By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer 
Association
AssociationMay 11, 2023-The pandemic upended the world including the 2020 Spring Season in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). It’s been a slow climb back to normalcy both for society in general as well as soccer games.
The TOPSoccer Festival of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) returns to its traditional spot on the first Saturday in June at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview where it has been played for the past three decades, but not since 2019. Now rebranded as the TOPSoccer Friendship Cup, there will be games and a barbecue from 9 am to noon on Saturday, June 3. TOPSoccer players from across the LIJSL will be having fun plus receive T-shirts and medals.
TOPSoccer stands for The Outreach Program for Soccer. It provides a safe and fun environment plus an opportunity for the child who is different from the average kid in mental, physical or social characteristics and requires modified educational practices and services in order to develop to his or her potential. The first program in the world started in the LIJSL when the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) and Massapequa Soccer Club separately kicked off programs back in 1978 at a time when Special Children playing sports was not as readily accepted as it is today.
For more info about the TOPSoccer Friendship Cup or to inquire about your child participating in the LIJSL’s wonderful TOPSoccer Program, please contact LIJSL TOPSoccer Chairperson Ann Marie Toth at 516-694-3567 or kaltoth@yahoo.com
With approximately 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 10 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 on to http://www.enysoccer.com/