Center's youth soccer expands for young players
by Kevin Cassidy
islander Correspondent
New to the Anna Maria Island Community Center youth soccer program this year: a division for the youngest-ever players, kids age 4-5.
This promises to be fun for the little ones, and fun for spectators. The littlest guys of the past, ages 6-7, play with a coach on the field and coach instruction is essential, but frequently the play resembles a colony of bumblebees circling, buzzing and stinging the ball. The new division for 4-5-year-olds has a promise for some fun instruction.
There’s also a commitment from the Center to adjust game schedules during the Anna Maria Island Bridge 45-day closure starting Sept. 29, but this week’s player tryouts will be unimpeded except by a forecast for rain.
Fees for the youth soccer program are $70 for member players and $85 for nonmembers, although Center athletic director Andy Jonatzke noted that late-comers, those who sign up after August, will pay a $10 penalty. Youth memberships are $30.
Players are provided a team shirt and socks and must provide their own black shorts, shoes and shin guards. Only shin guards can be purchased at the Center at a cost of $5.
Coaches are needed, according to Jonatzke, and the child of any selected head coach will play free.
All players signed up by the August deadline will play, according to Jonatzke, but for league parity, all must attend tryouts at the Center according to the following schedule:
Age divisions 12-13, 14-17, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 2.
Age division 10-11 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 3.
Age division 8-9, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 4.
Age divisions 4-5, 6-7, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 5.
Players will be assigned to teams immediately following the tryouts at 7:30 p.m.
The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
For more information, call Jonatzke at the Center, 941-778-1908, ext. 9205, or e-mail andy@islandcommunitycenter.com.
Bridge sparks Island softball tourney
In response to the Sept. 29 closing of the AMI Bridge, Islanders are banding together for two days of family fun on Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. to play softball at Birdie Tebbetts Field in Holmes Beach.
Personal trainer Jeffrey Levin, who is chairing the event, has enlisted a lot of Island businesses to not only participate, but also to donate money and equipment to make the games happen.
So far, Beach Fitness, Lapensee Plumbing, Rotten Ralph’s, Island Real Estate, Sandbar Restaurant, Hurricane Hank’s Liquors, Bridge Street Interiors, Sato Real Estate, Ginny’s & Jane E’s at the Old IGA, Holmes Beach Police Deptartment, West Manatee Fire Rescue, City of Holmes Beach, Whitney Bank, Michael’s Landscaping, Aveda Salon, Tortilla Bay Southwest Grill and AMI Fitness have all agreed to participate in the games.
In addition, Rotten Ralph’s, Hurricane Hanks, Island Real Estate, Lapensee Plumbing, Sandbar Restaurant, Bridge St. Interiors and Sato Real Estate have contributed either money or equipment, which will go to the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
Teens from the Center will be manning a concession stand, providing hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks with the proceeds helping to fund a planned winter ski trip.
There are also plans for a family picnic to get everyone involved.
For more information or to get your business involved, give Levin a call at 941-744-6883, or e-mail jeff@bodybyjeffrey.com.
Key Royale golf news
The women of the Key Royale Club played a combination game on Aug. 26. They played a low-net game over nine holes, while also playing a best-poker-hand game.
First-flight winner in the low-net game was Joyce Brown with a 2-under-par 30, while Terry Westby and Diane Miller tied for second place with matching 1-over 33s. Pat Rice carded a 2-under-par 30 to win flight two, while Lorraine Towne came in second with a 33, followed by Linda Kelly in third place with a 34. Kelly came out on top in the poker hand with a full house based on her scores of 6, 6, 6, 4 and 4.
Still room in golf tourney
The Anna Maria Oyster Bar benefit golf tournament will be held Friday, Sept. 19, at River Strand Golf and Country Club. The tournament gets started at 10 a.m. with an early lunch and putting contest followed by a shotgun start at 11 a.m.
The tournament, which benefits Pace Center for Girls, the United Way, Pinnacle Academy and the Anna Maria Island Community Center costs $1,000 per foursome and will also have closest-to-the-pin and longest-drive contests in addition to raffles for tons of prizes.
For more information or to sign up, call the Oyster Bar at 941-761-7797. |