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Los Angeles Dodgers great Sandy Koufax made national news when he refused to pitch the first game of the 1965 World Series, which fell on Yom Kippur. Now in our own backyard, a South Bay youth soccer league refuses to play on Shabbat. Many observant families are thrilled.

Teams of the new Maccabi league practice during the week and play their games on Sundays. The league brings together players from North Peninsula Jewish Community Day School in San Mateo, South Peninsula Hebrew Day School in Sunnyvale, Congregation Beth David in Saratoga and Congregation Shir Hadash and the Yavneh Day School, both in Los Gatos.

The league, sponsored by the Addison Penzak Jewish Community of Greater San Jose, is not affiliated with the Maccabi Games.

The league, which began games in March at the South Peninsula school field, now has 200 children. Games will continue through May.

Teams are co-ed for kindergarten through second-graders, with separate teams for girls and boys in third through six grades.

Beki Safar, coordinator of the program, says, "Besides having fun, we want to instill Jewish ethics and values through sports. We stress fair play, good sportsmanship and teamwork."

Barbara Jacobs, coach from the North Peninsula school, agrees. "We play considerately and courteously so no one gets hurt and everyone is respected. There are no elbows or kicking at opponents. Emphasis is on safety, self-esteem and, most of all, fun."

The referees are paid, and usually are Jewish teens who referee in other local leagues, and serve as role models for the younger children. In addition, many parents are stepping in as coaches and assistants.

Mishy Balaban of Los Gatos, who is a coach for the girls' fifth-grade team, enjoys the opportunity to do something with her daughter, Arissa, a student at Yavneh. She also appreciates scheduling that accommodates her observance of Shabbat.

"This is a wonderful way of bringing the Jewish community together, and the children from the North and South Peninsula get to know each other," she says.

Anna Young of Monte Sereno, whose son, Eli, is in the third grade at Yavneh, says, "We've always looked for sporting events that are on Sunday, so we can practice Shabbat, which is very important to us. We are delighted that our son now has the opportunity to interact with peers from other day schools on the Peninsula. Although Eli has played very little, this league has everyone participating on the different levels."

Rayna Lehman of Menlo Park, who has twin boys in kindergarten at the North Peninsula school, says she is delighted to see this league established. "As working parents, we can now both participate as a family in this activity. Our boys, Benjamin and Patrick, have taken to soccer very naturally, as kicking the ball and running are something they love to do."

After the first game, Lehman says her boys could hardly wait to phone their grandparents and tell them all about it. That night, Benjamin said, "You know, Mom, that is the first time I played professionally."