We love i9 sports and our son's tball team! After trying soccer and swimming, my son expressed interest in tball. We found i9 sports online and decided to give them a try. He is in the 3-year old tball. He has two coaches who are the same every week and work well with the kids. They are patient and firm and give all the kids a fair shot! Practice is the first 20 ish minutes of our Saturday mornings, followed by a "game" where my son's team plays another team of the same age range. It's so cute and fun to watch the kids learning, as many of them don't really know what they are doing yet. But the parents are there to help out the coaches too. The families on our team are really great and supportive of all the kids on the team, often cheering for them! We also take turns providing snacks, which the kids look forward to every week. We have just a few weeks left and I know we'll miss it when it's over. Maybe we will sign up again! read more

I9 Sports - Amateur Sports Teams Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's about team balancing and given the nature of how players are assigned, I don't think much can be done about situation. My son's been assigned to bottom feeder teams twice in a row and there is no fun getting roasted during blow outs most of the times. I believe our parent/volunteer coach's reaction kind of shows how hopeless the situation is presented. It doesn't mean i9 is a bad program and I know you folks did what you could, based on information provided by the players. Given that it's a recreational league and everyone plays regardless of skill level. However, it is quite obvious that some teams are way better than others (return players and team with experience vs newcomer's team) Most likely won't be returning to i9 sports. read more

Horrible experience. Basketball league is extremely biased, inexperienced referees and biased staff. Inconsistent rules of the game DO NOT make a great learning experience for the kids nor an enjoyable season for the parents. Teams are blatantly uneven in number and skill. Some teams are favored more so than others and enjoy 'perks' regardless of what they claim. For example, in the last season played at Hongwanji Mission, our team won fair and square. Trophy game. The opposing team received trophies as well AND special treatment- poster team pictures. When our team was in that situation the season prior, we got none of that. Not even a pin. Hmmmmmm. But wait there's more. More teams have leverage- favoritism, unfair calls, more baskets on the line.... The list is endless. This organization TAKES YOUR MONEY. It is not worth it. Regrettable experience. Take your money elsewhere. i9 is not worth investing in. read more

It's a money grab! Coaches aren't skilled, they can't coach the positions, kids aren't taught how to line up, practices are before the game, and the director or whatever his title is, is nothing but a salesperson. He hopes parents will step up to coach when mosts parents never played a down, a minute, or and inning of anything. When I was told it will be a new set of kids every session said everything to me meaning parents don't sign their kids up again. Also, it seems like he finds a away to cancel a game (saving him money on the fee to rent the facility or field but still charging full price) using the holidays as an excuse and now using the Super Bowl as an excuse when the Super Bowl started @ 5:30 and the last game ends at 1ish. read more

I signed my freshly three year old son to play soccer for November 2024. On the first day when we arrived we were not treated by coaches at all. I was told by the door staff that there was a jersey and name tag available for my son I had to literally go up to the coach and ask for it cus they completely ignored us. We were the only black family on the team and I think in the the building at the time and I hate to say that played a factor but it did. The coaches on the team did nothing to get my son enthusiastic about the game and basically showed no care for us even being there. We left early and never returned for the rest of the season. I would never send my child to play for them again. read more

So, I should break down what I know: A multi-facetted sports program that has football, soccer, basketball, t-ball and volleyball. If you are a parent that doesn't have time for all the practices during the week, and/or your kid doesn't know what they want to do yet, just stay home and play video games, this might be the perfect thing, and I will say why. This is for the millennial family units. One hour of practice that is right before game. So getting your kids to get away from the games, shouldn't be so hard to bargain with. There are sports that have to do one hour during the week, and thats okay, which is basketball. Parents still have to volunteer as Coaches, but that's all league sports. The beauty is the app that they have to help parents become coaches, or at least to fake it. They have your practice plans for the day all set, so that you, as a parents aiming low, can do just that. It makes it look like you know what your doing. The staff there is super nice and always helpful to giving out pointers if you want or need it. As a parent that did it with other leagues, I was happy to get an app to help, instead of the amount of research I had to do just to have a practice plan. Don't fret though, they do background checks on all coaches and staff. Just FYI. Most leagues have parents that need to (1) referee before and after games, (2) set up break down fields (3) sit on their governing boards with a position (4) and take part in detailed training, all of these you are not getting paid for. The i9 referees, workers, field people are the ones that take care of it. I spent years as a volunteer doing those things for free at a different league. The league operator is super chill, and I love that I can always voice my opinion. My child has done soccer starting at age 3, by progressively moved to basketball, that he started at age 7 until now, he is now age 11. He has just started volleyball, and so far he loves it. If your child is like mines, he loves the computer and hard to get him to turn it off, this has been easier than when my daughter played for other soccer leagues and going to mandatory practices 2-3 times a week. I encourage if my son wants to play higher level competition, but no, he likes what we are doing for him. I like that this has been stepping stones for him and us as a family unit, alike! read more

I cannot believe how much of a scam this is. It is a HUGE scam. You pay over $150 for 10 weeks and if it rains or not enough kids show then practice is cancelled. Yet there are no make-up sessions nor do you get your money back or at least some of it. Oh and there's more. The coaches are all volunteers who are sometimes the parents and so far none have had experience in what they are coaching and usually teaches the wrong techniques. I9 calls around begging parents to coach although we pay all of this money. They should have a certified coach because why would I volunteer to coach something that I am paying for AND bring snacks for the team. It is crazy! If we had a true coach then I wouldn't mind bringing snacks but they are literally charging you run a website ablnd book a county park. Don't do it!! read more

My son has played for i9 for a year now (4seasons) and loves it! We're signing up again. Coaches are volunteers but you can request the same coach, as we have done all year. Parents sign up for snack duty for the kids. The teams usually have about 10kids. I9 is a safe, fun, and easy way to get kids started in sports. My son never played sports before, but now he has some skills. The hardest part is just gettin accustom to the locations (if they change weekly) i9 offers other sports on different days and times, but their site has all that information. It's not costly and would highly recommend them! read more

I9 Sports - 2018Winter Soccer Champions Go Tsunamis - Amateur Sports Teams Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a tough review to rate. We've done i9 soccer and t-ball when the kids were smaller. It was great to get them exposed to sports. Exactly what we were expecting. Recently we signed our son up for flag football, he was super excited. When we finally got to the Sunday practice, the coach sized up my son. He was the youngest on the team and probably the smallest. The coach with hesitation says, "Does he have experience?" I told him that it was his first time. The coach informs me that he will probably not be able to play in the game. It's his first day, that's fine. When they practice catching drills the coach sees that he can catch. He comes to me and says with a grin, "We might be able to squeeze him in..." Another parent comes over to talk to me and gives me a heads up about this Coach only playing the good players and leaving other kids on the bench. Game time, my sons first play is a catch. He play a couple more plays after that. The following week we go to the game and he sat out more than half the game. When the assistant coach tried to send him in, the head coach sent him right back out. When I went over he tries to teach my son some trick play and sends him in. He gains maybe a yard and then sits him out. He probably got about 3 minutes of play time and that was only after I walked over to the sidelines. After the game I questioned him and it wasn't great. His initial response to me was, "Oh, I see you have an opinion." This got me upset and worked up, which I did not want to do. He throws the assistant coach under the bus by saying it was his responsibility, then when we talk the assistant coach he backpedals. His daughter plays the entire game, along with a couple of the other more talented kids. At least half, but probably more of the plays highlights his daughters speed. No doubt she is fast, but it's hard to sit there and watch my son just sit on the sideline for over half the game doing nothing. There's another kid that only plays center. No defense, no other offensive positions, only center. I cannot imagine what his parents are thinking that they spend their Sunday to come and watch him snap the ball. Perhaps they are fine with it. On top of the parent that shared with me the coach's pattern of playing only the good players, two other parents affirmed the same thing. So I know I am not just making things up. I don't expect my kid (or any kid) to have a ton of play time, but to go over half a game and not have any play time seems ridiculous to me. This experience alone would have me rating i9 a 1 star. I have to give credit to the Director of i9 sports Rene Sanjines and Coach Jared, the assistant coach. Rene was amazing in communicating with me and understanding where we are coming from. He went out of his way to try to accommodate us, but in the end, we will try again another season. We only want to give it another try because of the responsiveness of Rene. Thank you! Coach Jared was also sympathetic in his response as well and communicated his desire to have my son back so they could do things differently. He seemed to try to talk with the kids and make them feel comfortable. I saw him send my son in a couple times only to be sent back out so I know he was trying to get him some play time. Hopefully i9 will evaluate the flag football program and ensure that they can maintain the spirit of letting kids have adequate play time so they can gain experience and a love for sports. For young kids i9 is a great way to introduce sports. You may want to look before you leap into the flag football league. read more

Focus is on Fun and Sportsmanship. Great clean fun for the kids and family! No pressure and the kids enjoy it.

All of my sons played for i9 and all loved it when they were younger, they only have fond memories looking back at it and even have some trophies laying around still. The coaches were very friendly yet weren't afraid to push my boys to the max of course! They were all pooped out at the end of the training usually LOL! Our team had 10 kids and all became life long friends after, Some we even still talk to today. It is also very cheap for what you get and gets my boys out of the house which I am ok with of course! Thank you i9 For the wonderful time they had. read more

I9 Sports - My son, Daniel smiling next to his coach. - Amateur Sports Teams Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

They are a joke. They do not have a professional organized soccer program. They stuck my 11 yo on miniature fields and thought it was ok. 1 ref, NO lines marked for out of bounds or goal, cones for a goal, no soap in women's public bathroom for the soccer fields. Maybe it's great for first timers or little 5 year olds but not for older kids. read more

Update: I have to say that I have never been more compelled to update/revise a prior review, until now. I am very impressed with how this organization and local management have turned it around. They are very well organized and have terrific leadership. I have my children enrolled in 2 sports there over the last 3 months. They try their best to balance teams, secure practice/game sites, and provide a safe environment for all participants on game days.Kudos to a job well done! Original review 1/22/2015 1 star They take the "organized" out of organized sports. At least the volunteer coaches do a better job than the paid staff. read more

My son is part of an i9 flag football team and only occasionally gets put in to play because his coach does not think he's good enough. We joined i9 because its top 2 primary principles are fun and equal playing time. My heartbroken and embarrassed son gets neither. If i9 really cared about the children, they would implement a tracking system similar to AYSO, where coaches complete and turn in a roster showing that every player was given the chance to play at least half the game. read more

I've only done soccer and flag football for my younger kids and have had all 5 play with I -9 the soccer program for the little ones 5 year olds was great, really fun and the goals and fields were bigger than ayso, the flag football program to me is way over priced considering the entire league has the exact same reversible jersey and the flags that they use are absolute garbage! They should change that especially the flags! They should be using the pop flags every other flag league uses... the director for flag is super on it and I've been satisfied with their site coordinators as well... we play on the windward side and get the opportunity to travel a bit which I personally enjoy if they used better jerseys and flags they'd earn more stars from me read more

i9 sports is different than what I remember short teams to be when I was a little kids. The coaches are all volunteers and they promote a strong sense of everyone is not better than anyone else. It allows the kids to grow and increase their confidence in the sport that they play. My son has been in 3 season of t-ball back to back. He has improved immensely and loves the sport. The main concern is to have fun, which at 5 1/2 years of age is basically what you wanna do. The nice this is that t-ball can run all year long, but the locations may change a bit. He'll age out at age 6 for t-ball but he'll be ready for little league. My daughter just started with I-9 basketball and in her first season. She's a little rough around the edges in terms of actually dribbling etc. but the coaches are very supportive and she has improved a lot from starting. Basketball age starts at 8 years old so that they can be a little better at retaining information and learning plays. If you want to start your kids in a sports program and get them comfortable with the sport I would recommend I9 sports, especially for little ones. Sports offered: Baseball/T-Ball Soccer Basketball Flag Football read more

it's definitely great time for kids. safe and fun and they love to get snacks end of the games.

My sons have been playing i9 flag football on Oahu for almost 8 years now. When they were young, ie 5 - 6 years old, i9 was just starting out in Hawaii and it emphasized fairness and good sportsmanship. The kids were so young and flag football was really not so much about skill but about having fun, trying to remember plays, and the potlucks after the games. Now my sons are playing in the 14 and under age division and we are having a horrible horrible experience. Teams are vicious, coaches think they are playing in the super bowl. We have seen some players act very cocky and overly aggressive, and worst of all the referees are not trained properly, make very subjective and unfair calls, and are not responsive to parents' concerns. We signed up to play in the Honolulu district and used to play in Palolo but now our games are in Kapolei or Salt Lake or Manoa ... it's very inconsistent. We get to play in the stadium every other year but the game is sometimes so late on a Sunday night, like 8 pm. Over the past three years, I have serious serious and numerous complaints about the staff not setting the right tone for sportsmanship .... but now since this will be our last season in this league, I've decided to write, inspired by what happened today in Kapolei. The ref did not wear a ref uniform. The other team hit our quarterback and a penalty was not called. One of our players intercepted a pass and ran for a touchdown but because the referee did not see it (he was looking at a player who fell down on the field), he did not call it a touch down, and the other team grabbed one of the jerseys of a player on our team while our player was running and held on to it and was not called for holding. I suppose refs are known for making subjective calls, but this ref Mike was awful. A i9 site manager had to watch him and practically provide on the job training for him. I'm sad to say that i9 seems to be all about making money - they collect huge registration fees from players (ie $150 - $200 per player), use the fields for free because game are played at public parks, prob pay their staff minimum amounts per game, and give players a jersey and a mouth piece each season. If you are looking to sign you son or daughter up to play in a flag football league, thoroughly investigate your options. In my humble opinion, i9 has gone downhill since it opened its franchise in Hawaii. read more