Not every kid is into basketball or wrestling, said Aly Howell, who teaches second grade at Evergreen Elementary School. For those kids, and for others who want to learn another sport, she said there is soccer.

And this year the two-day-a-week practice sessions are free.

Last year’s soccer club was run through the Parks and Recreation Department, with a small fee. This month’s Evergreen Elementary School club is offered at no cost to students in grades two through five.

Howell, who organized the club, did not play competitive soccer in college, only intramural matches for fun, she said, adding that she coached the soccer club while teaching at Coffman Cove before moving to Wrangell.

Her son, Archer, who is in third grade, loves soccer. “Obsessed with it,” is how his mom described it.

She hopes that more sports clubs could be offered in the future for elementary students. 

This is the second year of a pilot soccer program, she said. “We’re trying to introduce kids to the basic skills.”

Howell said she would like to expand the club to include kindergarteners and first graders, but that would require additional parents or other adult volunteers.

Meanwhile, the club could use some volunteer coaches to fill in when the regular coach is not available, she said. “Just anybody with some experience.” Anyone interested could call the school at 907-874-2321 for the paperwork.

Practices are held every Monday and Wednesday at the community center gym: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for second and third grades, and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. for fourth and fifth grades. Practices started last week and will run through Dec. 9.

It’s not too late to participate — “just come to the practice,” Howell said.

Tournaments and scrimmages will be held the last two weeks of soccer camp.

As of the first week, about 20 kids had signed up, though Howell expects the number to grow, maybe to 30 or 40, as other activities end, such as cheer camp, and kids have more time available.

The club currently hauls its soccer nets from the school to the community center for every practice. Donations to buy their own nets would avoid that moving chore, she said.