A group of women in Bend is taking the term ”soccer mom” to a new level.

Dropping the kids off from the minivan at soccer practice was yesterday. Today, the moms are playing soccer.

Dozens of soccer moms who have never played before are now getting their kicks in the over-30 women’s soccer league at the Central Oregon Indoor Soccer Center.

”Soccer wasn’t available to me in high school or college,” says Mona Holmes, 47, who plays in the league on a team called the Blue Blaze. ”I’ve always wanted to try it, but I was a little intimidated. The outdoor leagues were always men and coed. We realized this was our chance and we’re doing it.”

Holmes, a manager at the Bend Bi-Mart store, has two sons who play soccer: the elder plays on the intramural team at the University of Oregon, and the younger son plays for Mountain View High School.

Both have played since they were in first grade, and Holmes came to understand the game from watching them play. But playing soccer herself has taught her the most.

”It has put a whole new perspective on soccer when we watch our kids,” she says. ”No more sitting on the sidelines saying: ‘Why are they standing there?’ ”

The new women’s league is not made up entirely of first-timers, however. Some players have considerable experience in soccer. Jennifer Bromley, 36, plays alongside Holmes on the Blue Blaze.

Bromley played college soccer at the University of California-Riverside until injuring her knee. Here in Bend, she has played in the indoor Central Oregon Community College league, and in the outdoor recreational league.

Bromley has no children of her own, but she is a math teacher at Mountain View High. And she enjoys being able to advise the first-time players in the women’s league.

”I’m a teacher, so it’s my nature,” she says. ”A lot of these women know what to do after watching for so many years.”

Bromley provided some help and encouragement to Holmes in their first game.

”I was scared to death when I first stepped out there,” Holmes says. ”I had never even kicked a soccer ball before. I got knocked on the ground in the first five minutes. (Jennifer) was wonderful. She would help me and tell me what I needed to do and when.

”The funny thing about that game was that I was playing against other women that I had sat on the sidelines with when we watched our kids play.”

The Blue Blaze went on to win that first game, 11-3, and Holmes scored a goal.

”I like doing this more than going to the gym or doing aerobics,” Bromley says. ”I like playing on a team, and watching somebody who has never scored a goal enjoy that part of soccer.”

Cindy Murphy, 47, is another ”soccer mom” who plays for the Blue Blaze. She has three kids who all play soccer. Murphy, a substitute teacher, says she played outdoor soccer 25 years ago in Eugene, but the adjustment after such a long break wasn’t easy.

”It’s not like riding a bike,” she says. ”It’s fun as long as you don’t get hurt. It gives you empathy for your children.”

Murphy had some pregame jitters in the first game, but she managed to overcome them.

”I was a little nervous just to not look stupid,” she says. ”But after five minutes it was fun.”

Murphy says that the Blue Blaze may have a slight edge over the competition because the team has quite a few women who have played before, but their is no real fierce competition between teams.

”Competitive? It all depends,” Murphy says. ”This is kind of a fun league.”

The experienced Bromley agrees. ”It’s pretty low-key, but it’s very well organized.”

The Blue Blaze went on to win its next game, 7-1. The team is hoping for continued success throughout the remainder of the season, which ends March 3.

Holmes just hopes that other women will be inspired by what the soccer moms are doing, which is mostly just enjoying themselves.

”Everybody loves it,” Holmes says. ”It’s exercise, and getting out there with other women and having fun. I’m hoping more women will see this and want to play.”

And maybe now the KIDS can give the MOMS a ride to soccer practice.