players that beach soccer has to offer, it’s amazing.

How did you adjust to beach soccer coming from playing in traditional field soccer?

The physical aspect of it was pretty difficult. Knowing where you have to be to play a full game. Then also reacting to the sand as a goalkeeper, trying to make saves off the sand it can get challenging. Also the footwork, scooping the ball, passing the ball, playing the ball out of the air, that’s probably the most difficult challenge of the whole thing.

How was the session [training with MOALIFC] today?

The session today was good. A little challenging at the start, but I thought we finished pretty strong at the end.

What was your favorite drill [training with MOALIFC] today?

My favorite drill was probably juggling the ball out and away from the goal, biking it back into the goal, I thought that was pretty beat.

How did you get started playing soccer?

Well my dad was always a pretty big influence for me. He was a professional goalkeeper for the Hungarian National Team and then transferred over, played in The States, played for the San Diego Sockers, made a name here. So he was always idol and I always had those shoes to fill. I’m trying to do that.

What has been your biggest career success so far?

Probably the biggest success I’ve ever had was qualifying for the 2013 [Beach] World Cup in Tahiti. That was an experience like no other. My whole family went across and watched the games. There’s nothing bigger than a World Cup.

What was the atmosphere like at the 2013 Beach World Cup in Tahiti?

The atmosphere was unbelievable. We played Tahiti there in the second match in the Group Stage and that was the craziest environment I’ve ever played in.

Do you have any advice for kids trying to make it professionally in soccer?

Everybody says it but; practice, you just have to put that extra work in and it will pay off.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Five years from now I still see myself playing beach soccer, living here in San Diego and just playing man, playing and teaching.

About Me:

My name is Zeyu M Wang, I create one-on-one interviews with some of the world’s top footballers and athletes from various leagues and locations, including the Barclays Premier League, German Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivisie, Major League Soccer, and Thai Premier League. I have worked with players such as Achraf Hakimi, Gokhan Inler, Dominick Calvert-Lewin and many more.

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