By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
November 20, 2023-In 1974, the West-Put Youth Soccer League was founded. It originally served just Westchester and Putnam counties. But the league quickly expanded its geographic footprint and has been known as the East Hudson Youth Soccer League for most of the 49 years of its existence.
As the league prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024, it has rebranded into the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) as that name better reflects their nearly 15,000 registered youth players both east and west of the Hudson River. The league brings together clubs from Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties in New York plus Pike County in Pennsylvania.
The HVYSL logo is representative of the Hudson River that formed the Hudson Valley as well as the Catskills and the Gunks that rise high above. The symbolism of the bridge was to “connect” the clubs from the entire Hudson Valley region and the logo does not depict one particular bridge that spans the Hudson.
Logo design by Media Solstice with the input of HVYSL volunteers. Media Solstice, based in Port Jervis, does a great deal of branding in the Hudson Valley.
In addition to changing its name and logo, HVYSL also recognized that it was necessary to expand its Academy Program offering for its clubs. The Academy is a supplemental training program from November through July and culminates with summer tournaments.
Three years ago, the league began its Premier program. Many boys and girls play on club travel teams and would like to challenge themselves at the Premier League level. HVYSL Premier teams train once a week and play their games on Saturdays. The understanding for all of these players is that they also should play with their local club teams on Sundays as they cannot just do HVYSL Premier.
Also new from HVYSL is the T3 Program, a skill-based program that focuses on the 3T’s: Technical, Tactical and Thought. HVYSL has indoor and outdoor training options for all travel team and recreation players from HVYSL clubs. The home training complex is the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, New York.
For more information about the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League, please contact the league office at 845-765-2864.
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 10 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/