Lifestyle

By Ginger DeShaney It was a full-circle moment for some parents last week as the upstart South Boston Soccer League kicked off its first season with a meet-and-greet and parade at Moakley Park. When Jean Matthews was a kid, she played for South Boston Youth Soccer, which has been revitalized as the South Boston Soccer League. Now she’s getting her 6-year-old son, Ryan, into it. “I love it,” said Jean, who played soccer until she was 21. “It’s good for the kids.”  Ryan added, “It’s great.” Jack Feeney also played SB Youth Soccer. “I used to do it when I was a little kid. I'm excited for him to do it,” he said about his 3-year-old son.  Jack got friendship and great memories from his [...]

By Ginger DeShaney The football action was fast and fierce. The cheering was thunderous. The girls and boys were having a blast on the field and parents couldn’t contain their enthusiasm on the sidelines. The electric atmosphere of Friday Night Lights has come to South Boston, thanks to Allison Baker and her hard-working team. Friday Night Lights, the brand-new Kickoff For Kids Youth Flag Football League, has 230 boys and girls ages 6-13 on 16 teams. There’s a girls’ division (ages 7-13), peewee boys (6-8), and junior boys (9-13).   “It’s fun to watch,” said dad and peewee coach David Byrne. “It’s a community feel with the parents. It really brings everyone together and strengthens the community.” While Allison was out and about Saturday after opening [...]

Registration is open for the South Boston Soccer League. Games will be played Sundays, Sept. 8-Nov. 12, at Saunders Stadium at Moakley Park. South Boston Soccer League, for ages 3-14, is a continuation of South Boston Youth Soccer after president Billy Baker stepped down. The new league is organized by former SBYS players/coaches: Caitlyn Murphy, Samantha Mackie, Michaela Colvin, and Katelyn Evans. Click here to register players. Coaches can sign up here.

South Boston Online stopped by M Street Park (Lee Playground) recently to check out the city’s Summer Sports Center.  The Boston Parks and Rec Department offers these free drop-in sports centers around the city from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week for boys and girls ages 7-14. Each location offers instruction in several popular sports. And every week, clinics are held on different activities, such as soccer and hockey. The Bruins’ mascot, Blades, made an appearance at M Street Park recently.  Five kids had signed up for a day of fun, sports, and camaraderie Tuesday. The program at M Street has about 20 staff members, providing a fantastic kid-to-staffer ratio. Baseball was a highlight for the kids that day, while many of the [...]