Parks and Rec to hold 2017 Soccer League

Malta Parks and Recreation will kick off their third installation of youth soccer as they set to host their second annual Malta Parks and Rec. Youth Soccer League beginning on Friday, September 8.

The six week league that will continue each following Saturday at 10 a.m. is open to kids from age four to eighth grade. Parks and Recreation Director Julia Tatafu explained why the league will start on a Friday instead of Saturday.

“Saturday, September 9, they have a football Jamboree, so our first games for soccer will be on Friday at 5:30 p.m.,” she said.

The soccer league started with a clinic in the summer of 2016, continued with a six week season in the fall of 2016 that was so successful, it made the choice to have another easy for directors Tatafu and Natalie Judd.

“We had 104 kids sign up last year,” Tatafu said about the 2016 league.

The league will see a new face this season, as four–year-old, Nox Cote, explained how to play soccer.

“You kick the ball into the net and see if you make it in there,” Cote said.

He explained why he likes playing the game of soccer.

“I get to run and I like kicking the ball into the net,” Cote said.

A lot of last year’s success was attributed to the way the community embraced the sport.

“Last year we had the support from the community,” Tatafu said. “We had coaches step up and coach teams. We had two older teams from fourth through seventh grade. We had four first through third grade teams and we had six four-year old to six-year-old teams.”

This year teams will be by grade instead of age from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.

“We opened it up to eighth grade this year because we want to make sure we include that age group,” Tatafu said. “We don’t get a chance to offer too many activities to them because they are so busy with their junior high sports.”

The cost to join the league is $35 per student, which will include a shirt, shorts and socks. Volunteer coaches and referees are still needed. Coaches are eligible for a $15 discount in the $35 fee, if they have a kid or kids in the league. Referees will also earn an unknown amount per game.

“We sure do appreciate our volunteers,” Tatafu said. “We wouldn’t be able to do this without them.”

Registration forms can be picked up and returned to the City Hall or Malta Elementary and Malta Middle School by Friday, August 25.