By CASEY OLSON, The Mirror

The Federal Way Mod Soccer Club is offering an eight-week Spring into Soccer session for children ages 6 to 9.

The weekly sessions will be held on Sunday afternoons at local fields. Each of the first five weeks will entail round-robin games and skill sessions led by Rob Walker and the coaching staff in age-appropriate groupings. The last three weeks of the session will be formal games led by a coach with referees making the calls.

Walker is the Federal Way United Director of Coaching. He holds an “A” coaching license, is a national licensing instructor and has been a goalkeeper coach for both the men’s and women’s Olympic soccer teams.

This will be an academy-style environment for the players. Numerous touches on the ball during the sessions will keep the players engaged and improve their skills at the same time. Each week will focus on a different area of player development in an age-appropriate manner. The weekly round-robin games will incorporate the skill focus for the week.

It is not necessary to have prior experience or to register as a team. Teams will be formed from the group of participants at the end of the first five weeks and those groups will play together in the final three weeks of the session.

The first day for Spring into Soccer is April 6. Sessions will be held on April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 18, June 8 and June 15. The cost for the eight-week Spring into Soccer session is $55, if you have played in Federal Way Mod soccer previously ($66 if you are new to the club, due to an insurance fee).

The fee includes a free T-shirt for all participants. Registration deadline is March 14. Registration forms can be obtained on the club Web site, www.federalwaysoccer.com (look at the home page under “Mod News” for details).

Families can also obtain forms at a registration session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 9 at the Federal Way Regional Library (34200 1st Ave. S.). Families can obtain registration forms at that time, as well as drop-off completed registration materials. Board members will be available to answer questions.

For additional information, call (253) 529-3972.

• The Federal Way High School boys swim team was named the 2007-08 WIAA winter team academic state champions. The Eagles’ 16-member team had a combined grade-point average of 3.73. The team was coached by Carla Boone.

• Federal Way Public Schools is establishing an Athletic Hall of Fame to honor past employees who have made a major impact on the district’s athletic programs. Nominees to the Hall of Fame will be evaluated based on the following criteria — has served the district for a minimum of 10 years, has been retired for at least five years or deceased and has made a significant impact on the district’s or a school’s athletic program.

The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a regular-season football game in the fall of 2008. Each Hall of Fame member will receive a certificate and have his or her name inscribed on a special banner placed at Federal Way Memorial Field.

A renovated Memorial Stadium will serve as the backdrop for the ceremony and Hall of Fame football game. The stadium’s turf and track are due to be renovated this summer with the use of state match funds the district received as a result of the passage of the bond measure.

In addition, the new electronic scoreboard purchased as a result of a donation by Federal Way’s Del Taco will be installed and operational. The district will dedicate the stadium’s new turf, track, and scoreboard during the Hall of Fame ceremony.

Send nominees to Greg Flynn, 1300 S. 308th St., Federal Way, Wash. 98003. Nominations can also be faxed to (253) 945-5577 or emailed to gflynn@fwps.org.

The deadline for nominations to be received is April 1. A 15-member committee of present and former district coaches and administrators will select the first class of inductees.

• USSSA softball is looking for umpires for King County and the south end. Umpires are paid monthly and set their own schedules. For more information, contact Paul at (425) 870-1043 or Dale at (425) 481-2005.

• The Mosquito Squad Fastpitch Club is looking for players for its 12 and under team. Girls with 1995 birthdates who are looking to play competitive fastpitch softball are welcome to tryout.

For more information, contact Mark Lewis at (206) 818-4130, or email mlusssa@aol.com or visit www.eteamz.com/mosquitosquad

• The Sudden Impact Girls Fastpitch teams are looking for players ages 8 to 12 (age as of Jan. 1, 2008). The teams feature ASA Junior Olympic Affiliation, pitching and catching instructors for private lessons by the University of Washington, Pacific Lutheran University and Kennedy High School players/coaches, Practices at Decatur High School and lots of local play, including hosting the Sudden Impact Invitational Tournament at Celebration Park. The older girls on the 12-under team play various weekend tournaments, mostly in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The younger girls on the 10U team develop their skills in recreational league play. No previous fastpitch experience required. Indoor practices begin this month.

For more information about Federal Way Girls Softball or to join a practice, call (206) 310-6226 or email SuddenImpactFP@aol.com. You can also visit www.eteamz.active.com/simpact.

Send Sports Briefs to sports@fedwaymirror.com