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

March 16, 2017-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) TOPSoccer Program has grown by leaps and bounds since the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) and Massapequa Soccer Club separately started programs back in 1978. This program for children with special needs was the first of its kind, not only in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) but in the entire world, and provides an opportunity for the child who deviates from the average kid in mental, physical or social characteristics and requires modified educational practices and services in order to develop to his or her potential.

Using the slogan of “Come Play With Me,” today there are 28 LIJSL clubs in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens with TOPSoccer Programs:

“Our TOPSoccer players are the nicest and most loyal people that you will ever meet,” commented LIJSL TOPSoccer Program Chairperson Ann Marie Toth.

LIJSL teenage soccer players who want to make a difference in their community assist the TOPSoccer head coaches. One such head coach is the New Hyde Park Wildcats’ Mary Jo Bursig, who received the Marg McGory Award in front of 670 people at the LIJSL Convention on March 3 for her outstanding contributions to TOPSoccer.

The Long Island Rough Riders are also making a difference by making a monetary donation to TOPSoccer for the second consecutive year.

Valley Stream TOPSoccer. Photo courtesy of Azzedine Layachi.

The two highlights of the Spring Season are the 2nd Annual Commack TOPSoccer Festival on Saturday, April 29 at the Burr Intermediate School and the LIJSL TOPSoccer Tournament and Barbecue on Saturday, June 3 at Plainview’s Peter Collins Soccer Park, where TOPSoccer has been playing since the 1980’s. Both big events kick off at 9 am.

For more info or to register your child for the LIJSL TOPSoccer Special Children’s Program, please call Ann Marie Toth at 516-694-3567.

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.