News

Soccer Forward Helping Keep Girls in the Game

July 29, 2026-During the World Cup, Soccer Forward hosted a workshop at the Central Park FIFA Arena on July 16 to spotlight one of the most pressing issues in youth sports: keeping girls in the game and equipping the coaches who can make it happen.

The numbers are striking. Up to 51% of girls drop out of sports by age 17, with the sharpest decline occurring around puberty. Yet the benefits of staying in sports are profound. Girls who participate report 1.5 times higher levels of meaning and purpose than those who never play. Soccer offers far more than physical activity, it creates space for belonging, friendship, confidence and identity during some of the most formative years of a young person’s life. We also know the environment matters enormously. Inadequate coaching and a lack of female role models are consistently cited as two of the leading drivers of dropout, which the workshop addressed.

Developed with support from Soccer Forward’s Kang Women’s Institute, the workshop brought together coaches from partner organizations in the local area such as the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) to explore how to get girls in the game, keep them in the game and support them through it.

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/

Tim Bradbury Selected to Coach the 2011 Boys ODP National Team

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

July 28, 2026-Congratulations to our very own Tim Bradbury, who has been selected to coach the 2011 Boys ODP (Olympic Development Program) National Team. Tim will be scouting Regionals next winter, then training the team for the IberCup in Portugal in spring 2027.

Tim has served as the Director of Coaching of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) since 2011. He is the leader of an Educator team of 16+ coaches who provide US Soccer license courses from Grassroots to the “B” to Club Technical Leadership. Those who read his monthly coaching articles or come to his coaching courses know that he is a strong advocate of players making decisions on the field without interference from coaches or parents.

The Stoke-On Trent, England native is a London University graduate who captained the British Colleges soccer team for four years and played semi-pro soccer while pursuing a master’s degree in sociology and education. Tim, a center midfielder, played for various youth clubs such as Trentham Romans, Staffordshire County Team, North of England Under-18 and Borough Road plus semi-pro soccer with Hounslow FC.

He left England in 1989 after he was offered a full-time education with Long Island Soccer Camp, which became the cornerstone of his soccer education. Shortly thereafter, Tim was selected to lead the York College men’s soccer squad where he was a two-time City University of New York (CUNY) Coach of the Year and his Cardinals won the very first CUNY men’s championship game, a 2-1 victory over John Jay College on October 27, 1990.

After four successful years at York, Tim went on to become the technical director of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Select Program in 1996, head coach of the Eastern New York ODP Girls Program from 2003 to ’05, head coach of the Long Island Rough Riders Super Y-League teams from 2003 to 2006 and was a member of the US Soccer Grass Roots Design Group from 2014 to 2016. While some coaches specialize in coaching one gender, Tim has been equally successful coaching both boys and girls.

The Smithtown resident holds the US Soccer “A” License, a United Soccer Coaches Master Coach Diploma and a US Youth National Coaching License. Tim coached former US Women’s National Team player Crystal Dunn on the Rockville Centre Power, Rockville Centre Tornadoes and Eastern New York ODP.

Crystal Dunn to Be Honored For Her Lengthy International Playing Career

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

July 30, 2026-Crystal Dunn will be recognized for her extraordinary career with the US Women’s National Team during a pregame ceremony before the United States faces Spain on October 10 at Audi Field in Washington, DC. The game will feature the two best women’s national teams in the world as Spain is #1 with the USA right behind at #2 in the latest rankings as Spain are the defending Women’s World Cup champions and the USA are the Olympic gold medalists.

The ceremony will celebrate Crystal’s retirement from international soccer and honor one of the most versatile players in US women’s soccer history. US Soccer also announced that the first 2,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a commemorative Crystal Dunn bobblehead.

Crystal surrounded by some of her adoring fans in her hometown of Rockville Centre, Long Island.

The honor is another milestone in a journey that began on the fields of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Crystal played for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) growing up as well as the Rockville Centre and Albertson youth soccer clubs. She led South Side High School to three state championships and went on to star at the University of North Carolina, where she won the 2012 NCAA championship and the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top collegiate player.

Her professional career included starring roles with the Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns, Gotham FC, Chelsea (England) and Paris Saint-Germain (France). She was the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner for top scorer in 2015 after being left off the USA roster for that year’s Women’s World Cup, a disappointment she spoke about to local youth soccer players in encouraging them to persevere.

Crystal went on to earn 160 caps for the United States from 2013 through 2025, helping the red, white and blue win the 2019 Women’s World Cup, an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2020 and Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Equally comfortable as a defender, midfielder or forward, Crystal became known for her versatility, relentless work ethic and leadership on and off the field.

Shawn Tarquinio Is All-In as a Soccer Ref

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

July 30, 2026-Shawn Tarquinio never does anything halfway. He was a top player growing up in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), then became an “A” licensed coach with US Soccer. His coaching resume includes leading club teams, the St. Peter’s College women and he is well-regarded in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as he was an Olympic Development Program (ODP) coach and administrator for many years.

Shawn, whose “real job” is being a Salesman at United Fabrics based in Pennsauken, New Jersey, decided to become a referee two years ago.

“I wanted to stay connected to the game and earn some extra money so I became a ref as it was time for a new challenge,” Shawn explained. “I figured refereeing was a good way to continue to grow the game by seeing what’s happening up close on soccer fields. My experience could help young coaches and players.”

The 55-year-old East Islip resident has stayed busy on weekends as a referee and assistant ref on Suffolk County soccer fields.

Eastern New York Hall of Famer Jim Volpe has known Shawn since he was a boy, coaching him on the Oceanside Aztecs and said, “Shawn is all-in. He was with ODP and he wanted to become a referee so he resigned to concentrate on being a ref. No matter what he does, he’s always looking to improve and wants to be the best ref he can be.”

Thinking about being close to all the action and becoming a ref just like Shawn did? 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!

For more information, click here. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org

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.”

Eastern New York Creating More Pathways Into Soccer

July 17, 2026-US Soccer and the Soccer Forward Foundation brought coaches, educators and community leaders from across New York together at the FIFA Arena in Central Park, harnessing the excitement of the World Cup to learn from one another and share resources that can expand access to the game.

As part of US Soccer’s World Cup legacy initiative, Soccer at Schools is focused on bringing the beautiful game directly into schools, reducing barriers to participation, and giving more children the opportunity to experience soccer at no cost to their families.

We are excited to support this work and help create more accessible pathways into the game for young people across New York.

For more information on Soccer at Schools including free, ready to use activities, PE lesson plans, training opportunities, equipment and other resources go HERE.

⚽ More access. More opportunity. More kids playing the game.

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.

Congrats to Our Scholarship Winners

Shiloh Dabkowski

Brody Deutsch

Courtney Foltz

Abigail Gruner

Isabel Kyprislidis

Jake Vanga

Isabel Kyprislidis Receives the Jack Bauman Scholarship

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

July 23, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Woodside’s Isabel Kyprislidis is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship.

At St. John’s Preparatory High School, Isabel was the Salutatorian, on the Honor Roll, Principal’s List, an AP Scholar and was a National Honor Society Member. She was the youngest team captain ever for the St. John’s Prep Red Storm and was two-time MVP and three-time All-League.

Isabel helped girls and young women in Afghanistan as the Program Coordinator and Volunteer Mentor of the Art for Change Project and Be the Change Orphanage.

In her essay, Isbael wrote that “Soccer has been one of the biggest commitments of my life, and the time and effort I have given to the game has shaped who I am today. My love for soccer began when my father came to this country from Greece and introduced my twin brother and me to the sport by finding us a local Greek soccer team. Growing up, I often played on boys teams which pushed me to become tougher and more competitive…One experience that deeply impacted me was speaking with Afgahn girls over Zoom. When I mentioned that I play soccer, they asked if I had to dress as a boy to play because in their lives, girls cannot play the sport freely as I can. Hearing that gave me a new appreciation for opportunities I once viewed as normal.”

The scholarship’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club and Eastern New York. The scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.

We wish Isabel the best at Long Island University starting this fall.

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/

Courtney Foltz Receives the Jack Bauman Scholarship

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

July 22, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Poughkeepsie resident Courtney Foltz is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship.

Courtney was Valedictorian, National Honor Society Member and an AP Scholar With Distinction at Arlington High School. She was team captain of the girls varsity soccer team, and the Admirals won three Sectional titles and made it to the State final while playing with the team. Additionally, she was team captain at Quickstrike FC and volunteered with numerous non-profits in Dutchess County, including teaching Bible study and playing on a Unified Bowling team.

In her essay, Courtney wrote that “Soccer has taught me leadership is not about being perfect, it is about showing up for people when things are hard. After tearing my ACL, I remember wondering if I would ever feel like myself on the field again. Coming back from that injury made every practice, bus ride, warm-up and game more meaningful. Soccer was no longer just a sport to me, it became something I had fought to keep…I have given my full heart to my school, my team and my community, and I will carry that same heart into college.”

The scholarship’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club and Eastern New York. The scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.

We wish Courtney the best at Penn State this fall.

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/