Affiliate Leagues

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

March 11, 2025-The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) are New York City originals since 1933 and the oldest youth league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as well as all of American soccer. The CJSL has improved the game-day experience by partnering with The Sideline Project for the past three years. Starting with the Spring Season that has just kicked off, all parents of players in the CJSL’s 4v4 competitions will be required to complete The Sideline Project Course, a 15-minute interactive course designed to educate parents on proper sideline behavior.

The Sideline Project’s initiative to Inspire Players by Empowering Parents aligns with the CJSL’s belief that parents play a crucial role in shaping a child’s love for the game. This course will help them better understand how their sideline behavior can impact a young player’s development and also reinforce the importance of collaboration between parents, coaches, clubs and players in creating a supportive soccer environment. At the conclusion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and be invited to add their name to The Sideline Project’s Virtual Pledge Wall, demonstrating their commitment to fostering a positive experience for all players.

“This initiative lays the foundation for future generations of soccer players by engaging the parents of our youngest athletes,” explained CJSL President Paul Kontonis. “Player development starts with a positive and supportive game-day environment, and the CJSL is committed to fostering that culture through its competitions and member clubs.”

CJSL Director Dimitrie Draguca added, “Our commitment is to provide the best possible playing environment for our athletes so they can maximize their development. By implementing this mandatory parent education program, we are ensuring that our players receive the support they need to thrive on and off the field.”

“The investment the CJSL is making towards positively affecting the lives of soccer players, families and dedicated coaches is commendable. We are proud to collaborate with the CJSL and are encouraged by their commitment to improving the youth sports landscape,” said Skye Eddy, Founder of The Sideline Project.

The Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) and Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) are the other ENYYSA leagues that partner with The Sideline Project, both beginning that relationship this year.

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/

…………………………… Peter Bralower …………………………………….. Jim Volpe …………………………………………. Rheyan Cader …………………………

Boys Competitive Coach of the Year Luis Lewis

Boys Competitive Coach of the Year Beth Tiffany

Girls Competitive Coach of the Year Chris Ingwersen

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year Maiken Bursig

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year Owen McCormack

Volunteer of the Year Aristotelis Kougemitros

Young Male Referee of the Year Parker Jackson

Young Female Referee of the Year Ella Biolchini

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

January 28, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Luis Lewis of Pleasantville has been honored as the Eastern New York Boys Competitive Coach of the Year. Luis was honored along with Beth Tiffany for this award. The ceremony took place during the Eastern New York Hall of Fame Banquet on January 25 at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx.

His friend and team parent Scott Searle wrote: I was amazed at this individual who had an endless enthusiasm for the game. He was constantly organizing round robin tournaments for the Under-12 boys which was above and beyond what anyone else was doing. In fact, no one was even close. As I would later learn, his passion for the game is boundless. A couple of years later, after I became personally frustrated and disillusioned by modern youth soccer with adult interest superseding that of the kids, I started coaching with Coach Lewis. Pure and simple, he gave me back my love of the game. I’ve learned more about soccer working with Coach Lewis over the past eight years than in my prior 45…

More important than the many accomplishments of his teams in the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) and beyond is the passion for the game that he shares with his players. In my experience, there is no coach more deserving of this award given his competence, passion and impact on these young men. Players regularly come back from college to train with the Gauchos and always say the Gauchos were their favorite soccer experience.

And in a world of pay for play, the Gauchos costs $150 a year. It caters to kids who can’t afford academy programs and/or are not good enough to make academy teams. All the coaches are volunteers and Coach Lewis solicits donations to limit costs. He has regularly turned down paying coaching roles to coach these kids. And he no longer has kids in the program as his last son graduated high school two years ago.

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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

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

January 31, 2025-For the past five decades, Peter Clinton has been associated with Clifton Park soccer. Makes sense as Clinton is just one letter different from Clifton and he was one of the Clifton Park Soccer Club’s co-founders in 1976.

Peter Clinton was also one of the founders of the league that Clifton Park plays in, the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), two years later in 1978. 

The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the passing of Peter at age 91 on January 22. For all his volunteering, Peter was one of the first people to be inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame, in 2001. He was also part of the 2009 inaugural class of the Shenendehowa Central School District Hall of Fame as a Soccer Contributor.

Peter was born on April 23, 1933, in Middlesborough, England. His passion for soccer began in his childhood and helped shape much of his life.

He emigrated to the United States with his family in 1964 and settled in Gouverneur, New York, before relocating to Clifton Park in 1968.

A decade later in 1978, he took over the Clifton Park Recreational Soccer League (CPRSL), which grew to over 1,000 kids from ages 4-17. He volunteered as CPRSL Director for over 40 years and was very proud that every child played a minimum of 50% of each match.

He served as Clifton Park Soccer Club President for an amazing four decades as well and was instrumental in the development of the Clifton Commons soccer fields, one of Eastern New York’s best soccer complexes.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 8 with calling hours from 10 am to 1 pm at Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Route Nine, Clifton Park, NY 12065. A service will immediately follow at the same location. Friends and family are invited to join in celebrating Peter’s life with a reception at the Hilton Garden Inn at 2 pm, 30 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York Chapter.

We have lost a very good man who contributed so much. May he rest in peace!

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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/