Human Interest

Against All Odds, the Long Island Futsal Academy Wins a Second Consecutive National Championship

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

July 20, 2026-Congratulations to the Long Island Futsal Academy (LIFA), who won their second consecutive US Youth Futsal national championship in the Girls HS Division on July 6 in Richmond, Virginia.

“LIFA planned to defend our national title with largely the same group who won it in 2025,” commented coach Chris Sanders. “But three of our players––Gracie Sanders, Leila Racines-Ramero and goalkeeper Anna Torres Martinez––were selected by US Futsal to represent the USA at the 2026 World University Futsal Championship in Warsaw, Poland, taking place the same week. So, we considered withdrawing from Nationals but instead reached out to players throughout the Northeast and Gold Star Futsal from Springfield, Massachusetts, partnered with us so we could field a complete team.”

Key additions included goalkeeper Kinley Logsdon, from the Albany area who trained with LIFA during the past two years because of limited futsal opportunities near home, and field player Taylor Collins.

From left to right: Coach Jaytoe Teh, coach Paige Palazzolo, Taylor Bartosz, Rylan Waskiewicz, Charlotte Tran, Caroline Wintz, Taylor Collins, Kiera During, Mila Dillard, Kinley Logsdon, coach Brent Dillard and coach Craig Caravan.

Coached mainly by Sanders and Paige Palazollo, LIFA finished second in their group by winning over Pittsburgh’s Dragons Futsal, 8-5, plus tying the Canton/Akron Vipers, 4-4, and CSA Futsal of North Carolina, 2-2. They defeated the Vipers, 2-1, in the national championship game.

“We were able to win a second consecutive national championship by being very resilient despite losing key players, collaborating with other teams and building team chemistry through shared training experiences,” Coach Sanders added.

Some of the core players competed in the Boys HS and Girls HS divisions of the Long Island Futsal League last winter when they were not playing in Regionals against other girls’ teams.

“Playing against boys increased the team’s quickness by forcing us to make faster decisions,” Coach Sanders explained. “It also increased our transition awareness as we had to keep up with the boys’ speed and natural desire to push the pace.”

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

Eastern New York Players Learn From Soccer Legends

July 15, 2026-Players from across the the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a skills clinic at Rockefeller Center with FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Kristine Lilly, former USWNT standout Kristie Mewis and former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Hosted by Panini, the clinic gave young players the chance to learn from three legends of the game while also receiving a Panini sticker album and trading stickers to help fuel their passion for soccer during this historic World Cup summer.

A special thank you to the FIFA World Cup 26™ New York-New Jersey Host Committee for the invitation and for providing this unforgettable experience for our players.

⚽ Creating memories. Inspiring the next generation. Growing the game.

Good Vibes at the 3v3 Tourneys Across Eastern New York

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

June 30, 2026-Today’s press release is brought to us by the number three as the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) hosted 3v3 tourneys the past two weekends. The 3v3 Summer Soccer Series featured three players on each team without goalkeepers in a bubble from AirPitch USA that is 15 meters long (16.4 yards) and 10 meters wide (10.9 yards). The 15-minute games were fast-paced with many goals and each registered team played five games.

Eastern New York hosted over 200 total teams in tournaments on three islands––Governor’s Island, Long Island and Staten Island––plus in the Hudson Valley and Albany. Creative team names such as Cleats & Conquer, Goal Patrol, Let’s Do This!, Thunder Down Under and Vamos FC added to the fun.

The tournament environment was maximized by a DJ, music and replicas of the World Cup trophy. Games started with a 10-second countdown just as in the World Cup.

Champions of the five 3v3 tourneys can play for the 3v3 Summer Soccer Series State Championship on Saturday, July 25 at 12th Rock Sports in Middletown.

Photos courtesy of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association and Long Island Junior Soccer League

Big Apple Youth Soccer League Distributes Thousands of World Cup Albums

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

June 19, 2026-The Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL), founded in 1997 to serve the growing Latino community in New York City, recently distributed 7,000 Panini 2026 World Cup sticker albums to players and their families at Flushing Meadows Park.

“Through my contacts, I received 8,000 sticker albums for free so I gave 1,000 albums to the Metrokids Youth Soccer League and we gave out the rest to everybody playing soccer at the park,” commented BAYSL President Carlos Vergara.

980 stickers are required to complete the book of 112 pages. With 48 countries competing and hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 version being played now is the largest World Cup ever.

Photos courtesy of the Big Apple Youth Soccer League

South Bronx United to Host a World Cup Block Party

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

June 4, 2026-South Bronx United is having a party and the whole world is invited!

The innovative Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) club is hosting a World Cup Block Party on Friday, June 19 from noon to 5:30 pm at Macombs Dam Park, a very short corner kick from Yankee Stadium. The block party is in connection with the USA-Australia game. Youth soccer clinics and mini-tournaments, Juneteeth celebration, art activities, a voter registration booth and food vendors are all part of the fun.

“We’re thrilled to get approval from the City of New York to move forward with our Bronx Block Party World Cup Festival on June 19, particularly in such an iconic location in front of Yankee Stadium,” South Bronx United President Andrew So said.

Tickets are free and all donation proceeds support South Bronx United’s Power of 11 campaign, which helps the club continue to do their great work in using soccer to bring about social change for more than 1,800 kids in the poorest Congressional District in the United States.

“The Festival is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the community and city while also celebrating Juneteenth and the feeling of unity that the holiday stands for. We also really needed more ways to bring the soccer celebration to the South Bronx community as sometimes the upcoming World Cup seems so close, yet so far away for local residents,” So stated. “I’m looking forward to a great turnout in support of the USA and the Bronx.”

For more info and to register, please click here.

Eastern New York Now Accepting Teams For the 3v3 Summer Soccer Series

May 27, 2026-The 3v3 Summer Soccer Series is a statewide tournament platform built to energize local communities, deliver a festival-style soccer experience and create a clear pathway from local qualifying events to a state championship. Timed to capture the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the series brings together players, families, leagues and partners through a fast-paced small-sided game format.

Qualifier Locations

· Albany – Saturday, June 27th @ Afrim’s Sports Park

· Hudson Valley – June 20th @ 12th Rock Sports

· Westchester – TBA

· New York City – Sunday, June 28th @ Governor’s Island Parade Grounds

· Staten Island – Sat / Sun, June 27-28 @ Owl Hollow Soccer Fields

· Long Island – Saturday, June 27 @ Peter C. Collins Soccer Park

Format

· 3–5 players per team roster

· 5 games guaranteed per team

· 15-minute game format

· No goalkeepers

· Boys and Girls divisions

· Competitive and fun-focused structure

More Than A Tournament

Aligned with the energy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a full festival atmosphere for players, families, and communities.

· Music & DJs

· Skills Challenges

· Fan Zones

· Community Engagement

Compete. Advance.

Teams in the Competitive Division can advance locally and earn the opportunity to compete at the 3v3 Summer Series State Championship on July 25 in Middletown, NY at 12th Rock Sports.

For more information or to register: click HERE

Gotham FC and ENYYSA in 2026

May 6, 2026-We’re excited to officially announce a new partnership between the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), our Member Leagues, and Gotham FC, built around a shared goal of building the sport of soccer for youth players in our backyard.

Gotham FC, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champion, is working with ENYYSA to create unforgettable experiences for ENYYSA players, families, coaches, and leaders here in our community. There will be special opportunities for ENYYSA to attend Gotham FC matches and engage with the club through special events, clinics, and celebrations throughout the year. Want to stay in the loop? Sign up here to be the first to know.

Up first? Gotham FC is planning a historic, record-breaking match at Citi Field on July 15th: The Queens Classic. This iconic match is an official ENYYSA Outing, complete with special offers, unique experiences, and discounted pricing, only for you.

Here’s why you’ll want to come:

ENYYSA groups get discounted tickets (just $20!) to sit together and enjoy this 2025 Championship rematch at the iconic Citi Field.
ENYYSA award winners and top players will be honored on the pitch in a special celebration.
Every member of the ENYYSA community will receive a special Gotham FC merch item.
The ENYYSA club that brings out the most fans will receive an autographed Gotham FC jersey and a suite at another Gotham FC home match.

Ready to get tickets? For a group of 10 or fewer, select your seats here. For a larger group, inquire here.

We are also excited to partner with Gotham FC to offer FREE youth soccer clinics this spring and summer.

These clinics are a great opportunity for young players to develop their skills, stay active and have fun in a positive and supporting environment.

We look forward to bringing this exciting experience to our community and hope your players will join us.

More special opportunities are coming soon, only for ENYYSA families. Sign up here to be the first to hear about future Gotham FC x ENYYSA outings, clinics, and events.

Here’s to continuing to build the next generation of players together. ¡Vamos!

Join the 3,000+ Refs in Eastern New York

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

May 19, 2026-The physician’s assistant asked me a pointed question I sometimes receive after I say that I’m a soccer referee.

“How are the parents?” he asked.

I replied, “Most parents are great but I will find an overly enthusiastic parent every once in a while.”

The overwhelming majority of players, coaches and parents are wonderful. I met some of my closest friends on soccer fields and how different, and less fulfilling, my life would be if I did not take up the whistle when I was 16 years old.

I was volunteering as a teenage coach in a summer intramural league, a league so informal that each head coach refereed half the match. I quickly realized that I was a much better ref than coach so my coaching career soon ended and I became a referee.

My story is one of many as the reasons for refereeing are as diverse as the 3,000+ refs in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Many referees are happy to become certified after their playing career ends or the team they are coaching ages out of youth soccer.

Randy Vogt refereeing the South Shore Bulldogs. Photo by Michael Blackton.

As a referee, you become (or stay) fit, learn to manage people, you are your own boss and go directly to the customer, all while earning money.

Eastern New York is seeking new referees to be in the middle and/or on the line as assistant referees in youth soccer games. The minimum age is 14 years old to become certified. You manage your availability so officiating works with all the rest that you do!

You never know the difference you could make until you begin. For more information, click here. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org

Sportsmanship Makes a Huge Difference on Youth Soccer Fields

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

May 6, 2026-It’s very simple, only one team can win a soccer game but both squads should be having fun. Especially on the youth level.

Lately, a few people have forgotten this, or that the children and teenagers are there to play a game and have fun, the coaches are there to coach, the refs are there to officiate and the spectators are there to cheer. Unsavory incidents receive headlines while there are many wonderful expressions of sportsmanship that do not garner the same attention. In the games I have officiated, I’ve seen:

• Kids helping up opposing players who have fallen to the ground

• Kids asking opposing players, “Are you all right?”, after fouling them

• Teams routinely kicking the ball out of play when a player is injured and the other squad throws the ball to the other team when play resumes.

• Coaches not fielding 11 players, just the same number of players as the other team until everybody shows up.

• Teams switching player positions, playing the ball back to their keeper upon getting possession, trying to score only on headers, etc., when playing against overmatched opponents so that the score does not get out of hand.

• Opposing players and coaches shaking hands after games. There are approximately 25 million handshakes after Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) matches annually.

In a 2025 Project Play survey of youth soccer players in the New York City metro area, 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.

Our Zero Tolerance Policy has very stringent penalties but we would prefer that everybody behaves appropriately. As we continue the Spring Season, let’s not lose sight of why we are involved.

A number of refs have reported that games go much smoother when they see opposing coaches greeting one another before the match. Photo courtesy of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League.

The State of Soccer in the New York Metro Area

The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) was very happy to contribute to this insightful and well-researched report from the Aspen Institute.