Thousands of spectators are expected to flock to the Bayfront to watch the five-on-five soccer tournament.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas โ Among those closely watching the weather this weekend are those with the Express Soccer Club, which is hosting its 18th annual tournament at Magee Beach.
Organizers say they are preparing for extreme heat as well as crowds expected to draw between 3,000 and 5,000 people to the event.
Held on the sands of McGee Beach, what sets this soccer festival apart from other soccer festivals is the beautiful views of Corpus Christi Bay.
Twelve-year-old Julian Flores shows off his nimble footwork as he prepares to compete in his first beach tournament.
“It's a very unique tournament, so I'm excited to be playing on the beach,” Flores said.
Jose Valadez returns after helping the team win last year.
RELATED: Hot, humid and rainy weekend; stronger surf at area beaches; Saharan dust arriving on Sunday
“You don't always see beach tournaments of the size of the Corpus tournament and the traction it brings, so this is pretty unique,” Valdez said.
Each athlete prepares in their own way, but they all know how important it is to stay hydrated before and during big events.
“I drink water every day,” Flores said.
“Drink water, wear sunscreen and ask for substitutions when you can,” said Jayden Castro, another player.
“We can't tolerate players not staying hydrated or not playing to their full potential,” Valadez said.
Players were among those helping to set up the goals and measure the boundaries of the unique soccer field built on the sand.
RELATED: Certain Medications May Increase Sensitivity to Heat | What to Watch Out For
More than 165 teams from across the state will participate in the 5-on-5 competition.
“The majority of them are from the Odessa/Midland, San Angelo area,” Deelin Torres said.
Torres is president of Express Soccer Club, which has grown the sport to its current size, running soccer leagues for children as young as 6 years old to adults up to 44 years old.
“The first year it was held in North Beach and it was a big tournament with 13 teams,” she said. “The players who were in that first tournament are now under 30 and under 40 years old.”
The breakwater steps will have dedicated stadium seating.
While the breeze off the bay will provide some relief from the hot summer sun, Torres knows the heat can be tough on the players.
“We limit the time between matches to five to six hours, giving them time to refresh, cool down and replenish electrolytes and fluids,” she said.
Cold drinks will be available and event organizers will be sending out reminders for players to drink.
“They should have been activated two days ago,” Torres said. “The biggest thing is making sure they have first aid in place. That the women firefighters are on the scene and know what to do when it gets hot.”
The event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and runs until 8 p.m.
It is free and open to the public.