Human Interest

New York Futsal Now Accepting Teams and Players For This Winter

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

November 8, 2026-Are you ready for some futsal? Team and individual registration, training and pick-up games are important features of New York Futsal as it gets set for its new season this winter going from December 6, 2026 with the finals being played on the second weekend of March in 2027. Each team is guaranteed at least nine games. $1,600 for teams to register and $295 for each individual player as New York Futsal will find you a team to play on.

High school-aged players will be at the Tito Puente Education Complex while middle schoolers play at PS 333 Manhattan School For Children, also known as the Joan of Arc School. Under-10 and younger play at PS 87. All three venues are in Uptown Manhattan.

Futsal is a great skill developer by enhancing ball control, pinpoint passing, dribbling, vision and running off the ball. Played 5 vs. 5, the goalkeepers get an intense workout too. Soccer superstars such as Pelé, Zico, Maradona, Ronaldo, Messi and Marta grew up playing a version of the game and credit futsal with developing their skills. Futsal’s increased popularity comes from players using these skills that they acquired in the indoor winter season when they return to playing outdoor soccer in March.

The league has been affiliated with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) since its inception in 2010. Futsal every day of the week as games will be played on weekends and training with a UEFA coach around that, just taking a break for the holidays.

Longtime New York Futsal coach Jaime Arias is also back to help with the training sessions. The league is excited to give away entry to their summer camp to one lucky player. Referees are needed too for New York Futsal games this winter.

Remember that if your children are not playing in an ENYYSA-affiliated league or tournament, then they are not covered by our insurance, and chances are, they are not covered by any insurance. Always ask about the insurance coverage before registering your children or team. And unlike like most other indoor leagues, New York Futsal has certified refs and heat in the gymnasiums.

Click here to register or for more info. You can also phone New York Futsal’s Leslie Hamer at 917-861-9782 if you have additional questions.

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/

Long Island Futsal League Accepting Teams For This Winter

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

November 6, 2026-The non-profit Long Island Futsal League, sanctioned by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), is seeking teams to play futsal this winter. With over 200 squads, the LIFL is one of the largest futsal leagues in the United States and will utilize gyms in central Suffolk County on Saturdays and Sundays once again.

The league’s 8-week season kicks off the weekend of January 2 and 3, 2027. The team fee is as follows:

Under-6 to Under-8 (both boys and girls): $500 per team
Under-9 to Under-19 (both boys and girls): $1,015 per team

Discounts available, including for clubs or trainers who register multiple squads. There is an additional $10 individual player fee, which is paid just once even if that player is rostered on multiple teams.

To register or for more info, please click here or phone LIFL President John Branca at 631-790-7481. The registration deadline is December 12.

Although many groups have jumped on the futsal bandwagon of late, this is the LIFL’s 31^st year and two of its teams recently won the national futsal championship. If your children are not playing in an ENYYSA-affiliated league or tournament, then they are not covered by our insurance, and chances are, they are not covered by any insurance. Always ask about the insurance coverage before registering your children or team. And unlike like most other indoor leagues, the LIFL has certified referees and heat in the gymnasiums.

Long Island TOPSoccer Enjoys a Night Under the Stars

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

November 6, 2026-What is now known as TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) started in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) in 1978 during an era when Children With Special Needs playing sports was not as accepted as it is today.

Nearly a half-century later, the LIJSL has a very vibrant TOPS program that is the largest in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

TOPSoccer players from the Huntington Boys Club, New Hyde Park Wildcats, Plainview/Old Bethpage, Sachem, Smithtown Kickers, Valley Stream and West Hempstead Chiefs enjoyed Soccer Under the Stars at Plainview JFK High School on Sunday night, November 1. All the players had a good time and each left with a special gift bag from the LIJSL which included a new soccer ball from American Challenge.

“This is one of the most important events of the year,” LIJSL Programs and Events Manager Stephanie Hernandez said. “To see our athletes’ smiling faces and high fives as well as the cheers from the crowd made the evening even more special. I’d like to thank everyone involved for making this event what it is and look forward to many more nights like it in the future.”

All photos courtesy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League

Celebrating BW Gottschee’s 75 Years of Player Development

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

October 22, 2026-BW Gottschee has won nearly as many State Cup championships (73) in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as the number of years it has been in existence (75). The renowned Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) club celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a festive party at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach on October 11.

Gottschee’s origins go back to the end of the 13th century as it was founded as a county for German speakers in mountain forests in what is today south-central Slovenia. During World War II, the Gottscheers lost their homeland when many of their towns were destroyed in battles between Yugoslavian partisans and Italian forces. At the end of the war, the Gottscheers were forced to flee into Austria but many emigrated instead to the United States and Canada, where they had relatives who had come to North America to live prior to World War II.

BW Gottschee got its start in 1951 after a group of immigrants who had settled in the Ridgewood and Glendale sections of Queens sought to recreate the spirit of their homeland by forming a soccer club. They did much more than that as BW Gottschee has won five national championships, 13 Regional titles and 167 league championships in its 75-year history.

Famous alumni who have worn the blue-and-white include US Soccer Hall of Famers Willy Schaller, Arnold Mausser and Michael Windischmann, who all played for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT). Current USMNT players from Gottschee are Tim Weah and Jack McGlynn plus the club has produced dozens of pro players. 400 boys and 50 girls are currently registered with BW Gottschee.

Tim Weah surrounded by current BW Gottschee players. Photo courtesy of BW Gottschee.

Miguel Brunengo played for BW Gottschee growing up, represented the US Youth National Team and is now the club’s Academy Director. He explained, “Our philosophy is we believe in the player. They must be comfortable and one with the ball. From six to eight years old, they dribble, dribble, dribble and then we introduce passing as it’s a team sport. We try to keep things simple as the game belongs to the players to express themselves.”

The Marianne Volpe 5K, Diaper Dash and Pumpkin Fun Run

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

October 20, 2026-A charity run started by a soccer family is still going strong as the 15th Annual Marianne Volpe 5K, Diaper Dash and Pumpkin Fun Run takes place this Saturday, October 24 at Baldwin Harbor Park.

Marianne Volpe

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 disease.

Jim is a Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York Hall of Famer, an ENYYSA Trustee who served as Director of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) for over a decade. 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.

Shaun, Jim and Chelsea Volpe

More than $300,000 from the run has been raised for Blood Cancer United, which was formally known as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It’s the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research towards cures for blood cancers. Since its inception in 1949, Blood Cancer United has provided more than $2 billion to research and support to all 100+ types of blood cancer.

On Saturday, October 24, the Diaper Dash (for babies under two who are able to crawl) starts at 9:00 am, the kids’ half-mile run dubbed the Pumpkin Fun Run (for ages 10 and younger) is at 9:10 am and both of those events are free. The Marianne Volpe 5K starts at 9:30 am.

Click here to register or simply to donate.

For more information about the event, please contact Jim Volpe at 516-805-3765.

Staten Island’s Adri Mehmeti Earns His First Caps With the US Men’s National Team

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

October 9, 2026-Sometimes, kids playing recreational soccer in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) wind up representing the USA internationally a decade later. That’s what happened to Adri Mehmeti, now 17 years old and playing for the Red Bulls.

Richmondtown Rampage photo. Adri is circled, coach Joey Caruana Jr. is on the left and coach Anthony Cosenza is on the right. Photo courtesy of Joey Caruana Jr.

Adri (AHH-dree) started playing soccer when he was two years old. His first team was a recreational side, the Richmondtown Rampage of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), and he played in Richmondtown for two years.

“Adri was really, really talented and hard working. He was great, a real sweetheart who stood out from the rest of the players,” explained Richmondtown coach Joey Caruana Jr. “His father Vani is very passionate about the sport.”

Vani Mehmeti grew up in Albania and played for a semipro team in Greece before emigrating to the USA where he played for New York Albanians in 2007-08, Kofrabi for 5.5 years and then FC Ulqini, all in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

Adri playing for Staten Island United in 2016 on left and at home on the right. Photos courtesy of the Mehmeti family.

Adri moved on to play for the SIYSL’s Staten Island United, then for Red Bulls Academy. Vani would schedule night shifts for the trucking company he owns so that he could drive him to the Red Bulls’ practices in New Jersey in the afternoon. As Adri continued to develop, he played for the Boys-Under-15 National Youth Teams for both the USA and Albania.

His proud father recalled, “Playing for Albania there, he scored a goal with nearly 100 of our relatives watching.”

Adri made his professional debut as a 16-year-old with the Red Bulls and the midfielder is now a fixture in their starting line-up at age 17.

An additional proud moment for the Mehmeti family was when Adri came on as a second-half substitute, replacing another Eastern New York product, Tyler Adams, for the US Men’s National Team in their 4-1 win over Peru on September 26 in Orlando.

“I cannot put into words how great it is that Adri is playing for the US Men’s National Team. It’s a dream come true,” his father said. “I met my wife, Adri’s mother, here, he was born here and developed here. We have become successful in the United States.”

The future looks bright for Adri and the US Men’s National Team. In the recently-completed international window, he played in three games, coming in as a sub against Peru and Canada plus starting against Chile, which were all victories for the red, white and blue.

Richard Christiano Honored With Life Membership

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

September 30, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Richard Christiano has been given Life Membership, soccer’s equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The unanimous vote took place at the ENYYSA Annual General Meeting last Saturday, September 26 at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains.

In his nomination letter, Ken Gulmi wrote that “I have worked with Rich for over 35 years. He is a tireless worker, a terrific advocate for the kids in our programs and is responsible for many of the positive changes that we have come to take for granted.”

Richie, who recently retired as ENYYSA President, volunteered an amazing 56 years in youth soccer. He served as a coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats for 17 years and a decade as their Board member. He volunteered for over a decade as a Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Vice President, greatly improving the LIJSL Select Program during this time, and seven years as an ENYYSA Vice President. Richie served 11 years as Chairperson of the State Referee Committee and for five years as Director of the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

The Floral Park resident volunteered for 16 years as ENYYSA President, the second-longest tenure after Peter Masotto’s 22 years in charge. One of his major accomplishments as President is bringing more fiscal responsibility to the non-profit organization.

For all this volunteering, Richie was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2010, the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2011 and was honored as the Region 1 Volunteer of the Year in 2016.

Richie commented to the office staff as well as the Board of Directors, “I want to thank you all for making my job as President fun and exciting over the years. As a group, we have accomplished a lot together for the membership. It’s been my honor to have the privilege to have worked with all of you and all the past Board members.”

Jimmy Svendsen Elected President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

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

September 28, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) welcomes James Svendsen as our new President after the retirement of Richard Christiano, who faithfully served as ENYYSA President for the past 16 years. The Presidential election took place at the ENYYSA Annual General Meeting this past Saturday, September 26 at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains.

“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as President of Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association. ENYYSA has a proud history, and I look forward to working with our leagues, clubs, coaches, referees, volunteers and families to build on that foundation,” our new President explained. “One of my first priorities will be to listen. Youth soccer continues to evolve, and I believe it is important that we bring people together, hear different perspectives and make sure Eastern New York is positioned to meet both the opportunities and challenges ahead to create the best possible experience for our players. This is an important time for youth soccer, with the evolving relationship and increased alignment between US Soccer and US Youth Soccer, changes that have the potential to reshape the youth soccer landscape.”

President Svendsen is a soccer lifer who played as a kid for SC Gjøa in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) for a decade, starting off as an 8-year-old in 1973 at the start of the youth soccer boom.

Jimmy began coaching the Boys-Under-10 Scandinavian Sports Club Vikings in 1980. It was a rapid rise up the volunteer ladder as he became a CJSL Trustee two years later. In 1984, Jimmy started coaching in the CJSL Select Program.

Jimmy volunteered for two tours of duty as CJSL President, from 1998-2000 and again from 2016-18. He also had two tours of duty as Gjøa’s Youth Director.

In 2005, he received Lifetime Membership, soccer’s version of the Lifetime Achievement Award, for both the CJSL and Gjøa. In 2013, he was inducted into the CJSL Hall of Fame and received the same honor from Gjøa in 2016. He was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jimmy held nearly every position on the CJSL Executive Board since Emil Cohill asked him to become involved with the Board in 1982. He spent more than two decades as the CJSL Treasurer. He also volunteered on the ENYYSA Board previously as Treasurer and Trustee.

The Glenwood Landing resident was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology at the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District for nearly a decade. After his retirement from that position three years ago, he consults for school districts now.He served for two years on the North Shore School District Board of Education and recently resigned from that position so he could volunteer as Eastern New York’s President.

Svendsen concluded, “I want to thank Richie Christiano for his many years of leadership and service to ENYYSA. Richie has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to the game and to our Association. I’m grateful for his support during this transition and look forward to building upon the work he and so many others have done for Eastern New York soccer.”

Nominations Now Open For the Of the Year Awards

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

September 24, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is asking that each person, club and league turn their attention inwards to their volunteers and outstanding members in an effort to acknowledge those whose contributions have truly made a difference. We’re seeking nominations for a variety of awards to demonstrate our appreciation for the hours of devotion these valued individuals give to our players.

Eastern New York will select a person in each category who will receive recognition at our Hall of Fame Banquet in early 2027 plus receive possible additional recognition at the National level, which includes some rather nice prizes. For the past two years, Eastern New York has received a nomination in nearly every category because our members took the time to nominate somebody.

The entries are on an online form that is linked below and please complete as comprehensively as possible.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Boys Competitive Coach of the Year

Girls Competitive Coach of the Year

Boys Recreation Coach of the Year

Girls Recreation Coach of the Year

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year

Administrator of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Young Male Referee of the Year

Young Female Referee of the Year

Nominations for the above awards must be received by November 20, 2026 to be considered.

As with everything else, your nominees have to be in it to win it! Please take the opportunity to recognize your best and brightest through this great awards program.

Get Back on the Soccer Scene By Becoming a Referee

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

September 8, 2026-As the summer tournaments have concluded and the Fall Season kicks off this month, some adults are feeling withdrawal symptoms since the soccer team they coached or watched for years has aged out of youth soccer. And there are players whose team has also graduated from youth soccer who are thinking about a new challenge.

Stay involved with the Beautiful Game by becoming a youth soccer referee or assistant ref. There are many wonderful things that happen when a person starts to ref including learning more about the game from a different perspective, learning to manage people, staying or becoming fit, earning money and expanding yourself by leaving your comfort zone.

Photo courtesy of the Long Island Junior Soccer League

The growth of the membership and programs of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has created a continuous need for more soccer referees and assistant refs. There are certification classes held throughout Eastern New York.

The minimum age is 14 years old to become certified and the certification class consists of online learning, a Zoom meeting and a field session. For more information, log on to https://enysreferee.org/how-to-become-a-referee/. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org