By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
February 1, 2019-What is the sign that spring is on its way? To some people, it is hearing a bird chirping or a warm day and to baseball fans, it’s the opening of Spring Training. For New York soccer fans, the first sign of spring is the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Convention.
With 1,600 travel and premier teams, the LIJSL is the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and its convention is one of the world’s largest soccer conventions.
10,000 soccer fans are once again expected to attend the 37th Annual LIJSL Convention on March 8, 9 and 10 at the Huntington Hilton on Route 110 in Melville. Save those dates because if you’ve ever kicked a soccer ball, coached a team, refereed a game or cheered on your favorite player, there’s something for you at the LIJSL Convention!
The fun begins at 7 pm on Friday night, March 8 with the Annual Awards Dinner as the Volunteer of the Year from LIJSL clubs will be honored. Also being celebrated are John Davis from the East Islip Soccer Club, the West Islip Soccer Club’s Gary Kofsky, Diana Riccardi of the New Hyde Park Wildcats and Robert Walters of the Baldwin Eagles, who will be inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame that evening.
Although there is a fee for attending the Annual Awards Dinner, admission to the rest of the LIJSL Convention is absolutely free. Throughout the day on Saturday, March 9 and on Sunday morning, March 10, there will be LIJSL Sportsmanship Award presentations, meetings for club presidents, coaches and volunteers plus coaches and referee clinics as thousands of people purchase soccer items. Highlights include:
• Vendors from around the world. To register as a vendor, log on to: http://lijslsoccer.siplay.com/site/
• Three Long Island Legends Forum. Red Bulls coach Chris Armas, Red Bulls Academy Director Bob Montgomery plus former Cosmos goalkeeper and current commentator Shep Messing have a candid conversation about the state of the game. On Saturday at 3 pm in Salon D.
• A bilingual College Forum (English/Spanish) for high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The expert panel will talk about what every parent and player needs to know, including NCAA requirements, financial aid packages plus picking the college that’s right for you! On Saturday from 1 to 3 pm in Salon D.
• American Red Cross CPR/AED Training, conducted by the Long Island Sports Care Group on Saturday from 10 am to noon in the Mattituck Room
• United Soccer Coaches 4v4 Course, a three-hour lesson designed for those who will be coaching youth soccer players from 4 to 10 years of age. Sunday from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm in Salon D.
For more information about the 37th Annual LIJSL Convention, click on this link: http://www.lijsoccer.com/pages/convention.php
Or please contact the league at 631-648-9020.
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 on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.