By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
April 26, 2019-Everybody plays and everybody is included in youth soccer leagues across the United States.
Very sadly, there have been a few unseemly incidents of a racial nature recently on New York City soccer fields which has caused players to feel unwelcome and excluded. So America’s oldest youth soccer league, the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), took a stand against racism in providing an environment where everybody is treated with dignity and respect.
On the weekend of April 13 and 14, players and coaches walked hand-in-hand before their games and their photos were shared on social media under the hashtag #STANDAGAINSTRACISM. In the CJSL's social media contest, South Bronx United won New York City FC tickets with the top post on Instagram.
STAND AGAINST RACISM IN YOUTH SOCCER
CJSL Director Dimitrie Draguca stated, “We look forward to making this an annual event and taking the first steps in ensuring that all our young athletes feel welcome and included when they step on the soccer field.“
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.