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Eastern New York Honors Frank and Shari Conestabile as Personalities of the Month For March

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

March 10, 2015-Congratulations to Frank and Shari Conestabile who are being honored by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as the Personalities of the Month. This is the first time that more than one person has been named as Personality of the Month since Eastern New York started this award last September.

The married couple from Lee Center became involved with youth soccer as adults when they both coached their sons Frank II and Jordan in AYSO. Frank could draw on his experience as a player with Rome Free Academy High School and Shari had played the game a bit as a teenager but was never on a formal team.

Looking to increase the opportunities for player participation and development in Central New York, Frank and Shari co-founded the Rising Stars Soccer Club in 1999. They are also founders and developers, along with others, of the Rising Stars Sports Center in Westmoreland, which hosts Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) tryouts every year.

“Rising Stars is currently working on the development of a training academy providing college level training that will be open to all ages,” Shari said. “This training begins with our Future Stars Program, which services over 100 kids from age three and up. All of this is made possible because of our dedicated group of volunteers.”

Frank serves as the President of the Rising Stars Soccer Club plus handles the scheduling of all league games and has been a coach since co-founding the club in 1999.

Shari serves as the Registrar for Rising Stars, also orders for the concession stand at their Sports Center and handles payroll as well as taking care of all field rental requests, the development of programs and other offerings.

If that was not enough, they both serve as registrars for the youth portion of the Central New York State Soccer League (CNYSSL). They register CNYSSL’s 650 youth players––375 girls and 275 boys––through SportsSignup. They also review and approve all rosters, stamp and distribute all 650 player passes and handle all transactions from CNYSSL with Eastern New York.

Frank and Shari said that their greatest satisfaction from youth soccer comes from watching the kids participate and develop their skills and confidence, learning how to be part of a team plus knowing that they are a part of making the local school soccer teams stronger and more competitive.

When asked what the particular challenges youth soccer in Central New York State faces, Shari’s answer is not different from the rest of the American youth soccer landscape. “It is sometimes difficult to keep the older kids, ages 16 and up, active in soccer because of academic responsibilities and their participation in multiple sports. “

All this volunteering in youth soccer is around Frank’s “real job” as Director of Employee Relations and District Services for the Rome City School District and Shari’s as a busy homemaker. Congratulations to Frank and Shari Conestabile, Eastern New York’s Personalities of the Month for March.

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.

Long Island Junior Soccer League Partners With Cogeo Sports & Entertainment

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

March 2, 2018-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), is very pleased to announce its latest partnership with non-profit management experts and considered a one-stop shop for soccer clubs, Cogeo Sports & Entertainment.

Per the terms of the agreement, all LIJSL member clubs will have access to Cogeo’s expertise and services which include fundraising, sponsorships and tournament management. All LIJSL clubs will have access to educational resources and an opportunity to learn how each of these services can create an additional, positive revenue stream, in addition to membership dues, to support their operational needs.

“We are very pleased to partner with Cogeo Sports & Entertainment to provide this exciting opportunity to our member clubs to work with their management team. They can only benefit from Cogeo’s experience and success in developing and directing fundraising campaigns and have executed sponsorship deals for brands such Gatorade, Adidas, Topps, and Nissan,” commented LIJSL Director of Marketing & Member Services Steve Padaetz. “Their soccer-specific industry experience in assisting organizations with feasibility studies, such as the California Youth Soccer Association and East Bay United, to managing comprehensive fundraising initiatives for clubs and academies, such as with West-Mont United, the San Francisco Elite Academy and the YSC Academy, Cogeo’s suite of services will undoubtedly continue to promote the beautiful game and will only further assist our membership.”

Patrick Sampson, the CEO of Cogeo Sports & Entertainment, views the partnership as a tremendous opportunity for the league and its 104 member clubs.

He stated, “The LIJSL’s choice to partner with Cogeo is yet another example of the league’s industry leadership, vision and proactive approach to supporting the financial and operational success of its member clubs. Cogeo is excited to be an important resource for fundraising education, sponsorships and tournament management to ensure each member club has the long-term financial resources to achieve its operational mission.”

The new partnership will kick off at the LIJSL’s upcoming 36th Annual Convention on March 9 to 11 at the Huntington Hilton as Cogeo presents an education series specifically for LIJSL clubs.

Cogeo Sports & Entertainment provides organizational advice and development (fundraising), sponsorship and tournament management services to nonprofits to optimize their efficiency and long-term sustainability. Cogeo’s management team has 40 years of philanthropic management and fundraising experience raising over $600 million for more than 100 non-profit clients.

The Long Island Junior Soccer League was established in 1966. The not-for profit, Ronkonkoma, NY-based LIJSL is one of the largest youth soccer leagues in the United States. The League, with over 100-member clubs, more than 5,000 volunteers and almost 60,000 registered players, offers various youth soccer programs for participants from 5 to 19 years of age. For more info, please log on to http://www.lijsoccer.com

Three LIJSL Clubs Welcomed Back Their Alumni on Thanksgiving Weekend

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

November 30, 2016-Many people play and watch football on Thanksgiving but in a couple of Nassau County towns, the holiday is also associated with fútbol as three Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) clubs with a long history in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) hosted Alumni Games that weekend.

Thanksgiving is utilized as people are home for the holiday and the weather is still conducive for outdoor soccer on Long Island. It’s a time to renew friendships and relive memories while kicking around a ball. With many players going to goal and paying little attention to defending, scores are sometimes in the double digits as the goalkeepers get a real workout.

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The Oceanside United Soccer Club, founded in 1962, started the fun off on Thanksgiving morning when they played their annual Turkey Bowl at Oceanside Park. 50 players showed up and competed in two different games, including 84-year-old Alfredo D’Antonio, who won five Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL) titles with Oceanside, Lynbrook and Glen Cove. Oceanside United has hosted the Turkey Bowl every year since 1990.

“All our history and camaraderie are the real reasons why people play this Beautiful Game and the fact is all these guys are part of our community and they still give back to the kids,” commented Rich Eisenberg, Oceanside’s Assistant Treasurer and longtime coach who played in the Turkey Bowl.

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The Garden City Centennial Soccer Club kicked off play in 1969 and its name comes from its first year being the 100th anniversary of the Village of Garden City. Their Alumni Games began two decades ago with men playing plus a women’s game was added six years ago. 45 women and 22 men played at Garden City High School on Friday, November 25 while 56 men had fun at the same venue on Saturday, November 26.

Jimmy Connolly, Tom Gillian, Jim Haggerty, Rob Malhame and Bill Metzler ran the event for the club, which provided a blue or white T-shirt to each player. After the games, the players caught up with each other at Doc O’Grady’s in Garden City South.

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Founded in 1971, the Rockville Centre Soccer Club is the youngest of these three clubs but has the oldest Alumni Games as they started in the mid-1960s when the graduates from South Side High School boys varsity team got together. The games, now named the Bob Livingstone Alumni Games, then evolved into a club-run event with women playing too.

Nowadays, a short mass e-mail is sent to graduates of the club letting them know about the upcoming games and reunion. It worked as 55 men and 12 women played last Saturday at Peter Bralower Field in the Rockville Centre Sports Complex. Each player received a red or white T-shirt. The women played at 12:30 pm, the “old guys” kicked off at 1:30 pm and the “young guys” played at 2:30, then there was an alumni party at Kasey’s American Grill in Rockville Centre.

The games were played in honor of Bob Livingstone, a longtime, living member of the community who was Club President, Board member, coach and Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) girls coach. Donations were given for the 22K Organization that supports mental health, particularly suicide prevention among veterans especially since Rockville Centre lost a club member in 2016 to suicide. The goal of the organization is a challenge to people nationwide to do 22 million push-ups.

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.

Manorville Shows Their Starz By Adopting the Lindenhurst Lightning

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

November 16, 2012-On November 3, the Girls-Under-11 Manorville Starz should have been playing a Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) game against the Lindenhurst Lightning but Mother Nature had other ideas. New York and New Jersey were pounded by Hurricane Sandy, and Lindenhurst suffered as much as any community on Long Island, making soccer an after-thought. The rest of the LIJSL Fall Season was cancelled and many games in other Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) leagues were cancelled as well.

"I want to thank the LIJSL for cancelling the remainder of the season," said Tina Sarnicola, one of the coaches of the Lightning. "Several girls from our team have either lost their homes or have suffered severe damage. We have so much to focus on here at home, just trying to get things back to normal."

Of course, the girls would have loved to have met the Starz on the field that day, but one of the real positives to come out of the chaos of the last three weeks is that the Lindenhurst and Manorville teams have met in a much more meaningful way.

"When they found out about the devastation in our community, their soccer families got together and put together donations for our community," Coach Sarnicola said of the Manorville team. "Kristin, their head coach, drove out last weekend with an SUV load of donations. She drove out again the next day with donations, and they have also helped arrange a truck from Virginia to come next week with more supplies."

That truck is coming to Lindenhurst thanks to the efforts of Savannah Smith, a sophomore at Strasburg High School in Strasburg, Virginia. Savannah started a request on Facebook for donations to be made at walmart.com or Walmart stores in the Virginia towns of Winchester and Woodstock. People looking to make donations can go to http://www.Walmart.com/registry/wishlist/findawishlist

Savannah’s father, Brian, and his friend Joe Boyd have enlisted the help of Brian’s employer, Big G Express of Tennessee, to help in the relief effort. Big G is utilizing several trucks to deliver all the items to Lindenhurst as soon as the trucks are full. The Manorville girls have also asked to adopt the Lindenhurst team families affected for the holidays.

"Without soccer, we wouldn’t have had the fortune of meeting the coach, the players or their families and they have given so much to help our community," added Coach Sarnicola. "Manorville has really gone above and beyond for our community and they continue to want to do more. I am at a loss for words and eternally grateful."

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.

Former ODP Player Crystal Dunn a Finalist for the Hermann Award

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

January 7, 2013-While it might not garner the large amount of publicity that the Heisman Trophy does, the MAC Hermann Trophy to the best player in college soccer will be awarded on January 11 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. Former Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Olympic Development Program player Crystal Dunn is one of the three finalists. The University of North Carolina junior defender is a finalist along with University of Virginia senior forward Caroline Miller and Penn State senior midfielder Christine Nairn.

Crystal developed her wonderful skills with the Olympic Development Program, playing ODP for six years, and used it as a springboard to represent the USA internationally. Crystal also spent her formative years in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in ENYYSA. The Rockville Centre resident played for the Rockville Centre Power, Rockville Centre Tornadoes and Albertson Fury ‘91.

2012 was a terrific year for Crystal as she won the Under-20 Women’s World Cup while representing the United States internationally in Japan in September and won the NCAA championship in December.

Crystal assisted on fellow Tar Heel Kealia Ohai’s goal, the only goal in the Under-20 Women’s World Cup final, in the 1-0 victory over Germany.

After returning to Chapel Hill, she started the next 11 games and helped the Tar Heel defense to three shutouts, all in Atlantic Coast Conference action, and a 0.71 goals against average. By the time the Tar Heels nailed down their 22nd national championship in early December, she had appeared in 17 games (all starts), garnering 15 points on five goals and five assists. Crystal was named the Soccer America Freshman of the Year in 2010 and is the only player in ACC history to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors twice.

"Crystal has a genuine love for the game and a true desire to be the very best," commented Tim Bradbury, ENYYSA’s Director of Coaching Instruction who coached her on the Power and Tornadoes. "She was the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. Now when she comes home to Rockville Centre, she often plays against some of the boys teams I train."

"Crystal has really adapted her game to become a world-class defender," added Paul Riley, her coach with the Albertson Fury, "The assist in the Under-20 Women’s World Cup final sums her strengths: speed, great one-on-one ability and the poise to make the final ball count. She will play on the full women’s national team one day."

Lake Grove/Newfield Tsunami Are the New Girls-Under-17 State Champs

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

June 13, 2016-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Girls-Under-17 final game on June 5 at Stringham Park in LaGrange looked to be a mismatch between two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams. Brentwood Freedom were the three-time State Open Cup champs and defeated the Lake Grove/Newfield Tsunami, 5-0, in last year’s final.

But 2016 was a different story as Lake Grove/Newfield squeaked out a 2-1 overtime win on July 5 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Jillian Colucci scored in regulation and Amanda Spitalera added the game-winner in overtime for the new State champs.

“Brentwood is a really tough opponent,” commented Lake Grove/Newfield coach Frank Stagnitta. “They have outworked and outmuscled us in the past but we are super fit this year so they could not do that to us again. The experience of losing last year’s final helped set us up to win today.”

Lake Grove/Newfield will be playing for the Regional championship from June 30 to July 5 in Barboursville, West Virginia and Eastern New York will help pay for their costs.

Brentwood received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Now living in Kentucky, 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 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.

EDP Partners with USYSA

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As many of you may know, EDP has partnered with USYSA. Beginning this fall for the 2018-2019 season, EDP will replace Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL). EDP will also become an Eastern New York State Cup qualifying league.

For those looking for high quality competition, as previously offered in ENYPL, EDP will be the new option for your clubs and teams. Clubs/teams will also have a pathway into the new US Youth National League EDP Regional Conference Competition. They will be running 3 premier league divisions – EDP Premier Long Island, EDP Premier Southern NY and EDP Premier Northern NY/Southern CT. These leagues will be open to boys and girls in the U11 through U19 age groups.

Registration logistics are currently in motion. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the State office.

Lake Grove Rampage Are the New Boys-Under-15 State Open Cup Champions

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

June 6, 2014-You need not be a fortune teller to realize that a Rampage team clad in blue-and-white was going to win the Boys-Under-15 State Open Cup final on Saturday, May 31 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. After all, the blue-and-white clad Lake Grove Rampage of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) was playing the blue-and-white clad East Fishkill Rampage of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) for supremacy in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Lake Grove’s John Kazubowski went on a rampage by scoring a three-goal hat trick as Lake Grove won, 3-0, with Brian Terra getting the shutout in goal.

“After losing last year’s final in a shootout, we rededicated ourselves and I think it really showed in the way we played today,” commented Lake Grove coach Tim Graham.

They went to seven rounds of the shootout before losing the 2013 final to the FC Somers Razors.

Lake Grove 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.

East Fishkill received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as selected by the match officials. 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.

Manhattan Cruzeiro Win Second State Open Cup in Defeating the Dix Hills Elite

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

June 6, 2014-The Boys-Under-16 State Open Cup final on Sunday, June 1 at Stringham Park in LaGrange was déjà vu all over again. Two years ago, Manhattan Cruzeiro of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) topped the Dix Hills Elite of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), 2-1. Fast forward to this year and the game for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship produced the same score with Manhattan again prevailing, 2-1.

Manhattan’s Miguel Chung scored on a free kick and Matthew Swain added a header off a long midfield cross by Ousmane Barry to give Manhattan the victory over Dix Hills, defending State Open Cup champions who lost in the national final last year to California’s Santa Barbara White on an overtime penalty kick.

“We played against an excellent team who we know well,” commented Manhattan coach Wilson Egidio. “We worked hard to possess the ball and stay composed and that’s what we did. When you do that, good things can happen.”

Manhattan 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.

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.

Lessons From the World Cup

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

A wonderfully strange holiday period has been made such by the fact that we are, for the first time, watching a winter World Cup. No one is quite sure how Qatar got to host or how it got the permission to interrupt professional leagues all over the world. Some of which, like the EPL, have never had a winter break. FIFA claimed to make the decision based on a philosophy of growing the game and taking the world’s game to new areas. The decision to allow them to host has quite rightly been questioned based on the atrocities associated with slave-like conditions for the thousands of immigrant workers who built the stadium.

The pure soccer piece promised to present many dilemmas for coaches and players alike. How would the heat, humidity and air-conditioned stadiums impact the players? How would the fact that many of the elite players joining their national teams with little or no rest coming directly from league play impact their team’s performance and results? How would teams attempt to deal with having some very tired players in their squads – would more teams drop deep to defend and look to save energy to construct a counterattacking approach? Would more coaches look to truly use a squad of players more than the idea of a core 11? What would the aftermath be to the players in teams going deep into the event when they returned to play in their competitive club teams? The questions and intrigue were widely discussed.

Now on December 5, some of the questions seem to have been answered. We have seen more shock results than ever. The likes of Germany and Belgium have already been sent home. Our men’s national team managed to get to the round of 16 and lost 3-1 to the Netherlands. Surrounding any World Cup exit is always a gruesome postmortem and although questions over tactical awareness are being asked, the genuine promise and potential of the group should be cause to celebrate. The quarterfinal games scheduled to start this weekend promise to be real treat.

One of the most enjoyable and frustrating things as a youth coach and soccer educator is after every World Cup, trying to figure out how take the results, the performances and the masses of technical reports produced and become a more effective coach. It really is one enormous conundrum. I am sure by the time we get to the end of the event and have a freshly crowned World Cup winning squad, more and more reports will be available and perhaps I will share them in some future blog.

For now, I offer the following skill acquisition points for youth coaches to ponder over:

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