For information about the Orange Bowl and the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance, presented by Sports Authority, visit www.orangebowl.org.

Miami Soccer Festival

The Miami Soccer Festival returns Sept. 29-30 to Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. in Kendall.

Presented by Soccer 5 USA and Miami-Dade Parks, the two-day festival will feature youth and adult soccer tournaments in a festival ambience with music, Soccer 5 Live tricks, juggling, soccer walk, get-in-the-game fitness and fun, as well as a full variety of food from around the world. Soccer merchandise, soccer games and the crossbar challenge will also be available to fans.

Special guest appearances by professional athletes and coaches are expected throughout the weekend. The event is free and open to the general public.

“We are pleased to sponsor the Festival again in 2012. Almost 3,500 people visited in 2011, and having Abby Wambach with us on Sunday was terrific for all,” said Scott Georgeson, Soccer 5 Miami President. “It is an exciting time for us at Soccer 5 as we continue to expand our business in Miami built on the success of our public/private partnership with Miami Dade Parks.”

To participate in the tournament, team costs range from $200 to $550. To register for the tournament or for information, visit www.miamisoccerfestival.org or www.soccer5usa.com/miami or contact Scott Georgeson at 888-575-2976.

Net proceeds of the event will support The Soccer 5 Foundation www.soccer5foundation.org and The Parks Foundation of Miami Dade www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation, working together to create more spaces to play and learn the world’s most popular game.

“The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is delighted to partner with The Soccer 5 Foundation’s vision to provide an outstanding experience for this community through soccer,” said Allison Diego, Director of Business Development, Fundraising and Advocacy for Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. “We are happy to be a part of this annual celebration.”

To become a partner, sponsor or volunteer, contact Alan Georgeson at 305-393-5230 or alan.georgeson@constructive4.com.

Kendall Soccer Park, a Miami-Dade County Park, is one of South Florida’s leading soccer complexes with five full-sized soccer fields, four state-of-the-art 5v5 soccer fields, a walking trail, stage area, a soccer village, bleachers and parking.

MLB Umpires Care

Mark Carlson, Chris Conroy and Ed Hickox – the umpire crew that worked the Miami Marlins-Milwaukee Brewers series at Marlins Park – took time to visit the Miami Children’s Hospital as part of the UMPS CARE Charities BLUE for Kids program.

They were joined by Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin and offered words of encouragement and Build-A-Bear stuffed animals to children coping with cancer or other serious illness. Each child chose from a variety of pre-stuffed animals as well as clothing outfits for their new furry friend – including bear-sized Marlins uniforms.

The event is made possible by UMPS CARE Charities, a non-profit organization founded by MLB Umpires to enrich the lives of at-risk youth and children coping with serious illness. This was the 75th hospital visit that MLB umpires hosted since the program began in 2006 and is the 11th of 12 scheduled visits during the 2012 Major League Baseball season. For information about UMPS CARE Charities, visit www.UmpsCare.com.

Cycling

Key Biscayne’s Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) finished in the Top 10 of the Vuelta a España, just the second grand tour cycling event of his brief career. The 23-year-old completed the 21 stages of that prestigious and rigorous competition in Spain, placing seventh. In January 2006, he turned to cycling after a stress fracture from running.

Tennis

The United States Tennis Association announced Donna Fales of Coral Gables will represent the United States at the 32nd International Tennis Federation Super-Seniors World Team Championships, hosted by the Hrvatski Teniski Savez (Croatian Tennis Association) in Umag, Croatia.

The tournament is the senior tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup, with the top American tennis players representing their country in the 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 and older age groups. The ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships is the most prestigious team event on the ITF Seniors circuit.

Fales will captain the defending champ U.S. women’s 70-and-older team in the Althea Gibson Cup Division.

Fishing

The annual Kids Fishing Challenge is Nov. 3 at Tropical Park in Miami. About 300 kids participate in the fishing tournament at the lake. Each receive a rod & reel, bait, tackle box, T-shirt and lunch. Visit www.cblbc.com and click on Event Info & Gallery.

Marlins Tours

The Miami Marlins offer behind the scenes tours of Marlins Park. The tours are open to the public on non-event days for $10 a person.

The tour includes visits to the field (behind home plate), home clubhouse, home batting cage area and Diamond Club, Promenade Level featuring the art in the facility, the bobblehead museum and the premium areas including the Suites.

Tours operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except when the Marlins play at home or when other major events are scheduled at Marlins Park. Group tours, accommodating between 10 and 25 people, are available by appointment.

For information, fans can call 1-877-MARLINS or e-mail tours@marlins.com. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows on Felo Ramirez Drive (NW 6 Street between NW 14 Avenue and NW 15 Avenue) and are for the time and date specified.

Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

HOF baseball

Hall Of Fame Baseball is sponsoring travel baseball teams for 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 (high school) for the fall season.

Hall Of Fame Coach Rich Hofman and his staff will coach the teams which will practice and play in tournaments and leagues. Register for a tryout at www.hofball.net or call David Hofman at 954-804-5600 or Ed Tisdale at 803-463-2591.

Wendy’s High School Heisman

Wendy’s is accepting applications for the annual Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, a program honoring outstanding high school student-athletes for its commitment to academic achievement, community service involvement and athletic prowess.

More than just a shining star on a college résumé, the Heisman mystique touches students at every level of the program. In addition to recognition at school and state levels, six female and six male national finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the Wendy’s High School Heisman Awards Ceremony and college Heisman Memorial Trophy Award presentation with their families in December 2012.

Through Oct. 2, eligible students can apply at www.WendysHeisman.com for a chance to win the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award and the prestige of joining an ever-growing family of distinguished past winners. A partner award with college football’s acclaimed Heisman Memorial Trophy, Wendy’s High School Heisman has received more than 350,000 applications and honored more than 216 national finalists and 36 national winners since its inception.

Each year, nearly 50,000 young male and female scholar-athletes from across the country who embody leadership, academic excellence and athletic skill in their schools and volunteerism in their communities apply for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. These applicants are then narrowed down in four phases:

School Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from every school will be selected as a “School Winner”

State Finalists Phase – 20 finalists—10 senior males and 10 senior females—from every state and the District of Columbia will advance to “State Finalists”

State Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as “State Winners”

National Finalist Phase – A judging panel will select “12 National Finalists” from the 102 State Winners

“I was thrilled to have made it so far in the competition,” said Selena Pasadyn, the 2011 Wendy’s High School Heisman female award winner and first in her class at Brunswick High School in Ohio. “It’s an honor to represent my community and to be part of such an exceptional group of people who I now call my Wendy’s High School Heisman family.”

The one male and one female Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winners will each earn $10,000 for their high school and a $500 Wendy’s gift card. They will also be highlighted during ESPN’s live national broadcast of the college Heisman Memorial Trophy Ceremony in early December 2012.

Eligibility

Eligible high school seniors, slated to graduate in 2013, may submit an application online through Oct. 2. The first 25,000 students with completed applications will receive a Wendy’s gift card valued at $10. From the completed applications, one male and one female winner will be chosen to receive the WHSH Award.

For information, students can visit www.WendysHeisman.com, call 800-205-6367 or contact their local high school principal, guidance counselor or athletic director. Participants can also “like” Wendy’s Heisman on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WendysHighSchoolHeisman for additional program details.

Key Largo Bridge Run

Racers can enjoy a spectacular foot race with panoramic views of the Upper Keys and the eastern edges of the Florida Everglades at the fourth annual Key Largo Bridge Run on Nov.10.

Runners from Canada and 21 American states are among more than 310 participants already registered. The out-and-back 10k, half marathon and 5k run/walk typically entices nearly 900 participants of all ages.

The USA Track & Field certified course crosses the 65-foot-high, 1.25-mile-long Jewfish Creek Bridge. Racers occupy the northbound lanes of the bridge and the southern portion of the 18-Mile Stretch, a section of the Overseas Highway that connects mainland South Florida with Key Largo.

The event offers a free Health and Fitness Expo featuring osteoporosis screenings for women. The expo is noon to 6 p.m. Nov.9 at the Key Largo Holiday Inn at mile marker (MM) 100.

From noon to 9 p.m., participants can pick up race packets. Race organizers are going green by providing virtual race bags that include value-added offers, exclusive discounts and educational information. The virtual goody bags are to be delivered to each participant’s email inbox within two weeks of the race.

A traditional Friday night spaghetti dinner is at DiGiorgio’s Café Largo, MM 100 bayside, between 4:30 and 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, available at the expo.

Race entry fees are $35 per person for the 5k, $50 per person for the 10k and $70 for the half marathon through Nov. 4. Participants age 17 and younger pay $12. Runners whose registrations are received on or before Oct. 14 get a $5 discount. Online registration is available through Nov. 8. The first 1,000 race registrants receive a free T-shirt.

Event proceeds benefit local charities including the Key Largo Bridge Run Scholarship Fund, Key Largo Baptist Church, Island Christian School and Active Disabled Americans. Event information www.keylargobridgerun.com.

Ironman 70.3

The City Bikes Ironman 70.3 Miami is Oct. 28, starting at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Registration is underway. http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1995048.

The event supports the Blazeman Foundation for ALS. Through this partnership, athletes who are participating in the race can make a contribution to the foundation when registering. The Blazeman Foundation will also be featured at the EXPO. To find out more about the Blazeman Foundation for ALS, visit www.waronals.com.

Football program

Throughout the 2012 high school football season, Sports Illustrated will profile 10 programs from across the United States, selected for having overcome obstacles that include dilapidated facilities, crime-ridden communities, severe funding deficits and disasters, both personal and natural.

SI editors have selected nine of the schools, and SI and POWERADE have launched a nationwide search for the 10th school that has persevered through hardship. The 10 programs will be unveiled throughout the season as a part of one of the largest high school football editorial initiatives in Sports Illustrated’s history.

Players, coaches, parents, teachers, classmates and fans can log on to www.Facebook.com/SportsIllustrated to enter an Underdog team in their community. Submissions will be accepted through Oct. 23 after which a 10th finalist school will be selected. Fans can vote for which team receives the grand prize, a $25,000 program grant and a trip to New York City and SI’s annual “Sportsman of the Year” awards gala.

Basketball

Miami Basketball Fall League begins Oct. 15. Registration is open to individuals or teams.

Cost is $225. Price includes eight games plus playoffs, uniform and trophies.

Games are at the South Miami Community Center Indoor Gym. Ages range from 5-16. Visit www.miamibasketball.net.

For more information, call Eddie at 305-439-9240 or Andre at 786-205-5198. Email eddie_vidal@yahoo.com or andre@miamibasketball.net.

Florida Senior Games

Registration is open for the 2012 Florida International Senior Games & State Championships. They are Dec. 1-9 in Polk County and are a qualifier for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland in the summer 2013.

The Games offer 23 sports. Softball and the 10K Road Race are in November. Entry fees vary, and registration deadlines vary by sport.

The easiest way for athletes to register is online at www.flasports.com. Also available on www.flasports.com are PDF documents athletes can print and mail to the Florida Sports Foundation.

Tennis

USTA Florida’s four-stop ’Me Gusta El Tenis’ tour will hit the Greater Miami-area, spotlighting the popularity of tennis in the Hispanic community in South Florida.

Hispanic communities can celebrate families playing tennis together at the four events, which will feature the 10 and Under Tennis short court format for learning the game.

Oct. 20-21: Gables Hispanic Festival, Coral Gables.

Nov. 11: Founders Day Festival, Aventura.

Visit http://www.ustamiami.com/.

Participants registering will be entered into a drawing to win four tickets to either the 2013 Sony Open men’s and women’s pro tennis tournament on Key Biscayne or the 2013 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships men’s pro event in Delray Beach.

The Gables Hispanic Festival is organized by the Gables Hispanic Cultural Foundation, a not-for-profit organization for charitable and educational purposes, including the undertaking of programs and activities designed to enhance the cultural Heritage and social well-being of families, children and youth of Miami-Dade County.

“We are looking forward to reaching out to the roughly 70 percent of Florida Hispanic players who are in the Miami area,” said USTA Florida Tennis Program Coordinator for the Miami area Cathy Nordlund. “Area pros will be out at the events, where parents can ask questions about local programming for kids and adults, and families can play the 10 and Under Tennis format together.”

Tennis participation numbers in Florida for small children of all demographics have increased exponentially since the introduction of the 10 and Under Tennis format. 10 and Under Tennis is designed for children, featuring smaller court sizes, racquet sizes, foam and decompressed balls, a simple scoring system, and net heights adjusted to ease kids into the sport.

Similar mini-tennis formats have long been popular in Europe, where current stars such as Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters first learned the game with age-adjusted racquets, balls and court sizes. To see a video of 10 and Under Tennis in action go to: http://10andundertennis.com.

For information on USTA Florida Hispanic community events, go to USTA Florida’s Spanish language website at www.ustaflorida.com/espanol. For specific information regarding Miami-area events contact Cathy Nordlund at nordlund@florida.usta.com.

Tennis fun

Registration is open for Florida tennis facilities to host a USTA Free Tennis Play Day in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play.

Host events are be featured in a searchable database on www.YouthTennis.com and receive customizable marketing materials to promote the event and more.

TBA, Oct. 6: America’s Strong Youth Foundation, Miami Lakes Tennis Courts.

Tennis classes, programs

Tennis classes and programs for all ages are at the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center at Sans Souci, 1795 Sans Souci Blvd., North Miami. Call for information on group lessons, annual passes, court rates and private lessons. Tennis pro is Ross Dubins. Call 305-893-7130.

Rebelle volleyball

Rebelle Athletics Club offers girls’ volleyball tryouts at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, 4949 NE 2nd Ave.

The volleyball club, a member of the United States Volleyball Association, is under the direction of Mandi Tate, Dee Rey and former Barry University player Kelly Dantas. They are former coaches with South Florida Volleyball Club and currently coach at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Biscayne Bay.

Rebelle Athletics is dedicated to providing developmental and participatory athletic sports programs beginning at the youth development level. It offers a progression of sports activities for persons of all ages, races and creeds. It strives to enhance the physical, mental and moral development of amateur athletes at all levels, promoting sportsmanship and active citizenship.

Visit www.rebelleathletics.com.

Miami Shores soccer

The Miami Shores FC under-12 girls’ travel soccer team participated in the Disney Memorial Day Soccer Shootout at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista.

They competed in the highest division in their age group, earning silver medals. For tryout information for the 2012-2013 season, contact David Ocampo at david.ocampo23@gmail.com.

More soccer

South Kendall Sun Blazers (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Miami Dade Soccer League (miami-dadesoccer.com) at Three Lakes Park, 13375 SW 136 St. (786-488-5216).

Soccer 5 (ussoccer5.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (1-888-575-2976).

Club Atletico De Miami (camsoccer.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (305-764-5783).

Soccer Academy of the Americas (socceraa.com) at Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24 St. (786-486-3804)

Pinecrest Premier Soccer (pinecrestpremier.com) at Deerwood Bonita Lakes, 11511 S. Dixie Hwy. (305-255-3422).

Optimist Club of Westchester (tropicalsoccer.org) at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St. (786-370-4222).

Coral Estates Soccer Club (coralestatessoccer.org) at Coral Estates Park, 1411 SW 97 Ave. (305-279-2328)

South Kendall Soccer Club (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Southern Soccer Coalition-AYSO (kendallsoccer.com) at Millers Pond Park, 13350 SW 47 St. and Westwind Lakes Park, 6805 SW 152 Ave. (305-965-0083).

Muscle Milk Grant Program

CytoSport, the largest sports nutrition company in the United States and maker of Muscle Milk, announced the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program which will provide up to $250,000 in grants to help rebuild and revitalize high school athletic programs around the country.

Submissions for high school programs will be accepted on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk now through Nov. 30.

“High school athletic programs are critical to the overall development of student-athletes, and we are dedicated to helping them succeed,” CytoSport Chief Marketing Officer Nikki Brown said. “The Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program is a great way we can provide financial resources to programs in need in local communities around the country.”

Grants will be awarded up to $25,000 per submission to programs that show a financial hardship outlined in the application process. Applicants must be at least 14-years-old and can nominate the high school of their choice on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk where they will be required to submit a written statement outlining their program’s needs, provide photos that support their request and will have the option to upload a video link to help further tell their story.

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 and recipient programs will be selected in January 2013.

In conjunction with the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, Muscle Milk will also launch limited time packaging that includes a red, white and blue theme. A portion of sales from the patriotic packaging will go toward funding the Recovery Grant Program.

For information on the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, visit www.facebook.com/musclemilk.

Got Milk

The National Milk Mustache “got milk?” campaign recently launched the call for entries for the 15th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards.

The SAMMY scholarship recognizes 25 student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, community service, leadership and who fuel their daily success with milk.

Milk Mustache celebrity judges will help select 25 winners from across the country who will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, an awards ceremony at Walt Disney World and an opportunity to appear in their own special Milk Mustache ad.

For complete contest rules and applications log onto facebook.com/MilkMustache where visitors can also learn more about the exclusive SAMMY awards weekend and view behind the scenes footage.

Health program

Stand Up! For Those Who Can’t, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children, families and communities through (w)holistic programs in education, culture and the arts, and as fiscal agent for the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative, has received a $50,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to implement “Sunshine Fit for Tots,” an obesity-prevention program developed by SCWC for 3-year-old children.

“One in five preschool-age children in the United States are overweight or obese. We recognize the need to start prevention at the earliest age possible to promote lifelong habits of health and wellness,” said Mary Rae Smith, president and founder of SCWC. “We want to bend the curve on childhood obesity and are grateful to the Aetna Foundation for this opportunity to enhance obesity prevention through exercise and nutrition programming.”

Through March 2013, 60 children from four early childhood centers in Miami-Dade will receive nutritional education and obesity-prevention activities through art classes and dance lessons. The centers selected to receive the program are Fantasyland Learning Center in Westchester; Happy Kids in Miami Beach; Happy Children of Overtown; and Alberto’s Dream Childcare in North Miami.

“We thank the Aetna Foundation for awarding us this grant,” said Jeannette Egozi, president of SUFTWC. “In the United States, low-income families are the most affected by the alarming obesity trend. With these funds we can teach children how to eat healthfully and be physically active throughout their lives.”

For information about “Sunshine Fit for Tots” call the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative at 305-807-5229 or Stand Up! at 305-864-5237, e-mail jeannette@ecqc.biz.

Jai-Alai

Jai-alai is open to anyone, age 10 to 80.

With a rubber ball and cestas, the amateur jai-alai facility is at 1935 NE 150th St. in North Miami, near FIU’s north campus.

It is indoors, air-conditioned and open to all. Contact Luis at 305-389-2313 or Bob at 786-556-3574.

More Jai-Alai

Who said you have to be a male to play Jai Alai? Just as many females play the sport in Spain, France and Mexico, and gals can play it in South Florida at an amateur indoor air-conditioned fronton.

There are also leagues for males and children. Rubber or plastic balls used with free lessons by former pros. Cestas and balls also provided free with a nominal court fee.

Open everyday. Email admanUSA@aol.com or call Brucio 786-629-5428. The American Amateur Jai-Alai Academy is a not-for-profit organization.

CB Sports Leagues

CB Sports Club offers Youth Basketball, Flag Football, Youth Soccer, Adult Soccer and Adult Basketball. Visit cbsportsclub.com. Call 786-273-5639.

Physically Challenged

Miami-Dade Parks welcomes children with disabilities in its youth leagues. If you need accommodations to participate, call 305-735-7847 (V/TDD).