WAILUA — Randy Hudson said it’s been a long time since she was near a soccer ball. But she worked with deliberation, unpacking a pair of shin guards and working her socks over the protective gear while in the background,
WAILUA — Randy Hudson said it’s been a long time since she was near a soccer ball.
But she worked with deliberation, unpacking a pair of shin guards and working her socks over the protective gear while in the background, others worked through warm-up exercises at the Weinberg Sports Park located at the Lydgate Park.
“I played when I was a youngster,” Randy said. “But my dad, Gary Hudson, asked if I could come out and play. I don’t know about this. I used to teach ballet. I haven’t done soccer since I was 12 years old.”
Gary Hudson of the Kauai Men’s Soccer league said they are trying to revive the Kauai co-ed soccer program.
Kauai co-ed soccer is a sanctioned league through Hawaii Soccer Association and is open to men over 35 years of age, and women 18 years and over, Gary said. women below the age of 18 are also considered with parental consent.
“The Kauai Soccer Association finished its spring season a couple of weeks ago, and they haven’t finalized anything for the summer, so Cassie is playing,” said Colin Wilson, whose daughter Cassie is a junior at Kapaa High School and a key midfield defender for the Warriors girl soccer team. “You have to keep playing.”
Gary said a few years ago, co-ed soccer featured five teams with about 75 registered players playing Tuesday nights at Vidinha Stadium.
But following the 2011 season, the league struggled to get re-started.
“Kauai co-ed soccer officially started again,” Gary said. “We play Tuesday evenings at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Sports Park with a kickoff at 5:30 p.m.”
He said because the co-ed league is in a fledgling stage, they are unable to afford the lights at Vidinha Stadium so they play during the evenings.
“We are currently playing seven-a-side with lots of room to expand,” Gary said. “It is a very fun league combining good camaraderie and competitive soccer.”
Ron Kosen, a longtime soccer coach and official, said currently the league sets up two fields with players on the side playing a pick-up game on the second field.
“There’s almost always enough players where we can have two games going,” Kosen said.
Gary said each year the league enters tournaments to compete in co-ed soccer in Kona on the Big Island and on Oahu.
“Men players are typically guys who enjoy playing soccer and getting some exercise,” Gary said. “While women play for the same reason, there are women players who are home from college, or, like in Cassie’s case, working on their high school game. We have room to expand our rosters, so any and all interested players are invited to come join us.”
Gary said he has the forms in his car and interested people can come to the Weinberg facility on Tuesdays to either see what the action is about or even register and play.
For more information, email kasakauai10@gmail.com or follow Kauai United Soccer Club on Facebook. Interested people can also call Gary at 652-6041.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
