Soccer players will be kicking and heading their way to West Kootenay fields this weekend for the first big tournament of the year.
Over 20 teams will play in the Kootenay South Youth Soccer Association tournament Saturday and Sunday, with each of the five division occupying fields in Fruitvale, Trail, Warfield and Castlegar.
Local teams line-up against squads from Nelson, Creston, Rutland and the East Kootenays.
The Under-12 division starts Saturday at Twin Rivers Park in Castlegar with Kootenay South U11 taking on Nelson’s U11 at 9 a.m.
The U-13 and U-14 groups kick off at Lower and Upper Mazocchi Park in Fruitvale with the local U-14 team taking on their rivals from Nelson on the upper field in the early game and U-13 take on Nelson on the lower field at 11 a.m.
The U15-16 Kootenay South team play their first match against Nelson at 9 a.m. at Castlegar Recreation Centre field.
Meanwhile the West Kootenay U17-18 wage their first battle on the pitch at Haley field against Columbia Valley.