By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
September 10, 2026-It’s mathematically impossible for the two teams competing to win a soccer game but both squads should be having fun. In a Project Play survey of youth soccer players in the New York City metro area last year, 48% of kids said playing with their friends, 46% replied having fun and 45% said learning or improving skills were their reasons for playing youth soccer. Only 23% cited winning as the reason.
Few kids in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) will receive college scholarships or go on to play professional soccer but all should be learning about sportsmanship and treating others the way that they want to be treated so that they become better people.
Opposing coaches can get off to a good start by greeting one another when they arrive at the field as a number of refs have reported that games can go much smoother because of this. Players and spectators follow the lead of their coach on how to behave.
As Eastern New York leagues kick off the Fall Season this month, let’s see great goals, good saves and Fair Play in every game.
Photo courtesy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League.
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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/