By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
January 11, 2024-Indoor tournaments and futsal leagues dot the landscape of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) during the winter. But the hardy souls of Juventus Academy New York started an outdoor Winter Tournament last year which has gained in popularity. 23 teams played last year and it has more than doubled with 49 boys squads from Under-10 to Under-16 competing this winter. Juventus Academy had entered into a strategic partnership with the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) to organize the Winter Tournament.
“I was a pro player back in Italy and played outdoors in all weather conditions,” stated Giovanni Russo, President of the Juventus Academy New York. “When I moved to the United States 12 years ago, I found out that teams play indoor tournaments and futsal during the winter because of the harsh weather. Futsal improves technical skills but it takes a few weeks for the players to adjust to playing outdoor soccer again in March so we created the Winter Tournament.”
All games are played in accordance with US Soccer’s Cold Weather Guidelines on turf fields on Randall’s Island, Queens and Brooklyn as Juventus Academy partnered with other CJSL clubs in finding available fields. Games started in December and run until the semifinals on March 2 and the championship games on March 9.
Russo added, “It is a competitive tournament, the level of play has become better but the emphasis is on safety. My staff tries to be at all the games.”
Some CJSL clubs have teams that are playing in the Winter Tournament while other squads in the same club are playing indoors, dependent on the choice of the team and coach.
For more info about the NY Winter Tournament, please contact Giovanni Russo at 917-558-1551 or giorusso@juventusnyc.com
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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/