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10A • July 8, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Miami’s Lucas Roque, left, Portland’s Matthew LaPlante, center, and Washington D.C.’s Chris Dove, right, get their kicks during the Team USA Footvolley qualifying fi nal. DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP FOOTVOLLEY FLIES IN SEASIDE By Eli Stillman EO Media Group While July will bring the track and fi eld Olympic Trials to Eugene, in late June Orego- nians got to witness another national qualifying competi- tion in Seaside. Teams of two came to the beach and faced off in footvol- ley tournament play to see who will represent America later this year. The hybrid sport that mixes soccer and beach vol- leyball will be featured at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro as a demonstration event. On April 7, Brazilian sen- ator and ambassador of the sport, Romário Faria, released a statement saying, “We will have footvolley during the Olympics and Paralympics this year. But please remain calm. It will be more of a cultural event and not an offi cial competition. Nevertheless it will be an ex- cellent opportunity to present footvolley to the world.” Rules for the sport follow standard beach volleyball fair- ly closely. However, unlike volley- ball, players aren’t allowed to use their hands or arms. This is where the soccer infl uence comes into play, as they put together combinations using their legs, chests and heads. Teams are allowed three touch- es per possession, and attempt to get the ball over the net and DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP Miami’s Lucas Roque makes a kick mid-air during the Team USA Footvolley qualifying fi nal. Team Miami defeated Team Los Angeles 2-1 and will represent the U.S. footvolley team as a demonstration sport in Rio. land in their opponents’ bound- aries. Each rally for points begins after one team serves the ball to the other side by kicking it off of a mound of sand on the backline. Utilizing different parts of the body to control the ball can set up more strategic returns for teammates, as they dive around the court and try keep the ball in the air. Instead of spikes, like in volleyball, the most tactical hit is called a “shark attack, where a player goes upside down in the air to slam the ball down with their foot. Footvolley was created in Rio in response to their na- tional sport of soccer being banned on the beaches. Play- ers would kick around a ball until police showed up, and then would start volleying it over the net to stay out of trouble. Eventually, the game caught on and players start- ed setting up boundaries and creating offi cial rules. Because of the foot skills and juggling it requires, most ootvolley players have a strong background in soc- cer. Sergio Menezes, president of the U.S. Footvolley Asso- ciation and competitor in the weekend tournament, said the organization chose Seaside to show the sport to the Pacifi c Northwest. “We’ve never had any competitions or events here before and really wanted to plant the seed,” he said. Teams for the weekend’s tournament came from all across America, including places like: Miami, Santa Cruz, California, and even Washing- ton, D.C., but Menezes’ plan has already started to take root. One pair of Oregonians made the trip to Seaside and tried out the sport for their fi rst time. Felyx Tsoi and Matt LaPlant are former club soc- cer players at University of Portland. While still involved in beach matches and pickup games, they found out about footvolley only a week before and decided to give it a shot. “The community was great, but it’s tough playing a new sport against some top ath- letes,” said Tsoi. “Portland is a big soccer city, but it still has room for the sport to grow,” said LaPlant, “We just need more people to get out playing on the beach.” The qualifying match served as the Northwest’s fi rst taste of footvolley, but with television coverage and expo- sure expected from the Olym- pic hype, the sport is poised to grow. Road to Rio: Top footvolley qualifi ers head to Olympics EO Media Group DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP Team Northern California’s Cody Pillion bounces the ball off his chest during the Team USA Footvolley quali- fying matches. Only two female teams competed in the Team USA Footvolley qualifying match- es in Seaside, so the players rotated partners and tallied the results for the title of “Queen of the Court.” In the end, Melony Poviones of Miami and Leah Morales of Oakland, Califor- nia, proved to be the best pair and will make the trip across the world for a demonstration event of the sport at the summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero. Both are former collegiate soccer players but have never played at this level of compe- tition. “There’s really nothing better than getting to travel and continue doing what you love ,” Poviones said. Six male pairs faced off over the weekend for the op- portunity to represent America in Rio de Janeiro. While Sergio Menez- es serves as president of the U.S. Footvolley Association, he also was on the winning team of the beach battle. His partner, Lucas Roque, is a na- tive to Brazil and has played soccer professionally, as well as with the U.S. indoor team. “I’ve played many tourna- ments with big prizes before,” Roque said after the tourna- ment. “But this chance … who doesn’t want to play in the Olympics?” DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP Fans react during the Team USA Footvolley qualifying fi nal. Team Miami defeated Team Los Angeles 2-1 and will represent the U.S. Footvolley team as a demonstra- tion sport in Rio. STAYING FIT IN THE POOL Instructor Zoe Manhire has ‘a passion for aquatic fi tness’ By Susan Romersa For Seaside Signal Following a program of aquatic therapy can have some positive effects on your body’s systems and can en- hance your mental well-be- ing at the same time. Aquatic classes are currently available several times per week at the Sunset Empire Pool & Rec- reation’s warm water pool taught by instructor Zoe Man- hire. It is the only warm water indoor pool in Clatsop Coun- ty. Manhire was hired as rec- reation manager in 1998 by then-director Mary Blake. Manhire was introduced to this warm water therapy when she injured her knee and de- veloped arthritis in that knee. “I was working at the pool and found that the warm wa- ter helped me a great deal,” Manhire said. She eventually became certifi ed as an aquatic fi t- ness professional through the Aquatic Exercise Association in Portland; and in 2013, went on to develop a series of class- es at the Sunset pool which include aquatic yoga, Pilates for aquatic fi tness and ai chi. Ai chi is a described as a wa- ter-based total body strength- ening and relaxation progres- sion that combines tai chi, qi gong, and watsu techniques performed in chest deep water using a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements of the arms, legs, and torso. Participants began to see better body tone and strength. With tai chi and Pilates, they were developing core strength, balance, and relax- ation. Aqua yoga challenges the body, mind and spirit for healing and stress relief. “We can give you modifi cations to work with each level,” Man- hire said. Manhire has worked with stroke patients who start out addition,” she says, “we do have an actual arthritis exer- cise class for those with lim- ited mobility.” Providence Hospital Re- habilitation Services uses the warm water pool to work one- on- one with aquatic physical therapy patients. Aqua yoga SUBMITTED PHOTO Instructor Susan Manhire leads a class at the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation Department pool in Seaside. by holding on to the edge of the pool and slowly let the water’s buoyancy guide them in their movements. It is the safest form of exercise, she says. It connects the brain with the body. “I have a passion for aquatic fi tness,” she adds. She mentions too that children fi nd the warm water calming. Manhire says that her son has attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder and and sensory is- sue. Working with him in the warm water is soothing, and he feels good when he is done. The water fi tness classes have helped many with the chronic pain of certain conditions. “In Practicing yoga in warm water can provide a number of benefi ts. It acts as a safeguard against any injuries that will most likely occur on land. The buoyancy of water can reduce your “weight” by about 90 percent, Manhire said, which reduces stress on joints and connective tissue. Water decreases the amount of shock which is transmitted through the bones/joints/ligaments on land activities, while in chest- deep water. The movements of your hands and legs be- come smoother in water and therefore your body will not experience the strain. Aqua yoga takes place when water temperature is 29 to 34 degrees C. This reaction is thought to lessen pain sensitivity, stimu- late the immune system, aid lymphatic drainage, increase blood circulation and leave you both physically and men- tally relaxed. When you are immersed up to your neck, only about 15 pounds of compressive force is exerted on your spine, hips, and knees. This bene- fi ts people with degenerative diseases such as fi bromyal- gia, ligament instability, car- tilage breakdown, or obesity. It helps the lungs get stronger and improves cardiovascular health too. Manhire directs those who would like to re- search water yoga more thor- oughly to visit aqua4balance. com. For class schedules, visit sunsetempire.com or call 503- 738-3311.
