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

July 1, 2017-Saratoga/Wilton United of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) rode a 4-2-0 record, scoring 20 goals and conceding 9, to become champions of the Girls-Under-17 Division in the Eastern New York Premier Soccer League (ENYPL) this spring.

“This is a special group of girls and they have been a real pleasure to coach. The girls work hard in practice and they have been able to successfully apply the concepts they learn in practice into the games,” explained Saratoga/Wilton United coach Miguel Hoyos.    

The ENYPL, organized by the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), is America’s oldest continuous Premier League, having originally kicked off play in 2001.

“Our girls, as a group, are very coachable and have an excellent knowledge of the game. They play hard for each other every game and they truly have the mindset of putting the team first,” Coach Hoyos concluded. “Their ball movement and unselfish play has helped lead them to success this season.”

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

May 3, 2016-Major League Soccer, now in its 21st season, had record attendance last year and the high level of fan support continues in 2016. The passion to watch pro soccer has even extended to the minor leagues––the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League and National Premier Soccer League—as some of those teams also had record attendance.

Looking to take advantage of all this passion is expansion NPSL franchise Kingston Stockade FC, playing its home games at 1,500-seat Dietz Stadium. The NPSL represents the 4th Division in the US Soccer pyramid, three levels below MLS, and these players truly remain amateurs as they are not being paid.

The kids in the local East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) can easily find role models to identify with on the Stockade, especially since an amazing 85% of the new team played in the EHYSL as kids.

Kingston is a Hudson River city rich in history, stemming from the original Dutch settlers of the 17th Century. This history can be found in the stone homes lining the streets of uptown Kingston and within the Stockade District, named for the wooden fortification built to protect the Dutch settlement. Hence, the team name and the club colors of basic black-and-white with orange trim since the Dutch national team wears orange uniforms.

But Kingston’s head coach is not from The Netherlands but from Hungary and is now an iconic coaching figure in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). George Vizvary emigrated to the US in 1956, leaving behind a promising soccer career as a player for Tatabanya FC and even the Hungarian National Team during the magical years when Hungary was a world power. They were so good that Vizvary could only earn one cap for Hungary, playing left defender in a 1955 game, one year after his native country played in the World Cup final. He has gone on to coach countless teams in Eastern New York, received the 2015 Walter Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award and is now in charge of the Kingston Stockade.

“George was hired to be our coach because of his outstanding experience and longstanding dedication to the game. He’s also very well connected with local coaches and players and is very well organized. A local soccer legend in the Hudson Valley,” commented Kingston General Manager Randy Kim. “We believe our team will have a level of play that will make the Hudson Valley proud.“

“Our team has a good representation of Hudson Valley soccer,” said Coach Vizvary. “A fast-playing style offensively and defensively, bounded together with effectiveness and attractiveness. We possess a hard-to-beat core of players.”

Kingston plays its inaugural match this Sunday, May 8 in Massachusetts against Greater Lowell United FC. After a Friday, May 13 encounter in Brooklyn against the Brooklyn Italians, Kingston plays its first home game at Dietz Stadium, vs. the Rhode Island Reds on Saturday, May 21.

For more info about Kingston Stockade FC, log on to http://www.stockadefc.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 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 tohttp://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 27, 2017-Frank Sinatra sang “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere,” in “New York, New York,” and this sentiment applies to just about every trade and certainly to soccer refereeing. Soccer is a wonderful melting pot and so is New York City so many of the most diverse athletic contests played in the US are New York City soccer games. Managing soccer games between rival ethnic groups is not for the faint of heart and it’s been the role of the New York Soccer Referee Association (NYSRA) since its inception way back in 1938. At the NYSRA Holiday Party on December 14 at the VFW Hall in Franklin Square, its top referees in 2017 were honored.

The following referees received awards:

Gold Whistle (NYSRA’s highest achievement award) was presented to Francesco Rizzi in recognition of distinguished service at highest level with US Soccer. Picking up a lyric from another Sinatra song, 2017 “was a very good year” for Francesco as he was also included on the NISOA National list and officiated the PSAL Boys Soccer Final for the New York City high school championship. He is pictured here with assignor Teresa Catalioti.

Silver Whistle presented to Andrew Pyzik in recognition of a young, upcoming and talented referee

Referee of the Year Award was given to Patricia Thelwell for great officiating and reaching the highest level with competence and dedication to the NYSRA

Service Award, for over 25 years of outstanding and devoted service, went to Joao Natel

Life Member Award, soccer’s version of the Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to veteran ref Conrad Vaughn for many years of service with NYSRA  

“The turnout to our annual holiday party was higher than usual with guests from the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League as well as the State Adult Association,” explained NYSRA President Vito Rizzi. “Gifts were raffled as we usually do during this occasion.”

The NYSRA would like to thank its friends at the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), New York City originals since 1933, for paying for the holiday dinner.

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.

“Abby Wambach was a part of the first induction class in 2017,’' Carleen said of the U.S. Women’s National Team legend. “I have her jersey.”

Carleen grew up playing for the St. Joseph and St. Thomas, St. Patrick’s and Staten Island United clubs in the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

She made her name at New Dorp High School, scoring 122 career goals as a four-year starter while leading the Centrals to two New York City Public School Athletic League (PSAL) titles. By the time she graduated in 1992, she owned the PSAL record in goals.

From 1992 to 1995, Carleen Rago led the Endicott College soccer and basketball teams. She became the women’s soccer program’s all-time leading scorer with 75 goals after scoring 25 goals as a senior and was a two-time All-NEWAC First Team selection. In basketball, her quickness led her to becoming the Gulls’ all-time leader in steals with 412 and assists with 217. 

She then played semipro soccer with the New York Magic before there was a women’s professional soccer league.

Nowadays, Carleen is best-known as a coach, leading the Susan Wagner High School girls varsity team to the last nine Staten Island championships in her 24 years at the helm, with seven of those Falcons teams going undefeated. She also coaches two SIYSL Under-9 teams both named the Staten Island Stallions. The boys squad plays travel team soccer while the coed squad plays rec soccer.

Eastern New York Hall of Famer Bill Smith, who volunteered as SIYSL President for 16 years, stated, “Carleen was a great player and is a coach that her players look up and respect as she always puts them first. When I needed help with her nephew’s team, she said, ‘Don’t worry, I got this.’ Carleen helped me with our pee wee program too. When I needed some high school girls to train the little ones, my first call was to Carleen who has never let me down. She sent a few of her players to help.”

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

I have had many discussions with fellow Directors of COahing from the rest of the country and also with Sam Snow, the Technical Director for the United States Youth Soccer Association, regarding the frequency and number of overuse injuries that we now see in players as young as eight and nine. Unfortunately, the frequency and extent of these injuries does not surprise me at all.

The multi-sport bandwagon has been promoted for many years by many different people and organizations. Discussions on multi-lateral development and how a broad based spectrum of physical literacy can help produce athletic excellence later in life have fueled the multi-sport tank to overflow. For far too long, I've had to be content to be the quiet voice in the wilderness suggesting that what has happened to the multi-sport concept is disturbing, dangerous and ultimately harmful to our youth players. Now with more and more studies being presented on the frequency and severe nature of overuse injuries to players as young as 10, coaches and parents around the country are starting to be concerned.

Those promoting multi-sports as a solution to the ludicrous intensity and win at all costs nature of many youth teams never dreamt that the evils of the pressure to win at all costs mentality and culture would simply be multiplied as youngsters took on more sports. The truth of the matter these days is that the same issues that haunted over indulgence and pressure in one sport are simply amplified and multiplied as our U10 players deal with the same stress in basketball, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball and of course Soccer.

The obvious damage to the body that playing three or four sports year-round in a serious way is now being exposed by the number of overuse injuries that our younger players are suffering. It may be that this issue is the one that leads to parents and coaches having to decide what a sensible sports diet is for our youth players. As a strong advocate of the importance of “play” where kids choose the game, the rules and the duration of the activity as they play in the street or garden, I believe that two sports played concurrently is the max that is advisable. One in a serious way, child’s decision fueled by the love of the game and one played in a more social way. I believe that this diet of self-directed play, one formal and one social sport each season is more than enough for the young developing body to handle.

An over emphasis on attempting to play three or four sports at the same time does more than physically damage our players. They also suffer emotional, psychological and social pain as they are forced to deal with the following scenarios

1) Which practice, friends and coach do I let down today as there is a conflict that I cannot avoid?

2) How do I explain to my coach and teammates that I will only be trying at 50% in today’s game as I have two other games to deal with later today?

3) How can I lie to this coach about missing the game next weekend because mom and dad say I have to go the lax game instead?

4) It just doesn’t feel right to be on this team, I miss more than half of the practices and the kids don’t like me anymore.

5) It’s so embarrassing to hear mom and dad say how good I am and how I deserve lots of playing time, I know I missed the last game and the last two practices. It’s strange that they demand I am honest and truthful when they simply can’t be the same.

Perhaps the thing that bothers me the most about the multi-sport conundrum is the damage that is being done to the traditional definition of what sport is about and the lessons in life it helps us with. I was raised in a house where team and sport meant the following:

A) You always try your best and give 100% effort regardless of the score or the odds against you – simply put, you never give in.

B) Your team and teammates come first so at some point you may miss a dance or a party but to be on a team sacrifice and discipline are two very important life lessons that you will learn.

C) Your team and coach deserve you to be at your best on game day so planning what you eat, when you go to bed and how you prepare to play are important issues that will affect your performance. Choose wisely and plan effectively.

D) You will learn on your team how to deal with problems and disagreements with teammates and coaches. You will learn to express your opinion politely and honestly while also learning to listen and respect the opinions of others.

E) Ultimately with discipline, maximum effort and dedication, you will learn that excellence is a product of hard work.

F) Through all the above, you will develop a true love for sport and have great fun with your team.

I am absolutely sure that our youth players are missing out on some very valuable and irreplaceable life lessons as parents pursue sport, after sport, trophy after trophy and bumper sticker after bumper sticker I only wish I understood why.

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

January 23, 2018-The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) will soon have a home of its own. SIYSL Vice President and Field Committee Chairperson Rob Libertelli made the big announcement during the SIYSL’s 12th Annual Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Ceremony on January 11 at the Staaten. SIYSL will build its fields on almost 10 acres in the area of Oakwood Beach.

Libertelli told a gathering of 300 that the league, with the help of local politicians plus lawyer and former Family Court judge Ralph Porzio, was given land in the Hurricane Sandy-ravaged section of Oakwood Beach, where homes once stood.

“It is Staten Island Youth Soccer League’s land for the rest of our lives,” said Libertelli. “Did you ever think this was going to happen? Thanks to this Board, thanks to our friends, the Staten Island Youth Soccer League will have a home of its own!”

Depending on the size of the fields, SIYSL President Bill Smith is hoping to have room for three full-size fields and possibly two small-sided fields. They will be natural-grass fields as “it would be too risky to put in turf and have another Sandy event wipe away millions of dollars,” said Smith.

“I'm so happy that this all happened under my guidance with the current Executive Board,” Smith explained. “They made it all happen. They stepped up. Everybody wanted to see this. I can't wait until the ribbon is cut for the fields.”

More than 5,200 players currently play in the SIYSL, the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

“It’s a three-phase process,” explained Libertelli. “First, some of the area still has to be decommissioned by the state. Then everything has to be transferred into the name of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League. Then we can go from there and try to get grants and other money to start to build the fields.”

State Senator Andrew Lanza's office was instrumental in making this all happen.

“We've been working on this with Senator Lanza for more than a year as well as the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery,” said Libertelli. “The state wanted to give the land to the city, but someone told the state about the Staten Island Youth Soccer League and that we have no official home and when they found out we were a non-for-profit organization, they thought it would be a good idea to see if we can work something out.”

Smith said the other playing sites the league uses will still be needed, but to a lesser extent.

Smith concluded, “Having our own fields will help us with scheduling and not waiting for other fields to open up for the season. We have the luxury of doing some things we wouldn't have been able to do before.”

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.

Referee of the Year Albert Calise on left with SRA Enrico Romano

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

January 5, 2015-Eastern New York is very happy that our 2014 Jose Vargas Referee of the Year Award recipient, Albert Calise, continues to ref in the Empire State even though he has lived in the past seven years in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association honored Albert at our Holiday Party last month at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx.

The award’s namesake, Jose Vargas, was an Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Famer, State Referee Administrator, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Director of Assessment before his passing in 2010. That’s the same year that Albert became a National Referee.

He became a ref at the age of 15 in 1993 when he joined the Staten Island Soccer Referees Association (SISRA) and quickly moved up the ladder officiating both youth and adult games in Eastern New York. Albert has refereed Eastern New York cup finals, both youth and adult, all over the state and officiated championship matches at the U.S. Youth Soccer Association Nationals in 2005 and the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Nationals in 2010.

Additionally, Albert has been a college referee since 2003 and was selected to be an assistant referee for the 2014 Northeast Conference women’s championship game and a NJCAA women’s quarterfinal match. As a high school official, Albert has refereed a New York State Catholic girls championship game and a New York City boys title match.

The 36-year-old Staten Island native has been officiating pro games since the age of 23. Last year, he officiated in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Premier Development League, National Premier Soccer League, USL Pro as well as the U.S. Development Academy.

“I have never seen anybody work as hard as Albert has done to get to where he is today as a National Referee,” commented State Referee Administrator (SRA) Enrico Romano.

“It’s unusual for referees to get awards as we are not part of a team that wins a championship,” Albert stated in his brief acceptance speech. “But referees serve the game just as the administrators and coaches in attendance today serve the game. Although I have lived in New Jersey for the past several years, I am proud to referee in Eastern New York.”

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.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
July 12, 2016-The HBC Impact just keep on getting better and better.

After losing the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) State Open Cup final twice, the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) team won their first state championship last year and followed it with another title last month in the Hudson Valley when they defeated the Syracuse Development Academy, 7-0, in the final. They also won the Regional Championship in 2015 and again this year. HBC is now aiming to win the Girls-Under-15 national championship when they compete in Frisco, Texas, the future home of the US Soccer Hall of Fame, from July 25 to 31. Eastern New York will be donating to the team to help with their costs.

At Regionals in Barboursville, West Virginia from June 30 to July 5, an important order of business for HBC was getting by Pennsylvania’s Lower Merion Storm in group play, a team they had lost to 4-1 in the Region 1 Champions League back in April.

“To our staff, they were two completely different games and situations as we play regional championships to win and we play our Region 1 league games to develop and play a possession style,“  explained HBC coach Bill J. Carroll. “Having played Lower Merion and scouted them, we played a very specific style during Regionals, which differs from our usual possession-based model. We played safe and direct out of the back and we were very confident in our ability to attack. This allowed us to defend in two blocks, which made us much more difficult to break down.“

Coach Carroll continued, “In our first match, they scored two goals based on possession errors in the back, and then two more on counter attacks when we overpossessed in the attacking third and had so many players committed to keeping the ball. We switched our style of play, knowing they had only seen us as a possession team. We also were intent in not beating ourselves in this match.“

HBC defeated Lower Merion, 3-1, and also topped Rochester Rhinos Elite, 4-1, and Massachusetts' Spirit of Liverpool FC Reds, 2-1, to finish first in the group. HBC won their semifinal match over Connecticut’s CFC North Wolves, 3-0, and the finals over New Jersey’s Princeton SA IGFA, 1-0, with HBC keeper Morgan Novikoff recording the shutout in goal for both games. Ryan Conway, an attacking defender, scored a great goal from 35 yards in the 10th minute of the final to give HBC the Regional title in a match they truly had the better of play.

Coach Carroll said their very deep roster is making quite an impact.

“We have 21 players and they all greatly contributed to this Regional championship. We played 18 different kids during the event, and feel we have many more than 11 starters. This allowed us to rest players, especially those with injuries, as well as regularly have fresher athletes on the field, which we've found is incredibly important to get through a five-game event like Regionals,“ he stated.
 
“Our support staff is second to none. Other teams do not receive the parent support but more specifically, the chaperone and administrative support that we have. Our kids travelled down to West Virginia in two vans, driven by chaperones. Room together, eat together, spend all the off time together. We feel this makes us more of a team, which helps them on the field, especially during moments of adversity. It wasn't always pretty, but every girl gave everything they had. Our scoring was spread across 10 players as this group thrives on being a team. Our group is rare in today's premier soccer landscape and the players and support staff deserve a lot of credit for the success we've had.“

Back row, from left to right: Nina Carlomusto, Claire Mensi, Nicole Scudero, Talani Barnett, Lindsay Wright, Summer Nolan, Ryan Conway, Alessandra Rizzo, Sarah Quigley, Coach Bill J. Carroll
Front row, from left to right: Jade Fixon-Owoo, Daniella Keegan, Julia Hannon, Lauren Mastandrea, Gina Giovinco (holding the ball), Daniella Cornelia, Morgan Novikoff (holding the plaque), Brittany Munson, Logan Ward, Isabelle Glennon, Francesca Lilly, Kaylee Houlahan

 
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 teenagersbetween 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 turnedaway. 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.