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

Strange days indeed. So many great things going on in youth soccer and, of course, the international stage as well. With the recent performances of Eastern New York ODP boys and girls teams in both the North and South at the Regional Tournament in New Jersey in terms of both style of play and results, one could easily be persuaded that the youth game was in a good place. As requested by the US Soccer national staff, our ODP teams all build out of the back, play a possession-based game that highlights player development and are led by a group of coaches who let the players think and solve the problems of the game themselves. All good stuff.

Then you go home and turn on the TV and the good times roll on. Whether it be the Copa America Centenario or the European Championships, the world’s elite players are easy to watch. The coverage is great, the games are generally entertaining and end-to-end and, most of all, this generation of soccer players seem at last to be soccer fans. They are watching the games, finding their heroes and then, most importantly, trying to duplicate what they have seen on the training fields.

When you turn the lens to the coaching arena ,lots of positive signs that good things are happening. Both US Soccer and the NSCAA continue to evolve their higher level courses making new demands of coaches that can only help improve the environment that youth players get to develop within. US Soccer’s pathway now culminates in three specific A licenses. One A for youth coaches, one A for adults and one A for those coaching in the professional game. I will write more about changes to advanced level courses in the future but if we look at the more locally run courses at F, E and D level the numbers are incredibly positive. Eastern new York will host a record number of F, E and D licenses in the next 12 months. This means that more and more kids will get to be trained and educated in the game by a qualified coach. This summer, Eastern New York will host sold out US Youth National Youth Courses and US Soccer C licenses, and the demand for these courses seems only to be on the increase.

So just when you think the sun is coming up and the road ahead is clear––it hits you like a volley from Messi––the bolt comes in the form of the word commitment.

Soccer at its very best is a holistic game. The growth of the person mirrored by the growth of the player. The relationship between learning to push yourself, to be disciplined and get to practice on time and to stay late practicing on your own, to be prepared to sacrifice your own desires and needs as a player for the good of the team is a journey of moral development, ethics and character and is summed up by the word COMMITMENT.

The word commitment now seems to have morphed into CONVENIENT. I will be there when it suits and if I can which many seem to think is the definition of commitment is PLAIN AND SIMPLY WRONG.

Being committed means you get to all the practices and games that the team you have joined are scheduled to play. It means if they practice or play, then you do too. It means that barring illness or family emergency, you make it. This is as simple truth and one of the lessons that playing sport has always helped young players learn. How have we come so far and got so lost that the word commitment means take it or leave it and do what we want? How can this be helping the character development of our players? How can any parent willingly sign their kids up for two, three or four teams knowing full well that it will be impossible to meet the commitment they have asked for?  How do these parents eventually explain to their kids that being committed means you get there no matter what?

I am concerned about the life lessons are kids are learning, I am concerned about the damage we are doing to the concept of team and I am even more concerned by the amount of adults who simply want to scream at coaches who ask players to meet the promises they made when they joined a team.

I have two friends (yes, many of you will be surprised by this) who regularly read these articles. Both recently told me that they enjoyed the last two pieces the best because in addition to recognizing a problem, I presented a solution. Not wanting to let these two down, I strongly urge that we get back to a time where:

1. Our word is our bond.
2. If we join a team we meet all the commitments of the team.
3. If we fail to meet these commitments, we do not blame the team or coach for having the audacity to suggest that good team members get too everything.
4. Sports is seen as great place to build character not tear it down.

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

August 16, 2018-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) congratulates Taylor James, who is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship, which is based on success in high school as well as community service. The scholarship’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He 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 in an era when girls playing sports was not as accepted as it is today.

Taylor spent her entire youth soccer career with the Beekman Soccer Club in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), starting with intramurals as a young child, then playing for the Beekman Malilie from Under-8 to Under-10 and the Beekman Pumas from Under-10 to Under-19.

She wrote, "Soccer has shaped me into the person I am today as it led me to develop lifelong friendships and has also helped me build my character. I can't imagine what my life would be like without soccer. It has also taught me about leadership and teamwork. Every skill I have learned throughout my time playing will help me as I continue my education at Binghamton and begin to take the next steps in my life."

We wish Taylor the best at Binghamton University.

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

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

November 10, 2021-Have you noticed something off during the fall? Some of your kids' games might not have had a referee and, if three officials–one referee and two assistant refs–are normally assigned, chances are three officials were not at some games.

So please, please sit in your chair by midfield, cheer on the teams and say only positive things to all participants, including the refs. And if you think that you could do a better job refereeing than the person in the middle, then please take one of our referee courses. You can get the ball rolling with becoming a ref by contacting the coordinator in your area below:

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/

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

The nominations MUST be on a specific form and be completed as comprehensively as possible or they cannot be considered. These forms are linked here.
 
Awards will be presented in the following categories: 
Girls Travel Coach of the Year
Boys Travel Coach of the Year
Girls Recreational Coach of the Year
Boys Recreational Coach of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Administrator of the Year
TOPSoccer Coach of the Year
TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year 
Goal of the Year 
Save of the Year 
 
Nominations must be received at the Eastern New York office on or before August 31, 2019 to be considered. The address is Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association, 265 Sunrise Highway, Suite 38, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 or the form can be e-mailed to Randy Vogt at enypublicrelations@enysoccer.com
 
Please take this opportunity to say thanks to your members through this great awards program!

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.

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

February 19, 2015-Last summer, the Olympic Development Program (ODP) North team of girls born in 1998 from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) won Regionals. Through the two ODP tournaments they played, Eastern New York won all five games against opponents from five different Northeast states, outscoring them 11 to 3.

ODP is considered the highest level of competition in the state and these teenagers from Staten Island to Saratoga Springs will be representing Eastern New York as they play for the national championship:

The Final Four will be held at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Arizona. Eastern New York would have to be considered the underdog in the national semifinal next Friday, February 27 against Southern California’s Cal South ODP as their opponents can play outdoor soccer right now in similar weather to Arizona while Eastern New York cannot with a foot of snow on the ground and a deep freeze all over the Empire State.

Nevertheless, our players are making the best of the situation by training on turf at the Newburgh Armory, one of the top indoor facilities in New York.

“We have always tried to minimize the effect of our climate for teams in the Northeast when playing outside of Region One. We’ll have to be ready to go as we should be able to get two training sessions in Arizona to adjust as much as possible prior to our first match,” commented head coach Jason Weisberg, who is assisted by Jim Shapiro in coaching the team.

The other national semifinal features Iowa against Georgia with the championship and consolation games scheduled for Sunday, March 1.

“We’ve been working on some larger concepts like how we want to defend in certain areas as well as working through some attacking options,” added Coach Weisberg. “A natural byproduct of the team spending time together is the hope that we can continue to keep the chemistry we had going through Regionals.”

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.

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

Each New Year brings a sense of promise and hope. Perhaps it is inspired by many people creating New Year's resolutions and promises to themselves as they recognize the person they want to be. For Eastern New York, 2019 also started with a sense of hope as our instructional team was expanded with two new additions, both already holding their US Soccer instructional license. This brings the educational team to a mass of 16 quality coaches, all with an intrinsic desire to learn all they can about best practices in adult education and how to best share methods on teaching the game.

These 16 staff spread between Long Island and Albany can provide any of the following educational offerings to any clubs or leagues:

• Full suite of US Soccer Grass roots licenses
• Full suite of United Soccer Coaches diplomas
• US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer courses
• Custom-built clinics and classroom presentations on topics that range from zonal defending, systems of play, best practices in player development or parent engagement.

In addition to the above grass roots courses, Eastern New York will also offer two US Soccer C licenses this year, one in Schenectady and one in Westchester.

A considerable part of my feeling of new hope is born out of the fact that many of these grass roots licenses are extremely USER friendly and have been designed to meet the needs of both the players and busy parent/coaches. They deal with a play practice play methodology that ideally fits the needs of our youth players now.

The courses are easy to access, easy to register for, practically based and there is really no reason at all why any club or league that wish to do so should not have an educated parent coach teaching the game to players of all ages by the end of the summer.

Whenever I talk to parents they all want an educated coach for their child and seem aware of the importance of getting their child to fall in love with sport. They all recognize the vital life skills that an educated, holistic coach can bring. From communication, cooperation discipline, through conflict resolution, skill acquisition to dealing with winning and losing all parents want their child to be placed in a sporting environment where these life skills are front and center.

I ask all clubs, leagues and even individual parents to pledge that 2019 can be a landmark year in coaching education and that we can with all the tools available to us make a vow that every player in New York will have the benefit of having an educated coach teach the beautiful game this year.

Anyone reading this can reach out to me at tbradbury@enysoccer.com to book a course for your league or club.

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

September 27, 2016-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Tony Iandolo, who coaches the Dover Terminators in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), is being honored as our 2016 Boys Competitive Coach of the Year and will receive his award at Eastern New York's Holiday Party on Sunday, December 4 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

Tony was nominated by his wife Stacey, who wrote, “After taking over the coaching duties for the Dover Terminators six years ago, I have seen him devote his time and energy to developing the morale, physical conditioning and love of soccer in his team, of which our son is a player.“

“My husband is a New York City Public School music teacher. His commute from Wingdale to work is over two and a half hours every day, five days a week. He has soccer practices two evenings and Saturday mornings. It’s not easy to work with kids all day and still have the enthusiasm to train youngsters on a soccer field. It takes a very unique person to do that with an ever-present smile on his face.“

“His positive attitude is infectious and he has taken the team from winless seasons to division champs two years in a row. He is a fantastic role model to his players who genuinely respect and care about him. Tony is a natural at motivating his players who quickly respond. He accentuates the positive and helps them learn from their mistakes. He makes them want to do better, to win, to make him proud…I am very proud of all his efforts and accomplishments and even more proud to be his wife.“

Congratulations to Tony Iandolo, the 2016 Boys Competitive Coach of the Year in Eastern New York.

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.

From left to right, Dave DeCato, Kara Gadonniex, Wilfred Lopez, Mike Keiser,
Jim Purdy, Brendan Conniff, Nick Mastrantuono and John Vigna

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
November 13, 2014-Founded 40 years ago as the West-Put Youth Soccer League, the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) has a long and proud history serving youth soccer players in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties with even a club from Pennsylvania recently getting in on all the fun.

Last Saturday night, November 8 at Anthony’s Catering in Hopewell Junction, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s second largest league held its annual Hall of Fame and Annual Honors Dinner, and in the speeches, the theme of constancy was prevalent. The all-star line-up of honorees who have been volunteering in youth soccer for many years:

• Volunteer of the Year – Wilfred Lopez – Beacon Soccer Club
• Boys Travel Team Coach of the Year – Mike Keiser – East Fishkill Soccer Club
• Girls Travel Team Coach of the Year – Kara Gadonniex – LaGrange Soccer Club
• Girls Travel Team Coach of the Year – John Vigna – West Point Soccer Club
• Boys Recreational Coach of the Year – Brendan Conniff – Hyde Park Soccer Club
• Girls Recreational Coach of the Year – Nick Mastrantuono – Poughkeepsie Soccer Club
• Hall of Fame Induction – Dave DeCato – LaGrange Soccer Club
 
“I am a product of East Hudson soccer,” said Coach Gadonniex. “I even have my 1986 United States Youth Soccer Association player pass here with me to prove it. I was coached by Pat Parker, Gary Montalto and other great coaches through the years I played, and bring many of their philosophies to my coaching activities.”
 
“I started volunteering for the Beacon Soccer Club as a result of my association with folks such as Pat Kerr, and Robert and Christine Galloway,” continued Wilfred Lopez, volunteer honoree, “And was inspired by their long tenures as volunteers and coaches working to bring the joys of soccer to the children of Beacon.”

The last presentation added to the EHYSL Hall of Fame its 56th and newest inductee, Dave DeCato. The LaGrange Soccer Club’s Director of Coaching, Kieran McIlvenny, commented, “For almost two decades, long after his own children stopped playing, Dave has been providing guidance and opportunity for LaGrange girls to play, grow and develop as players and young women, epitomizing the ideals and qualities defining the East Hudson Hall of Fame. There are not many folks more deserving of this recognition than Dave DeCato.”

“It is through the dedicated efforts of folks such as these that make youth soccer the great program it is,” added EHYSL President Jim Purdy. “What little thanks we can give these honorees pales in comparison to their contributions and those of the hundreds of other parents and supporters of youth soccer every year. We rely on them, and thankfully can count on them, for so many things.”

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.