By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 27, 2024-The current heat wave is bringing New Yorkers back to the beach. The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), has been going to the beach since 2017 when it first hosted the Back to the Beach Soccer Classic.
This tournament took a two-year break in 2020 and ’21 for the pandemic with more and more teams playing since. 63 squads, including Brunswick FC from the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), played in the 6th Annual Back to the Beach Soccer Classic at Midland Beach on June 22 and 23.
The tourney does not use official beach soccer rules (yes, there is such a thing) but developed its own rules.
“We do not use goalkeepers. We play on 50 yard by 30 yard fields with 4 x 6 goals. Four vs. four for Under-12 and up, five vs. five for Under-11 and lower,” tourney director Rich Nellis explained. “No offsides but players are not allowed to camp in the goal area and the ball cannot be played once it enters the restricted area by the goal. You cannot play as much one-on-one with the sand so it encourages passing and teamwork.”
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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/