Good luck to the Boys-Under-15 Dix Hills Elite and Boys-Under-16 Smithtown Arsenal!
New York Stars Premier Galaxy Competing in Nationals
Back row, from left to right: Maynor Palacios, Alexander Brooks, Franceso Hinojal, Ronaldo Fatolou, Owen Stafford, Boniface Fatohou, Kamran Acito, Asaf Grofman.
Front row, left to right: Bakary Anderson, Seyvik Magon, Aidan Chuang, Robert Weiztman, Samuel Weisleder, Mohammed Maroc, Alexander Matos, Owen Nesci, Danny Montoya.
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 22, 2019-Regional finalist New York Stars Premier Galaxy are playing for the Boys-Under-15 national championship this week! In just the past year, the team has won championships in the Massapequa Showcase, Potomac Memorial Tournament in Maryland, the EDP Cup Spring Showcase in New Jersey, the USYS North Atlantic Division and our boys hope to bring the national championship back to New York.
Representing the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), New York Stars are in Overland Park, Kansas for the US Youth Soccer national championships and start group play tomorrow when they play Michigan’s Nationals Union 04 Black at 6:30 pm. On Wednesday also at 6:30 pm, New York Stars take on PPA KSA 04 Pro-Profile from Georgia. Our boys conclude group play with a 8:30 pm kick-off on Thursday against New Jersey’s Real Jersey FC.
The top two teams in each four-team group will play the semifinals on Saturday at 7:00 am with the national championship game scheduled for Sunday, July 28 at 9:40 am. All games at the Nationals are being played in the morning and at night to try and avoid the oppressive summer heat.
With players from Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and New Jersey, the team plays most of its home games at Reinhart Field, on the campus of SUNY Maritime and a very short corner kick from the Throgs Neck Bridge.
“Our strength is our ability to take players on 1 vs. 1 all over the field,“ explained New York Stars coach Ra Ung. “To win the national championship, we will all need to be consistently at our best, show patience and be disciplined for each game. Also, we must execute and stick to our game plan and trust each other in the challenging moments.“
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 11 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.
Emmanuel Nneji Making a Huge Difference for Kingston Youth Soccer Players
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
March 30, 2021-There are many wonderful volunteer coaches in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and today we celebrate Emmanuel Nneji of the Kingston Area Soccer League.
Manny first became involved in soccer as a boy growing up in Nigeria. He explained, “Playing soccer was the only thing kids my age did and wanted to do. All the boys swamped the field at recess to play, and then it was the thing to do after school when chores were completed.”
Manny came to the United States in 1980 to attend college at SUNY New Paltz. He got into coaching after moving back to New Paltz in 1989 after law school as a former college teammate asked him to help a group of kids who wanted to play soccer but did not make any of the existing recreational teams.
“The kids got a hold of my soul and I have not let go more than 30 years later.”
The now Kingston resident is currently coaching the Girls-Under-16 Kingston Warrior Eagles in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL). This is the first time in over two decades that Manny is coaching only one team as he coached both a boys team and a girls squad until the pandemic.
The other most recent teams he coached were the Kingston Warriors (girls) and the Kingston Cannons (boys). Manny was honored as the 2009 EHYSL Girls Coach of the Year.
"The Warriors were exceptional for me. Their team had been abandoned with their ‘top players' joining another club across the river. They cried for a mistake when we started out; they did not want to play certain positions because they did not want to make any mistakes. They were afraid to play the game that made them happy and brought them together with their friends. They started to come around as our first season progressed and, instead of losing 7-0 each game it became 5-2 or less. Celebrated a tie in the last game of the first season and never looked back from there, they won East Hudson’s Division 1, the Metro League and back-to-back Challenge Cup championships. The Warriors were a great group of girls, athletes, students and human beings––the ultimate accomplishments of any youth sport.”
About his current team, Manny says that the Warrior Eagles "are catching their stride in the love, fun and enjoyment of the game. Their individual and team confidence continues to grow, and I have to do all I can enable them to reach as far as their individual and collective vision will take them in soccer and its fun, as well as in life.”
And all this love of soccer and his players is in addition to his position as a prosecutor in Ulster County.
"My job as a volunteer soccer coach is also a real job for me, and I dare say it’s even more serious in the grand scheme of things, because of the direct interaction and impact a coach can have on a kid, especially during such impressionable stages in their lives,” Manny concluded.
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 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/
Eastern New York Product Shayna Levy Playing Defense For the Israeli Girls-Under-19 Youth National Team
Israel Football Association photo of Shayna Levy in blue marking a Swedish player
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
December 7, 2015-With the lights of the Empire State Building glowing in blue-and-white and the antenna being one very large candle to welcome Hanukkah last night, now’s the perfect time to write about Shayna Levy as she grew up in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) but left the bright lights of the big city to travel abroad and represent Israel internationally.
The Brewster resident played for the North Salem Jaguars and FC Lewisboro Xtreme, both of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), and FC Sting 96 of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). The Sting made it all the way to the Eastern New York Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup finals in 2012 before losing to Farmingdale United, 3-0.
At North Salem High School, Shayna led the Bears to two quarterfinal and two semifinal playoff berths and was honored two-time All-State, two-time League Player of the Year, two-time All-Section and three-time Varsity Scholar Athlete while maintaining a 99.29 GPA.
With the United States being number one in women’s soccer and there being a large number of Jews in New York, the Israel Football Association held tryouts on Long Island for their women’s program in June 2014. Shayna tried out, made the Israel Girls-Under-19 Youth National Team and claimed “Aliyah” at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv to become an Israeli citizen so she could play for Israel.
“Everything somehow lined up perfectly and I fulfilled a dream I always had,” Shayna said in an interview with the North Salem News.
“I always knew I would come to Israel at some point,” added Shayna, whose maternal grandparents are Israeli citizens now living in the USA. “I don’t doubt it was something I would have done, regardless of the team, sometime in the future.”
As many of Israel’s neighboring countries either do not recognize the state or will not play them, Israel is forced to play against the better competition in Europe even though it’s located in Asia. Last March, Israel hosted the Girls-Under-19 Euro Cup, losing to Sweden, Denmark and France but getting better with every game as Shayna started in central defense.
To prepare, Shayna lived at the Wingate Institute in Netanya with her teammates, most of whom were Israeli except for one Canadian native and three Americans. Wingate is a sports training facility, Army base, boarding school and college. She spent six months practicing twice a day and then played a weekly game against other Under-19 Israeli women’s teams. Other than train, she spent her time doing yoga, studying Hebrew and hanging out in Tel Aviv, which was a half-hour drive from where she lived.
As a freshman this fall, Shayna started as a defender for the University of Rochester, helping lead the Yellow Jackets to a 8-7-2 record. During the college season, she went to Portugal to play for Israel, with her team defeating Estonia and losing to Portugal and Norway.
Shayna said she has become a more worldly person after spending time abroad.
“It might have been the best decision I ever made,” she said. “It was the greatest experience of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!”
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 11 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 Special Children. 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.
New York Soccer Mourning the Loss of Big Apple Youth Soccer League Founder Luis Montoya
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer AssociationJune 29, 2021-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the loss of Luis Montoya, who died on June 26 at the age of 76.
The native of Peru founded the Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) in 1997 to serve the growing number of soccer families who recently arrived in New York City and served as its President until last year.
“Luis was all about making certain that all children in the United States have the opportunity to play the world’s most popular sport and he had an enormous impact on the children of New York City,” commented Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) President Richard Christiano.
Several years ago, he gave a clinic in East Harlem and was surprised that the Latino children did not know how to kick a soccer ball until he taught them as their parents had emigrated from the Dominican Republic, one of the few places in Latin America where béisbol is king instead of fútbol.
The Astoria resident had two tours of duty as Trustee of ENYYSA serving two Presidents, Barry Salter and Richard Christiano. He served as a member of the Diversity Committee for U.S. Soccer under four Presidents––Alan Rothenberg, Dr. Bob Contiguglia, Sunil Gulati and Carlos Cordeiro.
Luis also volunteered as Games Chairperson for the Hellenic-American Soccer League and was on the league’s Board of Directors for seven years as well as serving as trustee for a few years in the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association. Additionally for nearly two decades, he promoted and coordinated C, D, E and F coaching courses in New York City with Alfonso Mondelo, Arnold Ramirez, John Ramirez, Howard Rubenstein and Nick Zlatar.
Luis received many honors in the last decade of his life as BAYSL named their summer tournament after him, he was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame and made a Life Member by ENYYSA.
To keep his dream alive of helping kids in the BAYSL, donations are being accepted for the Luis Montoya Scholarship Fund.
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 11 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/
New York Soccer Pioneer Joe Goldberg Passes Away
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 14, 2013-When Joe Goldberg and Ian McDougall founded the Oceanside United Soccer Club in 1962, orange and blue were chosen as the colors of the new club. Not because they are the colors of the New York Mets that started play that year but because orange and blue are the colors of Nassau County and Oceanside United was the first youth soccer club in the county. The founding of the club led to the great youth soccer boom on the island and eventually made the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) the world’s largest soccer league.
The local soccer community is mourning the loss of Goldberg who passed away on Monday at age 85. During a very colorful life, he was seemingly involved in every aspect of local soccer since the 1950’s. After coming to New York, the native of what was Czechoslovakia became a soccer administrator, coach, referee, one of the founders of Soccer Week, the weekly publication that gave the sports’ supporters information about the beautiful game before the start of the Internet, among many other roles and responsibilities.
Joe was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the LIJSL, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Eastern New York State Amateur Soccer Association plus was honored as a Life Member of the Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL) and Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) for all his volunteering. The LISFL also named their winter indoor tournament after him. He and his wife Miriam lived in Oceanside for 52 years before moving to Connecticut in 2010 to be closer to family. Joe was lauded by many at his retirement dinner at the Oceanside Jewish Center that year.
Speaking for many of the former Oceanside United players––more than a dozen showed up for the dinner––Ron Atanasio remembered how he met Goldberg as he was at Oceanside Junior High School watching boys play soccer. Ron wound up starring at Adelphi University and as a first-round draft pick of the New York Cosmos, enjoying a 10-year professional career.
"These two gentlemen gave me an opportunity to excel in the sport I love," Atanasio said of Goldberg and McDougall. "I can truly tell you this is a unique man. Without the opportunity you had given me, I probably wouldn’t be playing soccer."
"Joe was always about the kids," said Mike D’Ambrosio, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s registrar. "For Joe, it’s the number of people’s lives who he touched. He gave them a place to play. Joe would pick you up in his van, feed you and bring you home."
Goldberg did it all, from buying the uniforms––which were used over and over again by several teams to save money––to washing them.
Oceanside United’s Jim Volpe played for Goldberg on the Oceanside men’s team and then served on Oceanside’s Board of Directors with him for many years. He stated, "Joe wasn’t afraid to be different or think out of the box. You could disagree with him but he never held a grudge."
Oceanside United was founded four years before the LIJSL came into existence so it originally played in what is today the CJSL. The league’s Ben Boehm said, "Joe was like a tornado. A number of us had arguments with him. But he knew what he wanted to do. He willed Oceanside United into existence."
"Just going down into Joe’s basement was like visiting a soccer museum," Volpe added. "Everybody who played soccer on Long Island for the past 50 years owes Joe a debt of gratitude. He got the whole thing going. I’m really going to miss him!"
We have lost a very good man. May he rest in peace.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 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 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. Eastern New York 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 Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. Eastern New York 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.
Now’s the Time to Say “Thank You!”
By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching Instruction, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
I take great care and pride in the efforts I make to lead players and teams in a holistic way. I am completely aware that although many of them may not become great players who play professionally or at college, they all may become great people who play for life, coach one day and become active responsible adults.I spend time learning about my player’s life outside of the game, how they are doing at school, how family life is going and attempt to display a genuine interest in their likes and dislikes.
As I coach a good number of teenage players, I frequently talk to them about how they are helping their families and what they do to actually support mom, dad, brothers and sisters. Are they a positive member of the family community or are they purely wrapped up in their own wants? The conversation is one that starts with how they perform and act at practice. The challenge I present too all the players I coach i:s
“Can you be the player who most impacts a practice and ensures that the learning environment is ideal for all? Can you be the first one in? Can you be the most coachable player in the group? Can you be the one who most helps with equipment? Can you be the player who notices a teammate is down and gives them a word of inspiration or comfort?”
I work hard to make them aware that the mission above should be their number one priority and that if I can get all 18 to place it as their core mission. we will soon have a team that make remarkable progress.
Another of the core values that I work on with players is respect. The team dynamic is that we respect each other, we respect the refs, we respect the parents and all the work they do so players get to train and play. Part of this culture that deals with respect is saying "thank you." I encourage them to thank each other at the end of each game and practice, thank the refs at the end of each game and, of course, thank their parents at the end of the drive home. I ask them all to try and display their thanks by helping at home by doing something around the house that helps the family.
It seems appropriate at this time of year to once again encourage a few thank you notes (Jimmy Fallon like). So not just because it’s the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons but more because it’s just the right thing to do/ I encourage all:
Players to thank your parents for the endless hours spent driving you to practice and games while remembering not to shout orders to you as you play.
Parents to thank coaches for their efforts in developing your child even though they didn’t win as many games as you thought they should have and have yet to recognize your child is the next Messi.
Coaches to thank club officials and administrators for all their efforts, even if the biggest space you got to train in was really only suitable for 3v3, and you got the 9-10:30pm slot on a Friday.
Coaches to thank referees for the courage they show in turning up game after game knowing they will be subjected to endless ridiculous comments shouted at the top of their voices from an adult who obviously never kicked a ball.
Coaches to thank the refs who forget to give you and the players the 5-minute speech on when and where substitutes may enter the game like they are sharing some news on a new discovery in creating energy.
Coaches to tournament organizers who remember that we live in the Northeast of the US and that winter along with frigid temperatures arrives at about the same time every year.They also should be thanked for remembering how it feels to play outside when the real feel is so harsh you lose the feeling in your toes after five minutes”
And lastly but most importantly:
Players to parents who spend the car ride home listening to loud Christmas music and in so doing forget to share the latest post mortem on your performance in the game.
Best wishes to one and all
Tim
Where is Our Next Crystal Dunn Coming From?
By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching Instruction, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
Understandably, the excitement and genuine joy that surrounded the Women’s World Cup were enormous. Whatever your feelings on the style of play or the nature of the celebrations, what is undeniable is the success of the team, not just in terms of the results and the incredible feat in lifting a fourth World Cup but also in the obvious and clear unity within the squad.
The applause and excitement should be loud and real. What an amazing accomplishment! So many other countries now have evolved women’s soccer programs. The level of competition and the standard of many of the opponents shows how strong the women’s game is becoming. The level of interest, viewing figures, publicity and public interest should undoubtedly help the game grow again. Any and all soccer fans are safe in the knowledge that the world's game continues to thrive and expand.
It is early days since the cup was lifted but I am sure like myself, governing bodies, leagues, clubs and coaches are all designing strategies on how best to use the win to inspire the next generation of young female players. The excitement should be huge. The concerns should be obvious.
As everyone reading this will know, Crystal is a New York kid. She developed in an environment that no longer exists with some crucial contributing ingredients that are difficult if not impossible to find within the youth game. How do I know this? Simply because I was her club coach from ages 10 through 16 on two Rockville Centre Soccer Club teams – the Rockville Centre Power and then the Rockville Centre Tornadoes. To add to that, I also led the Eastern New York ODP Girls Program where Crystal played and I coached her for one season within that program (she moved on to play ODP with other coaches and made the Regional team and then the Youth National Teams).
I think it is important to note Crystal’s attributes as a developing player as they are the cornerstone of all that she has achieved. Even as a 10-year-old, she had an exuberance to play. She was excited to compete, would not be shackled within an environment devoid of fun and if necessary, would create the fun herself. She was brave and relentless. Would thrive on challenges and carry on until working until the skill was mastered.
As a concrete example, we would begin each session with some juggling to help the players become masters of the ball. This was a skill she struggled with at the beginning – no worry because once introduced, along with the reason why, she quickly became the best in the young group. She was creative and intelligent. Able to create solutions due to her skill and athleticism that others could not see. She was a walking billboard for a GROWTH MINDSET and simply put, behaved in a fashion that told me there is nothing in this game I cannot master. What a joy to coach!!
She moved on to play for the Rockville Centre Tornadoes and this is where the developmental journey becomes interesting as the Tornadoes had some key things in place that helped Crystal excel, some of which are perhaps things of the past.
1) A team manager who had no other agenda other than in ensuring the girls had fun at practice and were learning the game and how to work as team. She had no ego and no agenda and her support for me was total. (Thank you, Donna!)
2) A youth coach who firmly believed that winning was less important than developing players. I was then as I am now absolutely convinced that youth players must be given the chance to learn the game before being asked to focus on winning the game.
3) A youth coach who knew then as I know now that I was learning the craft of coaching. Figuring out how to lead players and lead the team. The Tornadoes forced me to work everyday on my craft to ensure they got the chance to develop in the right environment. I meet coach after coach nowadays who believes, based on a few wins, that they have mastered their craft.
4) An incredible group of parents who were more concerned about player development and personal growth than they were about winning. The Tornadoes who played in the Long Island Junior Soccer League started their soccer journey with two losing seasons. The parental support for the program and the journey we were on never faded. They asked questions, listened and supported.
5) A unified youth soccer environment. When Crystal played the only youth soccer program was US Youth Soccer. All the players were under one banner. This meant that it was much easier to get a high-quality group together. Through both the developmental process and adding players that wanted to be part of the program, we were able to ensure that every session was competitive.
Ultimately this unified youth program led to the Tornadoes playing in the only ELITE level league of the day – the now defunct US Youth Soccer Region 1 League. There are now more “Elite” leagues than there are goals in the World Cup.
6) Access to ODP which was the only clear pathway to the Regional and National Teams and was the only elite level support program available at that time.
I know we can’t turn back time and that creating a team environment where many of the above can be met is incredibly difficult. I am also acutely aware that now, while the songs are still being chanted, the excitement is high and young girls are inspired to be the next Crystal Dunn, is perhaps the best time to consider how we best help them.
New Hyde Park Firecats Win the Girls-Under-13 State Open Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 5, 2014-In the Girls-Under-13 State Open Cup final between two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams, the New Hyde Park Firecats defeated Huntington’s HBC Sudden Impact in a shootout. After tying 1-1 in regulation, New Hyde Park advanced from the shootout, 3-1. The championship game took place on Saturday, May 31 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
New Hyde Park’s Izzy Glennon beat three defenders and chipped the HBC keeper to equalize after HBC’s Ryan Conway scored in the first half.
“HBC dominated the first half with having the strong wind at their backs,” commented New Hyde Park coach Steve Price. “But we had the better of play in the second half with the wind.”
These two great teams are roughly equal in ability as New Hyde Park defeated HBC in the final last year, 4-2, but needed overtime to do it.
New Hyde Park received a $2,000 check from Eastern New York to defer the costs of playing in the Regionals from June 26 to July 1 in Kingston, Rhode Island. The new Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) champions also received the Howard Rubinstein Sportsmanship Award. Now retired, Mr. Rubenstein was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer for decades and is a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the LIJSL.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 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 11 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 Special Children. 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.
Standing Up Against Racism in Youth Soccer
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
March 28, 2019-The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) is the oldest youth soccer league in the United States as they are New York City originals since 1933. The CJSL is also one of the most culturally diverse leagues in the USA.
Andrew So, Executive Director and Co-Founder of CJSL club South Bronx United, recently wrote an article entitled, Racism on Your Local Youth Soccer Pitch, in which he sheds light on the racist comments and actions in youth soccer and the negative impact it has on players.
“The CJSL considers itself a home for players of all ethnicities, nationalities, languages and gender identities. The article Andrew wrote resonated with our organization and we are prepared to take action,“ stated CJSL Director Dimitrie Draguca. “So the CJSL invites all youth soccer teams in New York City to join us on the weekend of April 13 and 14 to Stand Against Racism in Youth Soccer.“
To participate in this anti-racism program, the CJSL asks that for all games, in all age groups:
1. Both teams including coaches and referees walk together, hand-in-hand in one line across to the center circle
2. Parents and fans clap and cheer from the sidelines
3. Everyone share pictures and videos of this moment on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram with the hashtag #STANDAGAINSTRACISM
The CJSL team with the most social posts with the hashtag will win tickets to an upcoming New York City FC match in New York City.
STAND AGAINST RACISM IN YOUTH SOCCER
In addition, the CJSL has updated its GAME ISSUE INCIDENT REPORT to allow for the reporting of any racist and/or discriminatory behavior by parents, coaches, referees or players during a CJSL match.
Draguca added, “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.