By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
March 3, 2021-Today’s press release is being brought to us by the letter T and the number 3, as in the T3 Developmental Program from the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL). The program was created by longtime soccer coach Rene Rivera.
Coach Rivera stated, “The idea for the program started from a conversation with a parent about her daughter not playing this winter with her team. I began phoning venues to see what was available and 4 pm was all that I could find. Thinking there was no way for parents to have their daughters arrive at a session at 4 pm, I threw it out there anyway. I received responses from 17 total players in a matter of days!”
The five-week training program began on February 16 at Taconic Sports and Racquet in Beekman and will conclude on March 16. The three stages are:
• T1 is the Technical Aspect of the Game. Feeling comfortable with the ball at your feet leads to confidence in all other areas of the game.
• T2 is Tactical Understanding. Where and why to use these skills in game-related play.
• T3 is Thought. Adding a cognitive component to training to make players focus on other variables while trying to play the game. A good example is requiring a player to call out the color of a player's pinnie of the 3rd player on a passing line prior to passing a ball to the player in front of that same line. Forces a player to look further down the field prior to passing while trying to make an accurate pass while dribbling. The program derives its name from T3 as much is going on with this final stage.
Due to limited field availability, the pilot program this winter is being offered to girls in the Under-10 and Under-11 age groups. Plans are afoot to expand the program this spring with more locations (including west of the Hudson River), adding boys players and other coaches. The target age groups are Under-8 and 9, Under-10 and 11 plus Under-12 and 13. The T3 Development Program is looking to add Position-Specific Training in the near future too.
“There is a need in our soccer community for affordable soccer training. East Hudson can and will provide that for the community as we are looking to develop players and challenge them while doing it,” Rivera explained.
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/