The 2011 Major Beach Soccer National Championships Presented by UMBRO, is set to kick off Dec. 17 and 18 at Clearwater Beach.

Eight men’s teams and four women’s teams play 36 minute, five-on-five games in competition to be the first Major Beach Soccer national champions.

The teams qualified through a series of summer tournaments held across the country including one in July in Clearwater.

High-flying bicycle kicks are just some of the popular moves fans will see often throughout the tournament, thanks to the cushion of the powdery white beach. Because the boundary of the beach soccer playing surface is significantly smaller along with smaller goals, the game moves at a frantic pace.

Check here for the full groups and schedules. The teams include: 

Men’s Finalists

• Dirty Sand, Daytona Beach
• ESPN Deportes, Tampa
• Florida Beach Soccer FC, Miami
• Quick Hands Galacticos, Grand Haven, Michigan 
• Sons of a Beach, Cleveland, Ohio
• Team Calvary, St. Petersburg
• Team SLFD, Michigan
• Team Spartan, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Women’s Finalists

• Lakeland Reality, Lakeland
• No Names, Orange City  
• Peace Passers, Charlotte, North Carolina  
• Soccer in the Sand, San Diego, California

If you go:

What: Major Beach Soccer National Championship

When: starting at 9 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 17) and at 8 a.m. Sunday (Dec. 18)

Where: Pier 60