The Demopolis River City Soccer Club has opened registration for the Fall 2010 season.

“Last year, and for the last two or three years before that, we had about 160 (players) or so,” club president Sean Smith said. The club also had nearly 100 participants for the spring season, the most the organization has ever had during that time of year.

The increased numbers in the spring give league organizers hope that the trend will carry over to the fall league as the sport appears to be gaining popularity in the River Region.

“The feedback I’m getting form the parents is that it was such an inexpensive thing to do,” Smith said. “Soccer is a sport where everyone can participate. We try to do small teams in the younger ages especially. That way even kids who are not really aggressive get to be involved.”

The club is open for children as old as 18 and as young as four. Smith also said children aged three will be allowed to enter the league as long as parents are willing to help coach the team and supervise.

“(Soccer) helps them refine a lot of their motor skills,” Smith said. “As they get older, they start to clue in on strategy. When they figure out the game, I’ve seen them have lots of fun.”

League registration forms are available at Omni Sports and Hibbett Sports and can be returned to either location or to Sports-Plex during Soccer Fest 2010. That event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21. Soccer Fest will see a number of three-on-three challenges on small soccer fields as well as skill development areas. Training classes will be available for coaches and concessions will be available. Registration for Soccer Fest opens at 8 a.m. with the event beginning at 9 a.m.

League registration is $40 for the first child in the family and $35 for the second. Families who participated in the spring will receive a $5 discount for the first child. Registration forms received after Aug. 21 will be charged an additional $10.

Practice games will begin the last week of August with the regular season starting the first week of September.