By CHRISTOPHER A. VITO

Shannon MacMillan knows soccer.

Sand soccer? Now, that's a bit of a mystery to her.

The mystery could be solved this weekend, however, when she steps onto the Boardwalk in Virginia Beach and looks out over the North American Sand Soccer Championships.

The former women's U.S. national team star will preside as the celebrity guest of the three-day tournament, which expects 100,000 players and spectators to descend upon the region starting today.

This won't be MacMillan's first sand soccer event, but it will be the largest. Last month, she attended an event in California that drew 200 teams.

"It's probably easier to learn than traditional soccer because you always see adults and kids playing soccer on the beach," MacMillan said.

The newly retired MacMillan said she hopes to assemble a sand soccer team next summer near her home.

"Soccer has been very good to me over the years," she said. "It's what I did for a living. So now it's my time to give back."

Sand soccer has developed a worldwide appeal, partly due to the offense it generates. While the outdoor game tends to be filled with 1-0 and 2-1 games, sand soccer games are as likely to produce 7-5 or 8-4 outcomes.

"This isn't just for soccer aficionados," Whalen said. "It's an opportunity for people to grab their buddies, butt heads and play soccer in the sand."

As if 57 fields of soccer action aren't enough to whet the appetite of the spectators, sand versions of flag football and wrestling are being offered again, and rugby is being introduced. A kids soccer clinic and a fireworks display are among the other attractions.

The highlight of the weekend's festivities is the U.S. Open. The Hampton Roads Soccer Council All-Stars, which lost in last year's final, consists largely of former college soccer standouts from the area. Joe Ruddy, the team's coach, will direct the squad against teams from outside the region.

One team in particular - Team Rio, the two-time defending U.S. Open champion - will pose a significant threat to Ruddy's team. Rio coach Roberto Ceciliano has stacked his squad with players from the U.S. national team, which he also heads.

Sunday's championship game may create more sparks than the fireworks display scheduled for tonight.

Want to Go?

When: Tonight through Saturday

Where: Virginia Beach Oceanfront; 17th to 34th streets.

Who: More than 8,500 players representing 825 teams in an array of skill and age levels.

Christopher Vito, (757) 446-2630,
christopher.vito@pilotonline.com