Thailand International Soccer 7s are invitational football tournaments that are held in many key cities of the country. The main thrust of these championships is leisure and sport. It aims to promote camaraderie among soccer vets, enthusiasts, and even tourists who simply want to have some fun while staying in the land of smiles. There is no prize money at stake. Players come together simply for the love of soccer, and for the fun and excitement of mingling with people from different cultural and racial backgrounds.

Thailand's Soccer 7s is a slight innovation to the traditional football game. Like a usual soccer game, it is still played following the FIFA Laws besides a few exceptions, such as the offside rule and tradeoffs of players. Unlike soccer, which is conventionally played by 11 players, soccer 7s is played as the name suggests, with only seven players on the pitch. The 7-minute halves rule also makes it a faster, more action packed version of its classic predecessor.

Soccer 7s is something that everybody can enjoy and numerous tournaments are opened for players of all age. There are categories for the veterans, with each team composed of players older than 35 or 40. There is also an open category, where each group consists of any age from 18 years old players. Teams are invited to join, but those who do not belong to a team may also register by themselves and get drafted into teams that are short of players.

The Soccer 7s tournament started gaining popularity during the late nineties. The first international tournament was held last 2003. Since then, many soccer enthusiasts and curious tourists flock together into Thailand's different cities like Phuket, Bangkok, and Pattaya in order to witness and participate in this novel way of playing the world's favorite sport. Some of these tournaments attract more than 40 teams each year from countries in Asia, Europe and Australia. Even more players are expected to take part as this new sport craze takes hold of adventurous football lovers all over the world.

The buzz concerning Soccer 7s is not entirely just because of the game itself. Since there is great emphasis on leisure and socialization, a long string of parties throughout the tournament is part of the package. There are opening parties, awarding nights, evening parties and other social gatherings to let players mingle with each other and make friends. And of course, the tournaments are held in beautiful resort cities that will surely make the stay worthwhile.

Seeing this growing national attraction, the organizers in Thailand has made things even better. They are now also offering the best Soccer 7s training camp deals. Interested amateur or professional parties who want to train in an amazing and different environment, or play friendly practice games, may sign up for a training camp.

Another good thing about these training camps is that they offer a complete package deal. Aside from getting training venues, balls and PA sound systems, they also need not worry about meals and hotel accommodations any longer. They are all covered in the deal so that participants have nothing else to do but to have their fill of fun. To top it off, they also get great evening parties throughout the duration of the camps.

A fresh way to enjoy a well-loved classic sport, endless get-together, great training camp deals, global group of friends ' these things make Soccer 7s a hot foreign attraction. If you have not gone to one, you have not gone to Thailand!

>> Michel Gerard is an expat author located in Asia. Visit the Thai Soccer 7's website to learn more about the Thailand International Soccer 7's tournaments and soccer training camps in Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya. => http://www.thai7s.com