Cruyff Courts stage 6v6 world championship

Johan Cruyff graced the 1974 FIFA World Cup with his brilliance as the Netherlands took the runners-up berth. His achievements in football also brought him the UEFA President's Award for 2013. Now the Dutch great's Cruyff Foundation – recipient of last year's UEFA Monaco Charity Award – has celebrated this year's World Cup tournament in Brazil with its own Cruyff Courts 6v6 world championship.

Teams from the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Spain, Israel, Malaysia and Brazil competed in the Cruyff Courts 6v6 world tournament in Amsterdam earlier this month. The championship was open to boys and girls between the ages of ten and 12. Spain beat the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out in the girls' final, while Denmark overcame their Dutch opponents in the boys' showpiece.

More than 20,000 boys and girls participated worldwide in preliminary rounds of the Cruyff Courts 6v6 championship at their own Cruyff Court – which are small artificial pitches – with subsequent regional and national rounds followed by the world final round. The event in Amsterdam also saw the young players enjoy a variety of activities, including a canal boat tour through the city and a visit to the Nemo science museum.

"Cruyff Courts 6v6 is about making a connection between all Cruyff Courts around the world," the foundation said. "The Cruyff Courts are similar in appearance and everyone plays by the same rules. The championship allows us to make a connection between young players who frequently visit the Cruyff Court in their neighbourhood, their supervisors and the Johan Cruyff Foundation."

There are some 190 Cruyff Courts worldwide, and UEFA's €1m charity award is helping the Cruyff Foundation to construct more courts – therefore giving more and more young people ideal facilities where they can play and, with expert supervision, learn to take responsibility and develop personally.

The Cruyff Foundation continues to help nurture the mental and physical well-being of children and young people by encouraging them to enjoy football. The foundation creates safe places for youngsters to practise sport and organises events to stimulate play and education.

Respect is one of 14 rules promoted by the Cruyff Foundation – in line with the No14 shirt which Johan Cruyff wore with such distinction for AFC Ajax and the Dutch national side. In Amsterdam, the Respect Awards for the most sporting teams were won by the girls of Israel and boys from Brazil.