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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

October 17, 2017-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) started the Exceptional Senior Games in 1981 so that top high school senior soccer players could be scouted by college coaches all in one venue. This all-star competition spread throughout the United States and continues on Long Island 36 years later, although it’s now organized exclusively by Nassau County Boys Soccer and the Suffolk County Boys Soccer Coaches Association.

One of the most successful Exceptional Senior Games, in addition to the one on Long Island, takes place a long corner kick from the state capital in Albany every year. The Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) will be organizing its Exceptional Senior Games on Friday, November 10, continuing its tradition of playing these games on or near Veterans Day, which is a day later. CDYSL volunteers have been organizing this competition of both public and private schools annually during its two decades of existence with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) providing financial support.

”We organize everything, including providing jerseys and booklets with profiles on each player,” explained Exceptional Senior Games Director Italo Carcich of the CDYSL. “The only thing we don’t do is select the players during the tryouts as that is done by the Section 2 high school coaches.”

Approximately 120 college coaches will once again be scouting and meeting players on four fields at DiCaprio Park in Guilderland. The CDYSL invites all college coaches on the East Coast. Five boys all-star games and four girls all-star games will be played with the fun starting at 10 am. The beauty of this showcase is it allows college coaches to view at least a full half of any given game, before moving on to another game. If a head coach comes with an assistant coach, then each one can view the entire game. 

“College coaches love this setup and their ability to view many prospects for their schools,” Carcich said.  

The day's schedule is here.

Please join us for an exceptional day of soccer! For more info, contact the CDYSL's Tammy Kishbaugh at cdysloffice@cdysl.org or 518-435-2325.

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.

Congratulations to these State Open Cup champion teams who won the title on the last weekend of May in LaGrange. Good luck at Regionals from June 26 to 30 in West Virginia.

BU12 Small-Sided Coliseum Milan

GU12 Small-Sided Capital United Blue Flash

BU12 Lynbrook/East Rockaway Sting

GU12 Levittown Wildcats

BU13 Sachem Destroyers

BU14 Deer Park Wolfpack

GU14 HBC Impact '00

BU15 Dix Hills Hurricanes

GU15 Smithtown Hotspur

BU16 Massapequa Mavericks

GU16 Brentwood Freedom

BU17 Dix Hills Elite

GU17 HBC Strikers

BU18 Manhattan Paris Saint-Germain

GU18 Sound Beach Stingrays

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching Instruction, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 

Typically moving the goalposts is a phrase full of negative connotations as someone has set you a goal or target that changes in the middle of completion. I am going to ask that you open your mind and remove all negative implications of the phrase and actively go about moving the goalposts within the culture of youth soccer and move them quickly.

Youth sport has lost its way in respect to the highly competitive atmosphere that surrounds every game, I mean from the age of 5 years and up. No age group or sport is given a respite and success is viewed only by wins, losses and goals scored. This over-competitive parent-induced environment is unhealthy and leads to harmful and disturbing behavior.

Different TV channels, noticeably ABC and NBC, have started to highlight both the frequency and extreme negativity of youth parents at sporting events. Whether it be fist fights between mothers at football games, fathers at soccer games, a dad screaming at a 6-year-old at a baseball game to bring him to tears or a mother making her kid get out of the car and walk two miles home due to her disappointment with a game performance. What should be obvious is the need to STOP and consider what sport is really about.

The reasons why kids want to play are both well-researched and well-reported (perhaps we are not listening). Kids Under-12 primarily play for the following reasons

1. To have FUN.

2. To be with their friends.

3. To learn the skills of the game.

4. To wear the stuff.

I understand the parent need to feel like their time is well-invested and that this need leads to a desire for SUCCESS. What is obvious and essential is that defining success by wins and losses at a young age quickly creates a negative playing environment that is charged with so much pressure that our players are leaving the game.

Let’s judge success by the following:

1. Techniques mastered-ask your coach/ trainer what techniques they are working on this season and try to look at the game through how well they are improving in these areas.

2. How many questions do the coaches ask of your child and consequently how many times in a game are they getting to think and enjoy making decisions.

3. Do they leave each game with a smile knowing that they gave their best?

4. Tactically do they appear to understand at age 7 and up that they should try to keep the ball and that the game has different phases, when we have the ball and when we don’t?

I am not suggesting that parents quiz their children over the suggestions above, I am rather hoping that by presenting parents with a different agenda by which to view a game we can somehow turn down the competitive cauldron that our youngsters play within. Perhaps if we are all busy counting passes in a row, two player combinations completed and skills preformed we will all be too busy to scream the next order or pick the next fight.

Let’s get busy moving the goalposts.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
August 13, 2014-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) wishes Burt Wilkes all the best as he leaves Eastern New York’s Board of Directors since he was just recently elected Deputy Director of Region 1, which covers youth soccer in the Northeast United States.
 
Burt became involved with the Silver Lake Soccer Club in 1991 and served the club as President, Vice President and Trustee. He was the assistant coach and team administrator of the Silver Lake Rams, who won two State Cup championships at Boys-Under-17 and Boys-Under-19 with losing in the final at Boys-Under-18 in-between their two State Cups.
 
While with Silver Lake, the Rossville, Staten Island resident became a member of the Board of Directors of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL). He served six years as the CJSL President. Burt was the driving force behind the CJSL opening a full-time office, negotiated partnerships with corporations and was instrumental in CJSL girls teams playing in other Eastern New York leagues as guest teams while the CJSL accepted guest teams from other leagues.
 
Burt volunteered as the First, Second, Third and Fourth Vice President as well as Trustee of Eastern New York. He has served as Chairperson of Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program as well as Commissioner of the Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL). So with all this volunteering and accomplishments, it’s no surprise that Burt has been inducted into the Halls of Fame for both Eastern New York (2012) and the CJSL (2013).

“While I am sorry to see Burt leave our Board of Directors, I am very happy that Eastern New York will have an important voice with him in Region 1 soccer,” commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano.
 
Somehow Burt also found the time to be the boys soccer coach at Moore Catholic High School for five years and won the B Division Championship in 2001 as well as spending countless hours volunteering in the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

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. 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.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

July 9, 2015-Huntington’s HBC Impact ‘00 won all five games at Regionals from June 26 to 30 in West Virginia, outscoring their opponents, 11-2, in winning the Regional championship. The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Girls-Under-14 team will be playing for the national championship from July 21 to 26 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. HBC received another $2,000 donation from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) for Nationals, in addition to their $2,000 check for Regionals, to defray their costs during the National Championship Series.

“We’d like to thank Eastern New York for their support this year, running the State Cup and getting us to Regionals and then helping us financially to get here, which was important for us,” commented HBC coach Billy Carroll. “Regionals is an expensive event and Eastern New York really stepped up big for us. We’re going to Oklahoma, we had a really, really tough bracket here at Regionals, the Group of Death, and I’m really proud of my girls for getting through it.”

Coach Carroll added, “For 14-year-olds to come here and act as professional as they did, I’m really proud of them. Some of my players had a huge, huge weekend.”

All 17 Impact players contributed to their Regional championship.

“To have that many players contribute speaks to the level of depth and work habit of our kids. We also went up against teams who only played their 10 starting field players,” Coach Carroll explained. “I believe because we played and trusted more girls, we were better rested, better hydrated and really more invested as a full team than others and I think it helped us in the stressful moments.”

Nina Carlomusto, Gina Giovinco and Lauren Mastrandrea scored in the 3-0 win over Virginia’s NVSC Jr. Majestics 00 in the Regional final with keeper Morgan Novikoff getting the shutout in goal. Ryan Conway was selected tournament MVP, with her and Kaylee Houlahan anchoring a defense that not only gave up few opportunities and only two goals but also provided great width in attack.

“The play from our attacking backs, Jade Fixon-Owoo, Sarah Quigley and Nina Carlomusto, especially in the last few games was unparalleled,” Coach Carroll added. “Daniella Keegan saved her best soccer of the year for the semifinals and finals. Lindsay Wright is typically a tenacious attacker in the withdrawn forward spot, and I was so proud of her selflessness and commitment to our team. Plus Julia Hannon was regularly marked by two and three opponents and yet scored a few brilliant goals and created most of our opportunities.”

After Nationals, HBC continues their ambitious schedule and will be playing in the USYSA National League, Bethesda Tournament, CASL Girls’ College Showcase, Disney Showcase and the Jefferson Cup.

“If we win them great, if not that's fine as long as we're developing and playing good soccer against good opponents,” Coach Carroll concluded.

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.

Top row, left to right: Coach Billy Carroll, Nina Carlomusto, Summer Nolan, Team Administrator Kim Houlahan, Talani Barnett, Sarah Quigley, Coach Bill Carroll
Middle row, left to right: Jade Fixon-Owoo, Ryan Conway, Nicola Calabrese, Julia Hannon, Kaylee Houlahan, Gina Giovinco
Bottom row, left to right: Lauren Mastrandrea, Daniella Keegan, Katie Buquicchio, Morgan Novikoff, Daniella Cornelia, Frankie Lilly, Lindsay Wright
Camera shy: Coach Mike Reichert

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
June 8, 2019-In a rematch of last year’s final, Lake Grove/Newfield United won their second consecutive State Open Cup by topping Alleycats 2004G in a shootout. The score was 1-1 after both regulation and overtime with Lake Grove/Newfield taking the shootout, 3-2. The game was played on June 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.

Sophia Onek scored Lake Grove/Newfield’s goal, just as she did in last year’s final. Lake Grove/Newfield players Michaela Baresi, Madison O’Connor and Jordyn Calas netted shootout goals while keeper Julia Darby was the big star in saving three penalty kicks during the shootout.

The Girls-Under-15 Jack Bauman Cup is named after the man considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. Jack was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club, Eastern New York and making sure that girls had as many opportunities to play soccer as boys did.

One of the earlier beneficiaries of Jack Bauman’s volunteering was Kim Baverstock, who grew up playing in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), then played at the University of Connecticut and is now the coach of Lake Grove/Newfield United. Kim stated, “It was an evenly-match championship game. Our defense is very, very strong and I thought our midfield was outstanding.”

Lake Grove/Newfield will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 28 to July 4 in Charleston, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.

USA teammates Crystal Dunn and Allie Long plus Jamaica goalkeeper Nicole McClure, training for the Women's World Cup, all played on youth teams that won Eastern New York’s State Open Cup when they were kids.

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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
July 2, 2019-Congratulations to the 2003 Boys South Olympic Development Program (ODP) team of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) for winning the Regional championship. The squad is made up of boys from New York City and Long Island who were born in 2003.

“This team evolved through the ODP cycle,“ commented head coach Graham Radcliffe, who also serves as the assistant coach of the Hofstra men. “What I knew early on in the winter sessions at the Hofstra Bubble was we had a group that were eager to learn and grow as players. As we progressed through the spring training sessions, the team started to show a strong understanding of the ODP principles of play. It wasn't until the first game in the Regional pool play, when we came from behind to tie a tough Virginia team, that I realized we had a team that had the mentality needed to succeed.“ 

At Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey from June 7 to 9, Eastern New York tied Virginia 1-1 and defeated Western New York and West Virginia both by 3-0 shutouts to finish first in their group.

Coach Radcliffe continued, “They displayed a relentless work rate, a determination to succeed, a strong focus on the tactical game plan and most importantly, they played unselfishly and for each other. Those themes grew during the rest of pool play and into the championship weekend. We came from behind to win the semifinal against top seed Maryland and also came from behind to tie Connecticut in the final to force a shootout.“

In the Final Four in Kirkwood, Delaware, Eastern New York topped Maryland 2-1 in the semis on June 22 and won the shootout in the final against Connecticut after tying 2-2 in regulation on June 23.

Assistant coach JT Famularo also is the assistant of the Farmingdale State men’s team and he agreed with Radcliffe’s assessment of the boys, “Characteristics that led to our team's success included their non-stop work ethic, commitment to the program and each other, and their heart and desire to win games. The boys worked extremely hard, outworking the opposition in every game, and in practices throughout the season.“

ODP is considered the highest level of play in each state association. Eastern New York has a particularly strong program evidenced by our recent national championships and that three of our ODP alumnae––USA teammates Crystal Dunn and Allie Long plus Jamaica’s Nicole McClure––all are in France for the Women's World Cup.

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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

Rocco Amoroso in gray suit jacket and maroon vest surrounded by his friends from Eastern New York.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

March 4, 2014-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association are thrilled to announce that Rocco Amoroso became a Life Member of US Soccer during their 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 1. As Rocco has attended US Soccer AGM’s throughout the country since 1989, the woodworker from Melville did not have far to travel to receive this lifetime achievement award as the 2014 AGM was held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

“I love my family, I love this country. I love this game and especially all the people that I have met through the years,” Rocco stated upon receiving the prestigious award.

This is far from the first honor for him as he has been inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Hall of Fame. Rocco also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nassau County Sports Commission in 1998, which is interesting as he lives and works just over the county border in neighboring Suffolk County. Now 88 years old, Rocco’s name is synonymous with sportsmanship and he puts his heart and soul into everything he does.

Rocco played in New York’s Eastern District Soccer League, starting in 1942. But his legacy in soccer came after he hung up his cleats for the last time.

The LIJSL’s Sportsmanship Program was the brainchild of Rocco in 1980 and is the first program of its kind––not just in the world of youth soccer, but in youth sports. Rocco had become concerned when he saw a lack of civility on the playing fields. As the LIJSL grew, there was a movement within the league to remain focused on its mission to develop mature teenagers and responsible citizens through the lessons of teamwork and Fair Play. The goal was to Build Character Through Soccer, a sentiment that comes from the Sportsmanship Program and continues to be the league’s slogan and mission statement to this day. With this in mind, Rocco wrote the guidelines, secured initial sponsorship of the program with the Sports Billy organization and tirelessly promoted the program. He stressed the important role that sportsmanship plays in the development of players.

In 1982 and 1983, the LIJSL sent the guidelines of their Sportsmanship Program to every youth soccer association in the United States. Many of these groups adopted the same guidelines and Rocco promoted sportsmanship at their invitation in Connecticut, Maryland, Kentucky and Washington State. AYSO adopted the guidelines after Rocco gave a presentation to AYSO in Buffalo three decades ago.

In 1983, Congressman Thomas Downey entered the name of the Long Island Junior Soccer League into the Congressional Record, mentioning the program’s slogan of Building Character Through Soccer. In addition, the principles of the program have also been incorporated by leagues in Ireland and China.

The US Youth Soccer Association gave out the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Trophy during the Girls-Under-19 national finals to the individual who was the best example of Fair Play during the finals. The Amoroso Sportsmanship Trophy was handed out in 1983 in Boston, 1984 in Dallas and 1985 in Seattle. And the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Cup is given annually to men’s and women’s teams in Eastern New York.

Rocco’s emphasis on sportsmanship changed the fabric of youth soccer in New York, throughout the United States and indeed in other parts of the globe, for the good of the game and the development of the character of its players.  An enthusiastic public speaker, Rocco gives speeches on sportsmanship throughout Eastern New York at the meetings of the diverse youth and senior leagues, including annually at the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association AGM. Rocco paid for signs which line the touchlines of local soccer fields that say: Fair Play, Please.

Soccer would not be the same disciplined sport today without Rocco’s profound influence, all done as a volunteer.

Although Rocco is the Sportsmanship Chairperson for ENYYSA, his involvement in soccer goes beyond Fair Play. He is also Chairperson for Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Committee as well as a member of our organization’s National Hall of Fame Committee. And New York Mens-Over-40 teams compete annually for the Rocco Amoroso Cup.

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.