Parks and Rec Soccer back for third season

The Malta Parks and Recreation Youth Soccer League is coming back for it's third season.

The league is scheduled to start on Friday, September 7, and conclude on Saturday, October 13. Sign ups will start on Tuesday, August 21, at Malta Elementary School's Open House from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The league is for students from age four to 8th grade.

“We actually have three different divisions in our soccer league, so you don't have to worry about your four year old playing an eighth grader,” said Julia Tatafu of the Parks and Recreation Department.

The divisions are preschool to kindergarten, first through third grade, and fourth through eighth grade.

Though the league relies on a $35 league fee for uniforms and other soccer equipment, a very important part of the league's support comes from volunteers.

“We could not do the soccer league without the parents stepping up and helping us coach,” Tatafu said. “We are always looking for coaches and referees.”

In order to help the volunteer coaches and referees, the department offers a discount off of the $35 league fee.

“We try and help by giving volunteers a $15 discount,” Co-director Natalie Judd said.

Judd and Tatafu are grateful for any parent that can help out regardless of their knowledge of the game.

“We just really appreciate it,” Tatafu said. “It's really nice when parents step up and get involved.”

She went on to say that even if a coach or ref doesn't know the game, it is a learning experience and the soccer community learns more and more each year.

Other than playing games each Saturday, the teams practice but not daily.

“Usually with our soccer league, each team has one practice a week and then we just have Saturday games in the morning,” said Tatafu. “That way they get more familiar and better at the skills and learn the game because it's not very familiar in this area.”

In Phillips County football, basketball and rodeo are the primary sports, but like so many of their other events hosted, the Parks and Rec directors want to expand the world of sports for the area's youth.

“We have set sports like basketball and football,” Judd said. “It just gives kids something different to develop their fundamental skills and coordination.”

For more information, visit Malta's Parks and Recreation Department at the City Hall.