Despite what the thermometer reads and the weatherman says, spring is right around the corner.
How do we know? All the spring/summer sports teams in the area are gearing up for their 2011 seasons.
BASEBALL
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Registration for Reston Little League for players ages 4-12 has begun. The Reston Little League program focuses on the development of baseball skills, sportsmanship and a love of the game of baseball. The Spring season runs from March through mid-June.
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Herndon Optimists Youth Baseball
Online registration for Herndon Optimist Youth Baseball has also begun. Herndon Optimists are also offering some free skill sessions for new and returning players.
From now through Feb. 21, HOYB coaches and some of their high school baseball sons have some great tips and drills for kids and parents age 7-12. These drop-in clinics will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons at
The T-ball and first-time players clinic start on Feb, 27 and will continue for 3 weeks also at 4 p.m. at Armstrong Elementary School.
Both Armstrong clinics are free, but limited to the first 20 players to show up.
FLAG FOOTBALL - Co-ed
Non-contact, but high-intensity, two flag football league welcomes boys and girls to play.
The Reston Seahawks Flag Football league welcomes boys and girls (ages 5-16) to register for their teams.
Herndon Optimist NFL Flag Football teams are now forming. The player combine or skills drill will determine team placement in early March; practices will start in mid-March (depending on weather and field conditions). Games are scheduled to start in early April and end in mid-June.
LACROSSE – Girls and Boys
Running with sticks – is there a more perfect sport?
Herndon Reston Youth Lacrosse (sponsored by the Herndon Optimists) have already begun their registration for the Spring 2011 season. Boys are placed on teams according to their birth year. Girls are placed according to their grade in school. Practices and home games are primarily held on fields in Herndon, with some practices also held on Reston fields.
Practices will begin in late February. No previous experience with lacrosse is necessary.
RUNNING – Co-Ed
Youth in Motion is a program offered annually by Reston Runners for children ages 3 -14 years old . Sessions are held at a local school’s track and include warm-up, games, running form and technique all in a non-competitive, fun environment. Registration will begin in late March; the program begins in June and continues into August.
SOCCER – Boys, Girls
Teams of little strikers (and big strikers) will hit the fields as early as April.
The Reston Soccer Association fields co-ed teams, boy teams and girl teams, and both recreational and travel team. Spring registration is open now thru Feb 28 (late registrations cannot be completed online.
Reston Soccer Association also offers TOPSoccer Players for children with disabilities. Volunteers are especially needed with that program.
Sign up for Herndon Youth Soccer continues through Feb 26. Herndon Youth Soccer offers two opportunities to register in person at the Herndon Community Center on Feb. 3 from 7-9 p.m. and Feb. 26 from 12-4 p.m . Herndon Youth Soccer also fields travel and recreation teams, for boys, girls and both boys and girls.
SOFTBALL – GIRLS - FASTPITCH
Herndon Reston Youth Softball Fastpitch is the home of the Herndon Glory, the 16U team that competed in the state finals in 2010. Spring 2011 sign-ups are in progress. HRYS is also offering clinics for general skills and for pitchers/catchers.
SOFTBALL – Co-Ed
Herndon Reston Youth Softball registration is open as well. Conditioning clinics and sessions will be held at the Herndon Community Center. Visit the Herndon Optimists Registration page for more details.
SWIM – Co-Ed
Reston Swim Team Association will begin registration in March. In the meantime, they are offering Stroke and Turn clinics and Prep/Conditioning classes so the swimmers will be in top form when the pools open. Swim team is for swimmers ages 6 to 18.
Each one of these leagues needs volunteers to make the experience a positive one for the players. If you played in high school or college, or just love the sport, consider offering your time and talents to give a hand to today’s players.
