Affiliate Leagues

Top 10 Reasons Why Over 100,000 Kids Play Soccer in Eastern New York

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

January 7, 2025-Over 100,000 children and teenagers, from the East End of Long Island to the Canadian border, play soccer in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Although some have gone on to play professional soccer plus in the World Cup and Olympics, all have learned the value of teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship and getting along with others through the life lessons they have learned on our soccer fields. Here are the Top 10 Reasons why we have so many players:

1. State Cup. Eastern New York has two levels of the State Cup––the State Open Cup and the Challenge Cup––so every premier and travel team in Eastern New York has a chance to win a state championship. Both competitions try to schedule games against local opponents as much as possible for this springtime competition. Chris Armas won the State Cup while competing for the Brentwood Bandits and went on to play and coach professional soccer. He had 66 caps while playing for the US Men’s National Team and will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on May 3.

2. National Championship. For ambitious teams looking to play against top competition and possibly win a national championship, they can do it through the State Open Cup as it’s part of the National Championship Series. After winning the State Open Cup, they would move on to Regionals and potentially Nationals. Or they could become a national champ through the US Youth Soccer National League. The top teams earn advancement to the Regionals as well as a chance to earn a coveted spot in the National Tier of the Leagues Program.

Crystal Dunn in the gray dress surrounded by her adoring fans. Photo courtesy of Crystal Dunn.

3. Olympic Development Program. ODP is considered the highest level of competition in each state association. Every year, players must be re-evaluated by the ODP professional staff of coaches for a position on each age-specific team. The identification process ends each summer with the most elite players within the East Region competing for a position on the regional team. Players are then identified by US Soccer staff coaches for possible entry to the national team program. Yet even those players who do not make the regional or the national teams often use ODP as a springboard to college scholarships and even on to professional soccer. Current US Women’s National Team players Sam Coffey, Crystal Dunn, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce played in Eastern New York ODP as teenagers.

TOPSoccer at the Burr Road Soccer Complex in Commack, Photo courtesy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League.

4. TOPSoccer. This is a wonderful program for Children With Special Needs. Special Children playing soccer in an organized league actually started in Eastern New York back in 1978 when the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) and Massapequa Soccer Club separately started programs in an era when Special Children playing sports is not as accepted as it is today. Craig Ludin, who has Down’s Syndrome and has been playing for HBC since he was a young boy, received so many medals in the Special Olympics that he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame over a decade ago. Craig’s teammate John Cronin started a very successful local business, John’s Crazy Socks, with his father Mark. Volunteers are always needed for this great program and you do not know what happens until you begin. The Manhasset Soccer Club’s Owen McCormack will be honored this month by US Youth Soccer as the National TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year for 2024.

5. Futsal. Futsal is the only version of indoor soccer approved by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body. The surface, ball and rules together favor ball control in small spaces and futsal is increasingly cited in the discussion on how to improve player development, particularly in the winter months here in Eastern New York when outdoor fields can be frozen and unplayable. Both New York Futsal and the Long Island Futsal League play under the Eastern New York umbrella and both are very active with league play this winter.

6. Risk Management. To protect our players, Eastern New York conducts background checks on coaches and referees before they participate in our games. They must pass this background check every two years to continue to be involved in our competitions. Eastern New York also provides awareness education to coaches and referees, communicating information regarding field and player safety.

7. Coaching Education. Under the supervision of Eastern New York Director of Coaching Tim Bradbury, the coaching licensing curriculum provides all soccer coaches, from the beginner to the advanced, with up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge so that Eastern New York coaches can help our players develop to their full potential. Coaches can earn state and national coaching credentials plus the courses offer valuable information and current coaching trends state-wide, nationally and internationally. All courses are available in both English and Spanish.

8. SAT and ACT Prep Courses. Eastern New York provides exclusive, free access to acclaimed SAT and ACT prep courses from eKnowledge, which is normally a $250 value. These courses can be taken online or via DVD, which makes them ideal for our busy student/athletes. Contact Siokbee Usaraga at siokbee@eknowledge.com

9. College Scholarships. Every summer, Eastern New York awards college scholarships to help defray the cost of college for deserving high school seniors. Five Eastern New York leagues––Capital District Youth Soccer League, Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League, East Hudson Youth Soccer League, Long Island Junior Soccer League and the Staten Island Youth Soccer League––all have separate scholarship programs as well.

10. Support of All Leagues, Players, Coaches and Refs. Eastern New York provides insurance for all its competitions, hosts referee certification and recertification, promotes member leagues and helped secure a new turf soccer field at Big Bush Park in Woodside that started play in autumn 2023.

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/

Five Longtime Volunteers Inducted Into the Hudson Valley Soccer Hall of Fame

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

December 14, 2024-The Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) added five new members to its Hall Of Fame at a dinner on December 8 at Cosimo’s Trattoria in Poughkeepsie. The five honorees were the first to be inducted into the HVYSL Hall of Fame since 2019.

Luiz Amaral has coached in the Washingtonville Soccer Club with great success for over 25 years. He is held in very high regard as a role model and mentor to his players and has always been active in assisting the club in any way he can.

Dimitri Giatrakis, already a member of the Eastern New York Hall of Fame, was honored for his work in over 40 years of coaching as well as his work as Technical Director for both Hudson Valley’s Academy program and Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) North boys and girls programs. One of his ODP teams reached the National ODP chamionship game and he brought the current US Men’s National team keeper, Matt Turner, into soccer as a youth and developed him as a keeper when Matt played for Clarkstown in the Eastern New York Premier League.

Phil Larkin has been an active member of the Carmel United Soccer Club for 42 years and counting. He has been an active board member serving in many different roles (referee assignor, field coordinator, board member) in addition to his years as a coach, referee and mentor.

Dean Martin volunteered as President of the Brewster United Soccer Club for many years after having served in other board positions before that. He has been their Field Coordinator and still serves as a mentor to both new and inexperienced coaches and board members. In addition, he came out of retirement to coach a Girls-Under-12 team so they would not be forced to disband.

Eddie Moloney is a longtime coach for the Washingtonville Soccer Club with 25 years plus and counting. Eddie has served as a club administrator, working virtually daily on maintaining their field complex plus coordinating use of field time. Additionally, Eddie is an active referee and the club’s referee assignor plus he also mentors young referees.

Hofstra Men Take the Conference Title For the Fourth Consecutive Year

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

November 25, 2024-The Hofstra University men’s soccer team, with six players on the roster who grew up playing in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), has had another outstanding season.

For the second consecutive year, the Pride has received a national seed in the NCAA Championship and a first round bye. Hofstra, who is making their fourth consecutive NCAA appearance, earned the #7 seed.

“Very pleased to have another successful season, to be conference champions and to be in the NCAA tournament once again,” longtime Hofstra men’s soccer coach Richard Nuttall stated.

Evan Bernstein photo courtesy of Hofstra University.

Hofstra (14-4-2) won the Coastal Athletic Association championship for the fourth consecutive season and eighth time overall.

This is the ninth time that Hofstra has played in the NCAA tournament. In 2021 and 2023, the Pride advanced to the third round and the team advanced to the second round in 2004, 2006, 2015 and 2024. Hofstra is 4-2 at home in NCAA play.

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/

Marianne Volpe 5K and Pumpkin Fun Run is on October 26 in Baldwin

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

October 10, 2024-Even though it’s precariously close to Halloween, we’re hoping that 13 is a lucky number as the 13th Annual Marianne Volpe 5K and Pumpkin Fun Run takes place on Saturday, October 26 at Baldwin Harbor Park.

Blood cancer support is important to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) because of the life of Marianne Volpe. The Baldwin resident was 56 years old when she died of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), an aggressive form of blood cancer, leaving behind her husband Jim, daughters Chelsea and Shaun, three brothers, five sisters and countless friends. There are many stories of extraordinary people like Marianne whose lives are cut tragically short by this horrible disease.

Marianne Volpe

Jim is a Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Hall of Famer and Chairperson of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the last decade-plus. Both Chelsea and Shaun grew up playing in the LIJSL, then played for Manhattan College and are still involved in the game today. The family started the Marianne Volpe 5K and Pumpkin Fun Run the day before Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and both the soccer and running communities have been helping out ever since.

More than $285,000 has been raised with the goal to go over $300,000 this year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), which has helped advance 55 of the 65 blood cancer treatment options approved by the FDA since 2017. It’s the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research towards cures for blood cancers. Since its inception in 1949, the Society has provided more than $1.2 billion to research specifically targeting blood cancers and its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

Shaun, Jim and Chelsea Volpe

On Saturday, October 26, the kids’ run dubbed the Pumpkin Fun Run (for ages 10 and younger) is at 9:00 am with the Marianne Volpe 5K starting at 9:30 am.

Click here to register for the run.

Click here to make a donation.

In addition to utilizing the website, you can also send a donation check made payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma’s Society to: LLS Northeast Territory, LLS – PO Box 22470, New York, NY 10087-2470

For more information about the Marianne Volpe 5K and Pumpkin Fun Run, please contact Jim Volpe at 516-805-3765.

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 Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

29 Student-Athletes Receive Long Island Junior Soccer League Scholarships

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

July 24, 2024-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), has the largest scholarship program in Eastern New York. The league distributed 29 scholarships at the LIJSL Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday, July 21 at the Huntington Hilton. These well-rounded teenagers, selected based on academic and athletic excellence plus community service, exemplify the mission of the league and its idealistic slogan of “Building Character Through Soccer.”

Standing, left to right: Nicholas Breglio, Lindsay Altman, Joseph Zweban, Michael Iemma, Michael Washington, Lewis Gibbons, Henry Garger, Dylan Chee, Jared Bernardo, Ryan Arlotta, Sebastian Ko, Jaden Waldinger, Connor Barath, Soham Mukherjee, Derek Ramos, Brandon Witz, Noah Waldman, Cole Bricker
Seated, left to right: Jasmine Ostroff, Kailey Dunne, Natalia Alvarez, Jessica Banta, Alyssa Deutsch, Abbey Py, Emily Cavanaugh, Brooke Cheskes, Mikayla D’Ambrosio
Camera shy: Lucia Palumbo, Paige Sheiffele

The LIJSL Scholarship Program began in 1981 when one boy and one girl each received a scholarship and it has grown exponentially over the past 43 years just as soccer has grown in the United States. Many of the scholarships are named after longtime league volunteers. The program is now under the direction of Matt McElwee.

Congratulations to all the LIJSL Scholarship recipients:

• Michael Washington attending the University of Miami, Bill Peet Memorial Scholarship

• Jaden Waldinger attending The Ohio State University, Marc Stein Memorial Scholarship

• Emily Cavanaugh attending the University of New Haven, Jerry and Sally Marinan Memorial Scholarship

• Alyssa Deutsch attending SUNY New Paltz, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship

• Lucia Palumbo attending John Jay College, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship

• Cole Bricker attending Washington University in St. Louis, Sean Urda Memorial Scholarship

• Ryan Arlotta attending the University of Pittsburgh, Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award Scholarship

• Michael Iemma attending Methodist University, Peter C. Collins Presidential Scholarship

• Kailey Dunne attending Loyola University of Baltimore, Addie Mattei-Iaia Presidential Scholarship

• Paige Sheiffele attending the US Naval Academy, Pat Grecco Scholarship

• Lewis Gibbonsattending Colgate University, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarship

• Henry Garger attending LIU Post, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarship

• Natalia Alvarez attending Suffolk Community College, Tania Bonilla Memorial Scholarship

• Jessica Banta attending Marywood University, LIJSL Merit Scholarship

• Sebastian Ko attending the University of Georgia, LIJSL Merit Scholarship

• Jared Bernardo attending the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Joseph Lombardo Memorial Scholarship

• Dylan Chee attending the University of Michigan, Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship

• Nicholas Breglio attending Boston College, Michael Scarpati Memorial Goalkeeper Scholarship

• Abbey Py attending St. John’s University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Derek Ramos attending Francis Marion University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Noah Waldman attending Northwestern University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Mikayla D’Ambrosio attending Farmingdale State University, Carolyn Page Memorial Scholarship

• Brooke Cheskes attending the University of Delaware, Sandra Atlas Bass Scholarship

• Soham Mukherjee attending the University of Wisconsin, Frank Gorman Memorial Scholarship

• Connor Barath attending Georgia Tech, John Pinezich Memorial Scholarship

• Brandon Witz attending the University of Texas, Michael Secko Memorial Scholarship

• Lindsay Altman attending The Ohio State University, LIJSL TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

• Jasmine Ostroff attending Northeastern University, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

• Joseph Zweban attending Caldwell University, LIJSL and George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

Big Apple Youth Soccer League Kids Accompany Copa America Players Onto Field

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

July 2, 2024-Boys and girls from the Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) walked onto the field with players from the National Teams of Bolivia and Uruguay before their Copa America match on June 27 at MetLife Stadium. Uruguay won the match, 5-0.

BAYSL players from the JJV Academy, La Colonia and New York Talentos clubs had this opportunity as league President Carlos Vergara has connections to Copa America executives. The kids arrived hours before the game to practice entering the field plus received free food, uniforms and watched the game afterwards. Since the BAYSL players speak Spanish, they were able to communicate with the Bolivian and Uruguayan players.

“Our players were very happy to be on a professional field in front of so many people, almost a sellout crowd,” BAYSL President Vergara explained. “It is something that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Offering a Discount on AED’s

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

April 24, 2024-An AED, Automated External Defibrillator, can save lives. It is utilized to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. An AED is a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electric shock, or defribrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

Several Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) clubs use Veterans Park in East Northport as a home field and the scoreboards on the two turf fields there have the logo of the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation. 14-year-old Louis Acompora was playing in his first high school lacrosse game in West Islip on March 25, 2000 when he died from commotio chest, which resulted from a blow to his chest. This fatal condition leads to sudden cardiac arrest. Following his tragic death, the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation was created to raise awareness about the importance of having AED’s, which could have saved Louis’ life.

The New York State Senator’s office shared the following information from the Department of Health regarding AED’s and Youth Sports programs. ENYYSA combined the information and posted it to the ENY website to provide further guidance on how to comply as we approach the effective date of the legislation on May 21, 2024.

AED Guidance for Youth Sports in New York State

AED Guidance Resources:

Three Longtime Volunteers Inducted Into the LIJSL Hall of Fame

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

April 8, 2024-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), inducted three longtime volunteers into the LIJSL Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on Saturday, April 7 at the Stonebridge Country Club in Smithtown.

From left to right: LIJSL Hall of Fame Chairperson Addie Mattei-Iaia, Victor Varonier, Violette Smith, Jeff Sinkiewicz and LIJSL President Andrew Seabury.

Victor Varonier has volunteered as a Club President for over two decades. He played soccer as a child, then became a coach and coached his Sound Beach team to the club’s only State Cup championship, an immense accomplishment for a very small community. Yet the Sound Beach Soccer Club, through Vic’s inclusive leadership, continues to grow. He also is always helping out to make sure the gameday experience is enjoyable for all players, from lining and setting up fields to cheering on the Sound Beach players from the touchline.

Although Vic’s children graduated from youth soccer, the last one in 2018, he is now coaching his grandchildren!

Just like Vic Varonier, Violette Smith has been a Club President for over two decades. She has been the lifeblood of the Brentwood Youth Soccer Club as everybody knows Violette. She has steered the club with inclusivity, innovation and a genuine love for the sport, creating the atmosphere of a tight-knit family. This year, the club is also be celebrating its 50th anniversary and she is one of the many reasons why Brentwood High School has won five boys state soccer titles, including last year.

In addition to leading a club of passionate soccer players, coaches and fans, Violette somehow finds the time to volunteer at the LIJSL office during the arduous but necessary registration process.

Jeff Sinkiewicz, known as “Mr. Middle Country Soccer,” has been involved with Middle Country Children’s Soccer for nearly three decades. Starting as a coach in the 1990’s, he served as Club President for five years and currently sits on the club’s board with the position of Head Referee.

He is involved with many fundraising efforts in central Suffolk County and with many important days, from Memorial Day, the anniversary of 9/11, Halloween plus appearing as “Sinko’s Santa” aboard a Centereach fire truck and at the Centereach Tree Lighting. Jeff has also volunteered in the club’s TOPSoccer program that kicked off in 2021. He was honored as The Times of Middle Country’s Sports Person of the Year in 2012.

Eastern New York Presents a Recreational Skills Clinic on June 1

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

March 28, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to present a Recreational Skills Clinic in support of the Spring 2024 League America Festival. It is free-of-charge and will take place during the State Cup finals on Saturday, June 1 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.

The event will start with one age group: Boys-Under-10 and Girls-Under-10, recreational players only. League America kicks off with a 1-hour skills clinic followed by inter-league friendly games. Participation awards will be presented to all players.

It’s a Saturday for recreational players to sharpen their skills, meet our coaches and have fun playing friendly games so please share this opportunity with your clubs and teams.

Squads that would like to sign up can e-mail lfrancis@enysoccer.com. Responses should be sent to that e-mail address by 4 pm (the close of business) on Monday, April 15.

Any questions, please call the Eastern New York office at 516-766-0849.

Remembering the Amazing Howard Rubenstein

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

March 21, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the passing of Howard Rubenstein, who died on March 19.

Howard was last seen by many in the soccer community when he received our Distinguished Service Award and a standing ovation at Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Banquet which celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2022. He was an irreplaceable and enthusiastic volunteer during the five decades of our existence. He was a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL).

2022 photo of Howard in center with ENYYSA President Richard Christiano on left and ENYYSA First Vice President Bill Smith on right.

Howard’s name keeps coming up in the long history of both the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association. In fact, the Eastern New York name comes from Howard. As new leagues were created, both the youth and adult associations started admitting clubs north of Albany so our original name of Southern New York was obviously no longer appropriate. Since our geographic area encompassed clubs from Long Island to the Canadian border east of Route 81, which connects Binghamton and Syracuse, in 1984, Howard and the incoming President, Peter Masotto, changed the name to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association. Howard and Costas Mallios made the same name change from Southern New York to Eastern New York with the adults in 1988.

Howard served as ENYYSA President from 1980 to 1984 and as Vice President of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) in the late 1980’s and then became Treasurer of the Eastern New York adults. In the early 1990’s, Howard and Alfonso Mondelo were in charge of the Eastern New York coaching. Howard was also in charge of refs, serving as State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) for a decade around the turn of the millennium and he had an amazing three tours of duty as State Referee Administrator (SRA) after that.

« Previous Page