CHESAPEAKE — Many of the kids from the eastern end of the county have never been able to be a part of a soccer team in their own community — until now.

A group of local parents has banned together to form the Eastern Lawrence Youth Soccer Association, a league open to kids ages 4 through 11 who live in the Chesapeake, Fairland and Symmes Valley school districts.

“Soccer is such a great sport,” said Juli Stephens, one of the league’s board members. “We wanted to be able to offer it to our kids. Many of them have not had a chance to try it because it has not been available.”

Stephens said many children, including her own, have gone to other communities to play soccer. Some have even traveled to Kentucky and West Virginia to be a part of a team.

Registration has been going on for a few weeks and so far, Stephens said, the response has been overwhelming. More than 120 kids have signed up to play.

“We are hoping that this will spawn into something for the older kids. We hope that there will be someone out there crazy enough to start a league like we did,” she said with a laugh.

There are still openings for children who want to play during the season, which begins August 26 and will last eight weeks, All games will be played on Saturdays, excluding Labor Day weekend, at the soccer fields at the Lawrence County Airpark. Practices will be one hour weekly.

Registration is $35 per child and $25 for each additional child.

The league is also in need of sponsors. For a donation of at least $25, the donor’s name can be included on a sign located near the soccer field. For $150, donors can sponsor a team and will also have a sign located by the field. For $1,000, exclusive large signs will be placed on one of three fields and a team sponsorship will be given.

For more information call Stephens at (740) 867-6649, Melissa McCloud at (740) 867-3580, or Ruth Bonecutter at (740) 867-4663.