This weekend the first season of the new Oakdale Soccer Club will kick off at T.L. Davis Sports Complex.

Over 650 kids from the ages of four to 15 will lace up their cleats for the 10-week season. President Ami Poncabare is looking forward to the opening ceremonies being held on Saturday, Sept. 9.

“We wanted to put together a program for kids that teaches them the fundamentals of the game, but also to go out and have fun while getting exercise,” Poncabare said.

With 72 teams signed up, Oakdale Soccer Club encourages coaches and players to arrive at T.L. Davis no later than 8:30 a.m. on Saturday to get ready for the opening ceremonies. First game is scheduled for 10 a.m. and the final game is estimated to begin at 5:30 p.m.

“We are very pleased with the amount of kids who signed up for the season. It was very exciting to see the numbers once they were tallied,” Poncabare said.

There will be face painting, music, massages, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other festivities are scheduled to be a part of the ceremonies throughout the day. Food and drinks will also be available via the snack shack as well as various vendors providing sno-cones and food trucks.

The weather has been teetering in the triple digits and with continued mid- to high-90s forecast on Saturday, Poncabare had this advice, “Hydrate yourself as much as possible. Players, coaches, staff, referees and even spectators need to stay hydrated in these conditions.”