While organisers label it the ‘social' side of the sport, beach hockey teams might have something to say about this ahead of the third annual National Beach Hockey Championships.

This weekend Mount Maunganui's Main Beach once again hosts the sand-based sporting action with teams ditching the shin pads and mouth guards for sea-side hockey glory.

Event organiser Kate Savory, Midlands and NZ Junior Blacksticks player Hamish McGeorge and Midlands coach Lincoln Churchill get in some practice ahead of this weekend's National Beach Hockey Championships. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Plus a change in format sees the championships shortened to a one-day event, increasing the number of registered teams compared to last year.

'We have 14 teams coming from Auckland and Hamilton, and a few local teams, which is quite nice,” say event co-organiser Kate Savory.

Throw a couple of Blacksticks in the mix – Richard Petherick, Nick Woods and James Coughlin – and tomorrow promises to be an action-packed day from 10am-7pm with teams playing at least four 10-minute games apiece, with spot prizes and activities on offer for the crowds.

Beach hockey is a five-aside game played inside an inflatable boundary, where players use smaller sticks and the ball is a smaller version of a football, allowing for more aerial play and juggling.

Kate says the game is 'full on” and teams opting to relinquish a goalie positon makes it even more exciting.

'Its good exposure for hockey in general, bringing a social side to the game,” she says. 'It's becoming quite competitive from a young age but this shows anyone can be involved.”

After tomorrow's national action Sunday offers a chance for families and anyone interested to try hockey for themselves from 11am-3pm, with all equipment supplied.

And adding to sport festivities on Saturday at Mount Main Beach is the return of Beach Rugby 5s NZ, following its first outing in 2014.

As with beach hockey, the rugby version promotes a strong social flavour coinciding with pre-season club rugby – a great opportunity for clubs to get teams together, check players' fitness and engage in team bonding.

Event organiser Melita Martorana says sevens might have become very high performance now with a pathway to Olympic fame, but beach rugby is still a great day under the sun having fun.

The game is played under official World Rugby rules and is very popular in Europe and South America.

Melita says: 'We'll be looking to partner with some international events this year and Kiwi teams might fly and play beach rugby in some exotic locations in the future.

'At the moment we're focused on spreading the word of beach rugby in NZ.”

The Beach 5s NZ starts at 9.30am with the final at 6pm.