Rob D

Plattsburgh FC players at a MLS game in Montreal

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
September 9, 2015-The At Peak app delivers strength and conditioning exercises and video workouts, specific to age, gender and sport, that are designed by medical professionals for youth athletes. Registration for At Peak is open and watch this space for upcoming info on incentives and rewards. Players, coaches and teams who have not downloaded the app so far can do so by clicking here:

https://app.atpeaksports.com/signup/organization/ENYYSA

Here's what some At Peak contest winners from the Spring Season experienced for the contest run across the entire Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and its 11 member leagues. The winning teams were determined by who accumulated the most At Peak workout points during the contest period from April 19 to May 16 and the winners attended a pro soccer match of their choosing.

Plattsburgh FC, proud members of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), crossed the border to attend the Montreal Impact’s 1-0 loss to DC United on August 8 at Stade Saputo. Coach Brian Micheels commented, “Wow, we had a really great time due to the generosity of At Peak! The girls on the team can see that dedication and commitment has its rewards! I know that the parents were very pleased and a few are planning on going up to see Montreal play again. I believe that despite a small roster, 15 players on a Girls-Under-14 team, we were able to perform better and stay injury-free with At Peak’s help during this past spring season. The dynamic movements were very appropriate especially in the areas of flexibility and strength gain. And I think the kids enjoyed the social component of the At Peak app as well.”

The Girls-Under-10 East Islip Galaxy, who play in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), went with their coach Lisa Gozley to Hofstra Stadium to watch the New York Cosmos draw 3-3 with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The contest rules stated that one team would win tickets to a pro game but since Plattsburgh FC and East Islip were virtually tied on points, At Peak graciously provided tickets for both teams.

Coaches could win tickets to a pro match by virtue of their team accumulating the most At Peak workout points in their respective leagues. So far, coach Stacey Antalek of the Girls-Under-15 Beacon Breeze of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) went to Yankee Stadium on August 13 to watch New York City FC defeat DC United, 3-1. Coach Jay Giaccio of the Boys-Under-12 Our Lady Star of the Sea Force from the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) will attend the New York City FC-San Jose Earthquakes game on September 19 at Yankee Stadium. Coach Giaccio exclaimed, “I am so stoked to have won this contest. I have to thank At Peak for such an awesome site. The boys loved doing the activities and I truly believe it helped them be ready for the season.”

Additionally, Eastern New York alumna Crystal Dunn, the leading scorer in the National Women’s Soccer League, endorses the At Peak app and spoke through Facetime with the Girls-Under-10 Smithtown Sharks from the LIJSL on May 15. Coach Bart Polster exclaimed, “What a great night. Crystal was absolutely amazing! I could not have planned it any better. I cannot thank At Peak and Crystal enough for the night. At Peak and Crystal have fans for life! She even told my girls we were BFFs when they asked and made me look even better. Thank you so much again for this wonderful, amazing opportunity.”

Coach Polster had won a Google Hangout with Crystal by taking a photo of a life-size cutout of her during the LIJSL Convention and posting it to Twitter.

Research shows that a 20-minute workout twice per week can help reduce sports injuries by 50%. Using the At Peak app, players as young as eight can build a base of strength and conditioning to reduce injury. Beyond individual training, the app allows coaches to communicate with their youth teams and monitor team training. Parents are also able to participate with their child or just monitor their progress.

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.

Smithtown Sharks during Facetime with Crystal Dunn

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
June 5, 2019-Clarkstown Elite Samimi of the Eastern Development Program (EDP) shut out SDA East of the Mid-State New York Soccer League, 5-0, at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 1 to win the first Joanne Roth Cup as Girls Under-12 State Open Cup champions. Clarkstown will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 28 to July 4 in Charleston, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.

Jasmine Ouata scored a three-goal hat trick, Sophia Gilbreth and Kaitlyn Hilliard added one goal apiece as Aubrey Haesche and Erin Joyce shared the shutout in goal to bring the Roth Cup back to Clarkstown. The cup’s namesake, Joanne Roth, was a beloved and smiling presence at the ENYYSA office until her untimely passing from ALS earlier this year.

“We’re used to playing together and the girls have been working very hard to win the state championship,” stated Clarkston coach Danny Samimi.

SDA East received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award, as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, started the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland, and in the process, made soccer games kinder and gentler.

USA teammates Crystal Dunn and Allie Long plus Jamaica goalkeeper Nicole McClure, training for the Women's World Cup, all played on youth teams that won Eastern New York’s State Open Cup when they were kids.
 
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

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

December 13, 2018-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that LaGrange Soccer Club coach Andrew Moroney has been honored as our TOPSoccer Coach of the Year. The award ceremony took place at the ENYYSA Holiday Party on Saturday, December 1 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

His nomination was passed on to the East Region, which has also honored him, as the Regional TOPSoccer Coach of the Year.

Drew received two letters of recommendation. LaGrange Soccer Club board member Jeff Feldman wrote, “The LaGrange TOPSoccer Program was 15 years old and when our last coach was not able to run the program any longer, we considered ending it about four years ago until Drew, who has a child in TOPSoccer, stepped forward and volunteered. It was clear from our early discussions that Drew was not only well-qualified to coach but also had great ideas for how to make our program better. He has made the training sessions more fun, more suited to some of the players and more manageable for the parents.“

LaGrange coach Michael Fiege wrote, “Drew changed the name of the program to the LaGrange Special Stars. This is by far the most valuable and heartwarming program I have ever been around. Drew is responsible for leading anywhere between 15-30 amazing children who have various physical, mental and emotional differing abilities. These are not the athletes who receive the spotlight or the attention, but Drew makes sure they are all treated like superstars. The athletes also treat Drew as a hero, which he is in my mind. Our son and daughter volunteer to help Drew every Saturday. He has given them both a golden opportunity. They have learned empathy, compassion and the most valuable lesson that everybody belongs. Every Saturday morning, when I drop off my kids to help, I smile and a tear of happiness comes to my eye because of Coach Drew.“

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.

Ed Simonello is in the white shirt in the center surrounded by the OLHC Tanks and Hurricanes he coaches

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

September 30, 2016-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Ed Simonello of Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) Soccer Club is being honored as our 2016 Girls Recreational Coach of the Year.

Three people from the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) nominated Ed.

OLHC Director Liz Morano wrote, “Coach Eddie understands that the goal of youth soccer is to teach children the rules of this wonderful sport, to teach children that ever so important life skill called playing as a team and to have fun while doing both. Coach Eddie understands that while winning is fun, learning how to be a good loser is just as important…Coach Eddie plays all his kids. Equally. Without favoritism. Regardless of skill level. Every game…Coach Eddie is there when you need him. Coach a team without any of his children on it – not a problem. Cover another team because their coach can’t make a game – sure thing. Participate in a club fundraiser – whatever you need me to do. Support a club community service project – whatever it takes.“

Team parent Dr. Faye Dilgen wrote, “I have known Ed as my son’s soccer coach for the last six years. During this time, we have found Ed to be enthusiastic, professional, as well as kind and mentoring to his team. Ed has terrific soccer skills, but more importantly, he is a great teacher and very patient. I can recommend Ed highly for this award, as does my son Teague.“

Another team parent, Eileen Chipura, wrote, “Because of a change in age regulations, my daughter was moved to Ed’s team for two years. Starting a new team as a young teen is not easy but Ed welcomed her with open arms and encouraged her to do her best. She was so happy to be playing and her confidence grew while on his team. His caring for the players was exceptional!…Ed is the coach that all parents would like for their children. He encourages the players to show good sportsmanship, to be healthy and not to focus on the final score. The players always came away with a win because their self-esteem had been cultivated and their love of soccer grew with his teaching.“

Ed will be formally honored by Eastern New York at our Holiday Party on Sunday, December 4 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx. Congratulations to Ed Simonello, Eastern New York’s 2016 Girls Recreational Coach of the Year.

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.

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

Over the last 20 years, I have sat in meeting after meeting with club boards, league boards, state boards and representatives from major national bodies and listened to all sides of this discussion. I have listened to arguments based on fear, based on hope and, of course, ones based on the statistics on the number of youth players that leave the game at a very young age. I have been forced to listen to parents who judge success purely on win-loss records tell me that coaching education is worthless and then claim differently when a few results go against them.

To further complicate the discussion, I have listened to discussions on volunteerism and its pitfalls and the counter arguments on the sins of professional trainers. I fully grasp the thought that the debate CAN be a long and drawn out one that is multifaceted. Perhaps it is because of my background in teaching or my love of the game or perhaps it is because when I consider complicated conversations that need an answer, I do my best to simplify it as much as possible to make it clear that I can sift through all the issues quickly.

So, to be clear and transparent the answer is YES undisputedly EVERY KID DESERVES AN EDUCATED COACH. Gone are the days where the initial grass roots courses require volunteer parent/coaches to give up huge amounts of time and money. Introductory licenses and diplomas along with associated lesson plans are now readily available from both US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches. Both sets of courses are low-cost, require minimal time and are user friendly. People argue that volunteer parent/coaches do not have the time or inclination to get educated but I do not buy it or believe it. I also do not agree that being a volunteer comes with no responsibility. Whatever you volunteer for, you agree in a non-contractual way to meet all the demands of whatever the role entails. For youth soccer coaching, this means that every volunteer coach in my opinion agrees to

1. Arm themselves with the basic information required to do the job well.
2. Care about all the players within their charge.
3. Ensure that each kid gets to enjoy practices and games.
4. Be prepared to evolve with their players or pass them onto a more appropiate enviroment if they feel they can no longer develop the player.

It is my hope that all clubs and leagues take notice of the accessibility of grass roots education courses and as part of their club vision, club charter or core value document, place as number one the following:

XYZ Soccer Club operates on the core belief that every player within the club has the right to be coached by a coach with some type of formal educational training.

 

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

January 25, 2017-Football has the inspirational Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the Notre Dame walk-on who finally played in a game, against Georgia Tech in 1975, and who was the subject of the movie “Rudy.“ But soccer has the equally-inspirational Rudy Lamonica, who died five years earlier. Rudy played on one of Oceanside United’s first boys teams after the club was founded by Joe Goldberg and Ian McDougall in 1962. As a teenager, he scored more than half of Oceanside High School’s goals during 1968 and 1969 in leading the Sailors to consecutive Long Island championships and starred in the indoor tournament that now bears his name, before his untimely death from bone cancer. He is also remembered nearly five decades later for always keeping his spirit high, even when he was sick.

Rudy Lamonica in 1969

What has been also inspirational is what the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) club has done to remember Rudy. Oceanside United plays some of its games on the Rudy Lamonica Memorial Field at Merle Avenue School and awards Rudy Lamonica scholarships every year. But his name will forever be associated with the oldest indoor youth soccer tournament in the United States. 80 teams played in the 50th Annual Rudy Lamonica Indoor Tournament at Coleman Day Camp on January 21 and 22.

It’s ironic that the golden anniversary tourney occurred on the same weekend that the Presidency changed hands as Rudy had received a get-well letter from President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon shortly before his death in 1970.

There to hand out the awards were Jim Volpe, one of Rudy’s friends who is now Chairperson of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), and Rudy’s now 90-year-old mother Bessie. While Jim recalled a very nice and positive young man, Bessie spoke of her son also as a visionary at a time when very few Americans played pro soccer and soccer complexes did not dot the landscape nearly as much as they do now.

“Rudy would say to me, ‘When I make professional, I will earn a lot of money and build one of the biggest soccer complexes to keep kids off the streets and off of drugs,’ “ Bessie explained.

Clockwise from left to right: Floral Park Tomahawks in green and Plainedge Thunder in red during Boys-Under-10 action in the 50th annual tournament. Bessie Lamonica hugging a tournament player. Plaque honoring Rudy Lamonica.

In all 20 divisions, the first and second place teams received medals plus awards for the Best Forward, Best Defender, Best Goalkeeper and the Rudy (for MVP) were given in each division. Nearly $15,000 was raised by the tournament this year for college scholarships for deserving Oceanside soccer players.

“Many came to honor Oceanside United, the tournament, Rudy and Bessie, and the different people being there meant a lot. Their contributions over the years are why we were able to pull off events like these,“ commented tournament director Neil Bloom. “Generations of Oceanside United folks were there, got a chance to see where we are now, and to see how the seeds they had planted have grown.“

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.

Congrats to our boys champion teams:

BU12 B/W Gottschee Pre-Academy Blue