WITH the Island Soccer League kicking off in just under two weeks, fans will have the chance to watch a pre-season Fun Day on Saturday at the National Sports Centre’s north field.“It will give the fans and the players a chance to get to know each other and also to get used to the format,” said ISL commissioner David Bascome this week.

“This pre-season day will not only be good for the players and fans but also for the referees who have to get used to the rules,” he added.

The eight teams in the new six-a-side league will play “two or three” games each on Saturday so the fans can get a feel for the small game. “Everyone can get used to the new rules and everything — it should be a real fun day and I am hoping a lot of kids come out as well. The players will be signing autographs and there will also be a fun castle, music playing and food. It really should be a fun day for everyone involved. We really want to introduce the players to the fans,” said Bascome who has been planning the league for years.

“It will be entertaining, I can say that for sure,” said Bascome who has played professionally in the United States for the indoor teams Baltimore Blast and Harrisburg Heat.

“We will also be selling tickets for the season — Saturday will be about the fans getting a good idea about what is in store for them when the league kicks off (May 15).

“I am hoping this great weather we have been having this week will hold. The biggest thing for this Saturday will be getting the kids down there. And they can also go on our website which is up and running (www.ISLsoccer.com).

“We will have two fields laid out and there will be games going on all the time. We will have T-shirts and others things on sale but we will not be selling the actual jerseys until the first official game on May 15. That is also when we introduce our own ball which has been custom designed.”

The day starts at 2 p.m. when there will be a skills coaches clinic for kids aged five to 12. After that the coaches from the eight teams as well as the players will meet and greet the fans and the first game will kick off at 3.30 when the Kings meet the Apex on one field with the Royals and Titans taking on each other on the second field.

All the games will have two 13-minute halves.