enypr

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

July 1, 2014 -Congratulations to Coach Jason Weisberg and the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s (ENYYSA) Olympic Development Program 1998 Girls North Team, who won the Regionals in Kirkwood, Delaware on June 22. Through the two ODP tournaments they played, in Pennington, New Jersey on June 6 to 8 and in Kirkwood on June 21 and 22, these girls born in 1998 won all five games against opponents from five different Northeast states, outscoring them 11 to 3.

“The components to the success of our group was three-fold,” explained Coach Wesiberg. “We have an experienced group who have played together in ODP for a few years, we have a group of versatile players who can play in more than one position based on our needs and we have players who all can play a role in our system.”

Eastern New York looks to play the ball to Brittany LaPlant at forward. Coach Weisberg stated, “We are always lucky enough to pose a threat up top with Brittany LaPlant whether it be centrally or out wide. She is the type of player who can change the game at any moment.”

“In our midfield, we have good depth combined with some very technical and hardworking players. We were anchored in the back by Mairead Martin, who was backed by very solid goalkeeping performances from Caroline Naijar and Taylor Dorado the whole way through Regionals.”  

On to the ODP Nationals against teams from the South, Midwest and West Coast next March!

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.

Top row, left to right: Coach Jason Weisberg, Kylee Babcock, Brittany LaPlant, Kira Murphy, Rachel Parsons, Rachel Moran, Victoria Eavis, Camryn Careccia, Chrissy Cannella, Sarah Van Horn, Mairead Martin, Assistant Coach Jim Shapiro
Bottom row, left to right: Erin Sanders, Madison Ehring, Jada Stewart, Caroline Najjar, Taylor Dorado, Megan Cavanaugh, Julia McGuire

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
February 15, 2017-Emil Cohill, Secretary of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), will be honored along with six other notables at the New York City Soccer Gala on Wednesday night, March 1 at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan.

Cohill came to the United States from Croatia in 1952. He attended St. Mary’s Grammar School in Tacoma, Washington where he was a CYO All-Star. Cohill moved to New York in 1955 and studied at Power Memorial Academy. After graduation, he attended Fordham University where he was the Rams’ Most Valuable Player in 1962, then played for Dalmatinac Soccer Club in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League from 1963 to 1980. He was elected Secretary of the CJSL in 1976, a position he amazingly still holds 41 years later. He became a referee in 1981 and is still an active official. Cohill is currently the director of the 40th Annual Herbert Heilpern Indoor Tournament being played in Queens this winter. For all this volunteering, the Woodside resident was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 1999, was honored as a Life Member of the CJSL in 2003 and is being honored at the New York City Soccer Gala in a couple of weeks.

“In this day and age of Internet and cell phones, Emil is a throwback who has kept things in perspective and at a even keel, always reminding us how things were done in the past without today's technology and it somehow all worked,“ commented CJSL Director Dimitrie Draguca.

Also being honored that night are Charles Balsamo (Columbia University), Kevin Daly (St. John’s University), Chris Donovan (Fordham University), Mario Fava (St. Francis College), Martin Jacobson (coach at Martin Luther King High School) and Mickey Kydes (LIU Brooklyn).

The New York City Soccer Gala is organized by the Division 1 men’s college soccer programs in the Big Apple. New York City soccer has a very rich history and it’s their goal to highlight and show appreciation to all those who have devoted their lives to enhancing the world’s most popular sport. For more information, log on to http://www.nycsoccergala.com

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.

US Youth Soccer Provides Additional Details on

New Eastern New York Youth Soccer Programming

FRISCO, Texas (July 29, 2021) — Earlier this month US Youth Soccer (USYS) announced programming solutions to address a disruption in the Eastern New York (ENY) youth soccer landscape. The solution now being implemented allows teams to register in their preferred Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) league and then transfer to an appropriate level of play in an expanded version of the North Atlantic Conference of the USYS National League, managed by EDP Soccer. Player passes will still be issued through ENYSSA leagues and players will remain registered with their current ENYYSA league. 

The additional levels of play to be provided by the expansion of the North Atlantic Conference do not represent a preferred pathway into the highly competitive North Atlantic Conference divisions offered at older ages. Participation in those highly competitive divisions is secured through an open application process, which is now closed for the 2021/2022 soccer year. 

Teams that have registered, or are going to register to play in an ENYYSA league, will do so as normal. The developmental progression promoted by USYS and ENYYSA emphasizes that players at the youngest age brackes have access to soccer activities that focus on prioritizing a love for the game, sports diversity, and the importance of allowing kids to just be kids.  As players get older additional opportunities for competition are offered and some top level teams will progress into the highly competitive divisions of the USYS National League program. For teams that do not play in the USYS National League there will also be programming available to help their players develop and enjoy their soccer experience. 

USYS and ENYYSA are committed to making soccer available to youth players of all ages and abilities, and are striving to enhance the opportunities for its members and create fans of the game for life. Should clubs or teams have questions or concerns, please continue to contact US Youth Soccer or ENYYSA. We Are Youth Soccer.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) 

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals, on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 3 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. We Are Youth Soccer.

For more information, visit www.usyouthsoccer.org.

ODP boys action

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

July 2, 2015-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that two of our Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams won Regionals. Both teams will be playing for the national championship next winter.

“We are very excited that two teams are going to Nationals but also that we had a very high standard of play throughout the two tournaments,” commented Eastern New York’s ODP Chairperson Jim Volpe. “All our teams used the same formation, a 4-3-3, and emphasized possession and building from the back.”

During the first round at Rider College in Lawrenceville, New Jersey on June 6 and 7 and the semifinals and finals in Kirkwood, Delaware on June 20 and 21, both the 1999 ODP Boys South team and 2000 ODP Girls South team went 5-0-0 to win the Regionals. The 1999 Boys South team is coached by Ralph Pascarella, assisted by Graham Radcliffe, while the 2000 Girls South squad is coached by Jaime Gonzalez, Brooke DeRosa and Gary Book.

Additionally, the 2000 ODP Boys South team finished 3-2-0, losing in the Regional finals to Virginia, 3-0, and the 1998 ODP Boys South team finished 2-2-0, losing in the semifinals to Massachusetts, 4-3. With such a large geographic area to cover from Long Island to the Canadian border, Eastern New York’s ODP teams are split and 10 ODP teams from the South and nine ODP teams from the North entered the competition at Rider College.

ODP is considered the highest level of competition in the state. Each year, players must be evaluated by the ODP professional staff of coaches for a position on each age-specific team. The identification process ends each summer with the most elite players within Region 1 competing for a position on the regional team. Players are then identified by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) staff coaches for possible entry to the national teams 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 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 Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
August 20, 2015-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Tyler Fotenos of Hicksville is receiving a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship. D’Arpino was an Eastern New York Vice President who was involved in seemingly every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002.

Tyler was on the Principal’s List all four years at Hicksville High School. He was a member of the National Junior Honor Society during his freshman and sophomore years and a member of the National Honor Society during the past two years. Additionally, he was in the National English Honor Society, the National French Honor Society and the National Science Honor Society.

Tyler began playing soccer at the age of four and has played in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) since 2001, first as a member of the Hicksville Americans Soccer Club, playing for the Hicksville Warriors and since 2009, as a player with the neighboring Plainview/Old Bethpage Cosmos.

In addition to playing soccer at Hicksville High School, where he won the Coaches Association Scholar/Athlete Award, he ran track during the fall, winter and spring of his freshman year before concentrating on soccer. Additionally, Tyler volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with Madison Square Garden to positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles.

He wrote in his essay that “soccer has played a role in the development of my character. Respect, courage, strength, determination, humility, sportsmanship, confidence, teamwork, compassion and empathy are some of the building blocks that have emerged from time playing soccer. I used these building blocks as I began the canvas of my life at Hicksville High School.”

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

All things in life are constantly changing. What we know about a child’s developing body and how the food we eat (GMO’s) etc. are impacting their development are quite amazing. From how players learn, to how their bodies change and grow, to the science behind how too many games with insufficient rest cause overuse injuries, there is an enormous amount of knowledge that a youth coach needs to be aware of to be adequately prepared.

Without wishing to enter into a debate on the perils and pluses of the Internet, I can say without reservation that it makes researching any topic very easy. At the push of a button and with some carefully chosen search words, you can at least discover the basics on any chosen topic. Often with time to delve a little deeper you can find masses of information on the game, child developmental, styles of learning and a considerable amount of other factors that impact good learning environments for youth players.

Whereas I fully understand why any mom or dad thrown into coaching, as no one else was willing to do it, not being able to research all the necessary information needed to adequately prepare, I am equally sure that any paid trainer or professional coach should have both the time and inclination to research all appropriate topics.

This list should include, at least the starting 11 given below:

Cognitive development
Psycho -Social development
Best teaching practices by age
Learning styles
Technical and tactical development
Periodization – cycles of work-rest and recuperation
Psychology and motivation
Nutrition and hydration
Sleep (something I learned from the new F course)
The Game – as appropriate by age (4v4, 7v7, 9v9) and associated systems of play etc.
Sports Science – stretching etc.

I left the last one in bold as it was the fuel that started this particular article. Whereas I understand that some of the arguments in sports science are ever evolving; as an example the change in information on the use of a warm down. 10 years ago, cool down, warm down or whatever else we wish to call it, was all the trend and highly recommended. Now we are told although it may be useful socially, it really is a waste of time physically. This example stresses the importance of staying current as new knowledge is presented.

What is not debatable, at least from my corner of the globe, are three things I witness week in week out when I watch teams warm up to compete. I confess these three issues drive me insane (I realize stating this will encourage more people to do them, but as I see things as black or white I have no choice)

Endless plodding around a field with no ball, even if you do it in pairs and make it look organized, it is simply a waste of time, if this is a method to get core temperature up then give them a ball and let them dribble. There are many game type moments you can create that will achieve the same as jogging around the field and may help them improve as soccer players.

Static Stretching – redundant at the start of any activity – reduces the ability of the muscles to generate power (quite important in soccer) so please research and use dynamic stretching. There are so many dynamic routines out there that it may take some research to find one that ensures your athletes are safe and takes a reasonable amount of time.

Endless line based activities – If I asked you to create an activity that definitely did not “psych you up," motivate you or in any way prepare you mentally for a game, it would probably be put me in a line and make me wait. A good warm-up should include all the techniques of the game performed in some type of game situation. I have seen hundreds of games and yet to see the moment where all players cease the action and run to stand behind each other in a line waiting to shoot on goal.

Try to design warm-up routines that include:

• As much contact with the ball as possible (most of our players still only touch the ball in formal sessions), so the more touches we can include the better.

• Activities that allow all the basic techniques of the game: dribbling, short passing, receiving, long passing, defending, instep striking, heading.

• Some game-like possession work that allows players to make decisions under pressure.

• Age-appropriate dynamic stretching.

• Some game-like problems that players have to solve through communication and collaboration.

• Some type of competitive challenge 1v1, 2v2 that tries to stir their competitive edge.

I can think of no reason why with all the resources available via the Internet why any coach cannot produce an active, developmentally appropriate, cutting edge warm-up.