enypr

Join the Garden City Centennials in Setting a Guinness World Record

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

August 28, 2019-With over 2,000 players, the Garden City Centennial Soccer Club is the largest club in both the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). The club is using its large size as a base to set the Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously passing soccer balls.

On Sunday, September 15, 9:45 am sharp at the St. Paul’s Athletic Complex, the record attempt will occur. From 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, games and activities will be held at St. Paul’s and an awards ceremony will conclude this fun day at 12:30 pm.

The current record for simultaneously passing a soccer ball is held by Hong Kong when 1,218 people did it on July 2, 2018.

The Garden City Centennial Soccer Club is one sponsor of the big event with proceeds going to Charity Ball, a charitable organization that sources and distributes soccer balls to children in impoverished communities around the world.

All are welcome, both kids and adults. To register, log on to https://www.playandgive.org

For more info, please contact Garden City Centennial volunteer Matt Tepper at 917-312-9901.

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 Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

Cedar Stars Hudson Valley Win the Boys-Under-11 Challenge Cup Title

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

June 27, 2021-Two goals by Jackson Markiwiecz paced Cedar Stars Hudson Valley to a 4-2 win over the Rockville Centre Venom in the Boys-Under-11 Challenge Cup final. This championship game in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) was played on Saturday, June 5 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.

Rockville Centre received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. The namesake of the award, who died in 2016, was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York plus was also honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer.

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/

Beacon’s James Bowne Honored For His Many Years of Volunteering Plus Refereeing Soccer Games

State Referee Administrator Enrico Romano on the left with honoree James Bowne

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

January 8, 2014-At the Eastern District Soccer League’s (EDSL) Holiday Party at the Castle in Tarrytown on December 15, soccer lifer James Bowne was honored for his commitment to the game. The Beacon resident took over the Summer Mens-Over-30 division from Chris McLernan, the President of the LaGrange Soccer Club, in 1998 and is also in charge of their indoor division. James volunteers as well as the Registrar and Games Chairperson of the EDSL’s Mens-Over-40 division. The Over-40s kicked off in 2004 with just three teams and now have 13 squads along with a State Cup.

"James is a major reason why the EDSL has become the largest adult soccer league in Eastern New York. He founded our Indoor at the Net League in LaGrange and the Over 40 Fall and Spring Leagues in addition to becoming an official for Eastern New York games," commented EDSL President Peter Pinori. "James is always willing and ready to help in any situation that might occur. He and his wife Tania are also good friends to me and the entire Board of Directors."

James took up the whistle in 1998 after passing the Grade 8 Referee Certification course in December 1997. He has since officiated in six leagues in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA)––East Hudson Youth Soccer League, Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League, Westchester Youth Soccer League, Capital District Youth Soccer League, Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League and the Long Island Junior Soccer League. Besides being a member of the Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association, James refs college games with his colleagues in the Mid-Hudson Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association and high school matches in the Mid-Hudson Soccer Officials Association.

"James is the best! He is a wonderful person who always find the time to help others," said State Referee Administrator Enrico Romano.

Somehow, with all this volunteering and refereeing, James is able to still play the Beautiful Game as he continues to have fun in pick-up games with his friends on Friday nights. He started playing soccer at Brooklyn Tech High School, then moved on to the LaGrange men’s team in 1998 and Germania in 2008.

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.

Eastern New York Hall of Famer Hilda Wolfe to Retire From Soccer at the Start of 2015

Hilda_Wolfe_for_Web

From left to right, Eastern District Soccer League President Peter Pinori, Long Island Soccer Football League President Gus Xikis, Hilda Wolfe and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association President Sal Rapaglia

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

December 16, 2014-At the Eastern New York Holiday Party on December 7 at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association bid a very fond good-bye to Hilda Wolfe upon her retirement at the beginning of 2015.

Hilda has been an extraordinary presence in youth soccer for nearly four decades. During this time, the Franklin Square resident has served as Eastern New York’s Office Manager and has overseen the growth from a relatively small state association to a thriving organization.

“Beginning with my earliest involvement in soccer, my years as a League President, and an Eastern New York Executive Board member, Hilda has been a constant source of knowledge and advice for the past 17 years,” said ENYYSA First Vice President Ken Gulmi. “She has done so with grace and friendship and has been one of our state’s greatest treasures. She will be missed by all who have come to know her.”

Over the years, Hilda has organized, traveled with and served as liaison to the teams competing in Nationals, administered the State Cup competition up to and including the weekend-long finals for all tiers, overseen all registration administration, organized and managed the logistics for meetings as well as for Executive Board members traveling to seminars, conferences and meetings plus served as primary contact for our member leagues. In recognition of her endless contributions, Region 1 named her the Regional Administrator of the Year in 2002 and Eastern New York inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2012.

“Without her kind, calm demeanor and guidance, our State Association would simply not be what it is today. She is universally admired and respected by everyone who had the pleasure of working with her,” commented ENYYSA Treasurer Jim Eleftherion.

In a display of their unending affection, Hilda received separate retirement presents from many of the leagues, both youth and adult, that make up Eastern New York.

It was a very good day all-around for the Wolfe family as her husband Ray Wolfe, the State Youth Referee Administrator, joined Hilda as a member of the Eastern New York Hall of Fame.

Don Garber Inducted Into Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame

From left to right, Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association President Sal Rapaglia, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, honoree Don Garber and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association President Richard Christiano

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

July 16, 2013-The Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association congratulate Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber upon his induction into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place on the yacht Atlantica during a Cruise Around Manhattan on July 13 to celebrate Eastern New York’s 100th anniversary. Eastern New York was founded in 1913, the same year that the United States Soccer Federation, now commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, was founded.

Don Garber was born in Queens just like another sports commissioner, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Our honoree spent 16 years with the National Football League before being selected as MLS’s second commissioner on August 4, 1999. One of his first moves was to bring MLS in line with international standards by eliminating the 5-second shootout to break ties and letting the referee keep official time on the field.

From MLS’s office in Midtown Manhattan, "The Don" has led unprecedented growth in the pro game as the league has grown from 12 to 19 franchises with the 20th franchise, New York City FC, to kick off play in 2015. Attendance has been spiking, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

Don said at the induction ceremony, "None of this could have happened without the great grass-roots support we have. If not for everything you do, we would not have a vibrant MLS."

"Where the sport is now and where it was in 1999 are absolutely two different things," U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said at the induction ceremony, "And I can’t think of any other state association that has accomplished what Eastern New York has."

Don has many affiliations including U.S. Soccer, the USA World Cup Bid Executive Committee, U.S. Soccer Foundation Board of Directors, Hope and Heroes Foundation at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, NUY Tisch School for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports’ Board of Advisors plus World Congress of Sports’ Advisory Board.

Also, in 2007, Don formed MLS W.O.R.K.S., the league’s community outreach initiative, dedicated to addressing important social issues affecting young people throughout the United States and Canada.

Congratulations to our newest Hall of Famer, Don Garber.

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.

15 Excellent Refs Honored By the Long Island Soccer Referees Association

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

December 12, 2022-The Long Island Soccer Referees Association (LISRA) is the largest referee group in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). 680 referees make up LISRA and they officiated 12,300 games during the recently-completed Fall Season.

The LISRA Holiday Party at the James E. Allen Elementary School in Dix Hills last Thursday night, December 8 saw awards given to 15 referees who have particularly made a difference on Long Island soccer fields.

“None of the referees we are honoring tonight have stood still, they continue to improve, sometimes by quantum leaps,” explained LISRA Recording Secretary Jean-Marie Maio.

Marty_Foeppel_for_Web

The 2022 LISRA Referee of the Year Award, for the ref who goes above and beyond every day for the non-profit organization, went to Marty Foeppel, pictured above surrounded by his loving family.

Marty does not give out red or yellow cards as much as white cards, the LISRA business card, in his unending efforts to recruit new referees. 200 recently completed certification, partly through the efforts of Marty, and many will join the LISRA ranks next spring.

Gustavo_for_Web

The Silver Whistle Award for excellence in officiating went to Gus Koldorff, pictured above, who not only refs very well but makes sure that he always offers suggestions to improve the perfomance of his assistant referees. From left to right is LISRA Recording Secretary Jean-Marie Maio, Gus, LISRA Trustee Cheryl Aronson and LISRA Executive Vice President Alan Starost.

Sam Abdelfattah received the Emrys Joseph Rookie of the Year Award. Emrys was a very personable LISRA ref and member of the Board of Directors who passed away 32 years ago and this award has been given annually in his honor ever since.

Yetimoglu_for_Web

Atahan Yetimoglu (left in photo above) won the Rising Star Award for young referee of the year. His sister, Tuana Yetimoglu (center), received the Ironwoman of the Year Award for officiating 117 games as both referee and assistant ref (AR) during the Fall Season. They are pictured with their injured sister, Armina Yetimoglu (on right), who will be back officiating in 2023.

The Ironman of the Year went to Kenny Salguero, who officiated an incredible 138 games during the Fall Season as both ref and AR.

Adam_for_Web3

Officiating is also a family affair in the Koldorff family and Gus’ son, Adam Koldorff, received the Ace of Initiative Award. Adam is on the left in the above photo standing next to LISRA Trustee Cheryl Aaronson and Executive Vice President Alan Starost.

Adam just got back from officiating the MLS NEXT Fest in Palm Springs, California. Also noted as up-and-coming refs are Justin Grinberg and Anthony Spiezio.

Allison Abzug and Liam Brown-DeVirgilio received the Mario Boltri Assistant Referee Award. The award’s namesake is a former LISRA President who created the chapter’s AR program after the turn of the millennium.

Assistant referees also honored by LISRA on that cold winter night were Oona Brown-DeVirgilio, Julia Cruz, Nick Neri and Gabriella Schwalm. The AR awards are based on the ratings of the refs who grade the assistants after every game plus comments from the refs as well as the assignors.

Interested in becoming a soccer referee or assistant ref on Long Island? Then contact 2022 Referee of the Year Marty Foeppel at mfoeppel@lisoccerrefs.org and he will explain how to get started.

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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Smithtown Kickers’ Bob Cascone Honored as Personality of the Month in Eastern New York

Bob_Cascone_for_Web

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

June 1, 2018-Things are looking up for Bob Cascone of the Smithtown Kickers. He was honored as the club’s Volunteer of the Year at the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Convention on March 9, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has named him our Personality of the Month for June and he celebrates his birthday toward the end of the month on June 29.

“I first became involved in soccer when we registered my oldest daughter Haley for the Smithtown Kickers intramural program in the fall of 1999,” Bob explained. “By the Spring Season, I volunteered to be coach of a team in our intramural program. I never played soccer when I was young but I enjoyed watching the girls progress with their skills.”

He continues, “Being the control freak I am, I needed to learn more about the sport and how to properly coach the players. At the time, our club offered printed training drills as well as training session for the coaches with NOGA trainers. I attended most of the sessions and we ran around the fields playing British bulldog, sharks and minnows, stuck in the mud and body brakes to name a few. I took these games that we learned with the trainers back to my practices and did them the same way.”

Bob continued coaching Haley until she was eligible for the travel program as a Girls-Under-10 player and became the coach of the Smithtown Freedom, the age group’s “C” team.

“At that time, everyone strived to be on the ‘A’ team but I didn’t care about what letter it was, just that we were having fun and developing our soccer skills,” Bob stated. “By Under-13, Haley moved up to the ‘B’ team, the Smithtown Xplosion, and I became an assistant coach on that team.”

Haley was the goalkeeper as she went in goal when nobody else wanted to do so. At Girls-Under-16, she moved up to the “A” team, the Smithtown Revolution, and Bob eventually became the head coach of that team when the coach’s daughter stopped playing. He took them all the way through Girls-Under-18 in 2014 with players originally on the Freedom and Xplosion as Under-10 players on that team in their last year of youth soccer.

“In 2001 and ’02, my son Nicholas decided to play one year of intramurals, where I coached him that year, until he stopped to play football and lacrosse instead of soccer,” Bob explained. “A few years later my youngest daughter Erin started intramurals. I wasn’t at many of the games until I received a call from a parent on the team that told me the current coach was stepping down and I needed to take over as the coach or the team will fall apart. Well I did. I now had a travel team, and an intramural team. Because of my enthusiasm, presence and dedication to the sport and club, I was asked to become the Intramural Girls Coordinator,” and Bob made sure that all teams were equally balanced.

He coached Erin in travel soccer on the Smithtown Crimson Tide and received his “C” and “B” coaching licenses. He also became a member of the Smithtown Kickers’ Board of Directors as Travel Registrar.

“My organization skills and long, detailed e-mails became my signature. I would live down at the fields, for practices, games, meetings with other teams within our club and spent countless late nights preparing for our club’s registration each fall and spring. I always wanted to have all my teams' registrations complete and be prepared as possible so I could breeze through the registration process. The ladies at the LIJSL office were a great help to me, and I quickly learned how to do the job and be successful at it.”

Additionally, Bob served as MC for the club’s MVP Dinner, volunteered as a member of the club’s Scholarship Committee and for the Smithtown community’s Annual Turkey Trot for local charities.

In closing, Bob added, “I can honestly say that I have had a great run and would not change any of it at all. I’ve made so many friends along the way and with the parents, coaches and, of course, the players, who I have watched since they were four years old and now all grown up on their way to college, some will play and others will go just for their education. And through all the stressful times, I look back at the thank-you cards and notes from my players letting me know how I have touched their lives and made an everlasting mark. I will miss all of them.”

Congratulations to Eastern New York’s June Personality of the Month, Bob Cascone!

Dix Hills Elite and Smithtown Arsenal to Play for the National Title

Dix Hills Elite to play Southern California’s Santa Barbara SC White in the Boys-Under-15 national title game on Saturday at 6:20 pm. Smithtown Arsenal goes up against Georgia’s GSA Phoenix 97 Red this Sunday at 9:30 am in the Boys-Under-16 championship match.

Red Hook Heatwave Win the Girls-Under-18 Eastern New York Premier League Title

Red_Hook_Heatwave_for_Web

Back row, from left to right: Cassandra LaBarbera, Kyla Burns, Kate Lord, Gillian Berardi, Claire Doyal, Alexa Franceschi, Jayna Cherny, Isabelle LaBarbera

First row, from left to right: Lauren Engel, Julia Rogerson, Chrissy Gildersleeve, Alex Dunn, Anna Dolen, Sydney Flood

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

May 25, 2017-Although Championship Month is June in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), it started 11 days early when two friendly rivals from the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), the Red Hook Heatwave and the Rhinebeck Breakers, met on Sunday, May 21. The Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) Girls-Under-18 championship game was played at Greig Farm Fields in Red Hook. Behind a three-goal hat trick by Isabelle LaBarbera and a shutout by keeper Kyla Burns, Red Hook won, 3-0, to capture their second consecutive ENYPL title.

Coach Paul LaBarbera stated, “We plan to go out and have a team dinner to celebrate winning the league. There is a lot of respect and trust for each other on and off the field and several of the players have been playing together for most of their lives. We currently have players from three different school systems but there is a natural affinity within the squad that just seems to grow every game. They face each other in the fall in high school ball, and in the spring they unite to become the Heatwave.”

A day earlier, Red Hook bested Rhinebeck, 4-2, in the State Open Cup semifinals on two goals by Isabelle LaBarbera and one each by Alexa Franceschi and Cassandra LaBarbera. Red Hook will play another EHYSL team, the LaGrange Chargers, in the Girls-Under-18 State Open Cup final on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. It’s been a very successful climb up the youth soccer ladder for Red Hook as this is only their second year as a Premier team.

“We do not have any special plans for the LaGrange Chargers as far as strategy or preparation as I believe playing the Rhinebeck Breakers back-to-back is excellent prep for any squad. The Breakers have a lot of talent on their team and you are only going to improve when you play them as they are tough, well-coached and work very hard,” Coach LaBarbera added. “We have to treat LaGrange with the same amount of respect. They definitely have some key players and a quality coaching staff so we will continue to keep training the way we always do––with intensity, purpose and heart. The bottom line is these young women just love the world's most beautiful game.””

Long Island Soccer Referees Association Contributes to Toys For Tots While Honoring its Refs

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

December 19, 2013-The Long Island Soccer Referees Association (LISRA) has been faithfully serving the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) for over four decades. LISRA became an independent organization in 1971, as youth soccer was starting its exponential growth, and it has been assigning referees for all LIJSL games plus ENYYSA games played on Long Island ever since. Every year, LISRA covers an amazing 20,000 travel team soccer games played on Long Island.

At the LISRA Holiday Party at the James E. Allen Elementary School in Dix Hills on December 12, LISRA honored some of its top referees while making its annual donation to Toys for Tots.

"We all do what we can to help one another," stated LISRA President Cathy Caldwell. "Our lives are definitely richer by working with one another."

Caldwell is pictured above behind a sampling of the Toys for Tots donations. LISRA Board members Mike Roamer is on the left and Scott Abel is on the right.

Gary Brown of West Babylon was honored as the LISRA Referee of the Year.

"My membership in LISRA, and my career as a US Soccer referee, have been among the best experiences of my life. Not only because of the enjoyment I found in officiating, but because of the lifelong friendships that have been forged with many of you," Gary explained.

Central Islip’s Marcelo Imbert received the Silver Whistle Award, the honor for a top referee who has done very well and has a bright future ahead of him. Marcelo is pictured in the photo above with Cathy Caldwell on the left and LISRA Executive Vice President John Sengelaub on the right.

"He gets to the field early and does a terrific job. I am grateful for all that Marcelo does for refereeing," commented LISRA President Caldwell.

Of the more than 600 LISRA assistant referees, Kaitlyn Asam of Glen Cove and Zachary Salazar of Coram received the Mario Boltri Assistant Referee of the Year Award as the best AR’s on Long Island. Boltri was a former LISRA President who created the chapter’s teenage assistant referee program a decade ago.

Claire Drotman of Commack and Benjamin Schnell of Northport were honored with the Emrys Joseph Rookie Referee of the Year Award. Joseph was a very personable LISRA ref and member of the Board of Directors who passed away nearly 25 years ago and this award has been given annually in his honor since. The recipients are pictured above with LISRA Executive Vice President Sengelaub.

East Setauket’s Brian Koehn, who started refereeing at the time of Joseph’s passing, received LISRA’s 25-Year Award.

Congratulations to these top officials!

« Previous Page