LIHU‘E — The pigskin was let loose at the North Vidinha fields, Saturday. Mark Ozaki, a Kaua‘i Police Activities League coordinator, said more than 600 kids from kindergarten through middle school are involved in the flag football program that started
LIHU‘E — The pigskin was let loose at the North Vidinha fields, Saturday.
Mark Ozaki, a Kaua‘i Police Activities League coordinator, said more than 600 kids from kindergarten through middle school are involved in the flag football program that started last weekend at the North Vidinha fields.
The aspiring football players play in four divisions: the Cubs, covering students in kindergarten and first grade, the Troopers, students in the second and third grades, the Bobcats, students in the fourth and fifth grades, and the Wildcats for students in middle school.
“The Troopers are a new division for this year,” Ozaki said. “We didn’t have enough students sign up for the Enforcers division this year, so we don’t have the high school division. But we were able to add the Troopers division, and what is exciting is that Waimea, after several years of not having enough signups, has three teams this year. Anahola also returned with one team for this season.”
He noted that Kalaheo also has a large turnout this season.
“Kalaheo is almost as big as Lihu‘e and Kapa‘a, combined,” Ozaki said. “Hanapepe also got a good turnout.”
Ozaki said the teams play each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the summer. The final game for the flag football season is July 31.
Game format is both passing and running for the Cubs division. All other divisions are pass-only format.
Ozaki said that due to the lack of activities for young people in the North Shore area, the popular Spring basketball program has been extended through mid-July.
“We have 10 teams playing right now,” Ozaki said. “Ken Carvalho is coordinating the basketball program at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center which plays from 8 a.m. to noon on each Saturday.”
Ozaki said with the flag football program and the Kilauea basketball program, young people have a total summer program.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
