YMCA to Begin Roller Hockey League

Both youths and adults can get in on the rapidly growing sport of roller hockey at a series of weekly pickup games sponsored by the South Coast YMCA.

The Mission Viejo YMCA, 27341 Trabuco Circle, is starting a youth hockey league this summer and pickup roller hockey on Fridays.

“It works well because it’s supervised,” said program coordinator Derek Eggers, “and it gives people a chance to participate who can’t be here on the weekends because they’re playing in softball leagues or some other sport.”

In recent years, Saddleback Valley has been a hotbed of roller hockey activity. The Saddleback Valley Unified School District offers a popular youth league that enrolls several hundred children each year and has a waiting list.

The YMCA’s no-contact pickup games will continue indefinitely. The games, scheduled during the afternoon and evening, are organized by age.

Children 7 to 12 years old play from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m., while teen-agers 13 to 17 take the floor from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Adults play from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The cost is $4 for YMCA members and $8 for non-members. Information: (714) 859-YMCA.