News

South Bronx United creates the Clubhouse Cafe

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

January 4, 2024-South Bronx United, the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) club that utilizes soccer as a vehicle for social change, is pleased to announce the opening of the Clubhouse Café on Monday, January 8. The cafe is a coffee shop dedicated to providing real-world job training to young adults. The Clubhouse Café is located at 812 River Avenue, just one block from Yankee Stadium, and will be one of the only coffee shops in the South Bronx’s Concourse neighborhood.

The cafe will expand upon South Bronx United’s programs that engage children and young people through soccer while offering academic enrichment, college prep programs, mentoring, immigration legal services and other family supports. South Bronx United’s impact is felt through the thousands of children who have participated in its community programs and through graduates of the SBU Academy, where 100% of its high school seniors since 2011 have graduated high school and 94% have matriculated into college.

In order to expand its community impact, the organization has partnered with local New York City Colombian coffee roaster Devoción. The roaster sells the “freshest coffee” available in the USA at its five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, going from farm-to-cup in as little as 10 days.

“Devoción is thrilled to work with South Bronx United in providing job training and career opportunities to the next generation while making the Clubhouse Café our first partner in the Bronx. South Bronx United already delivers crucial programs to youth and families in the Bronx, so there was no better organization to work with on this,” explained Devoción CEO Steven Sutton, who launched the company in 2006.

Another key partner in the project is Harney & Sons, a family-led fine tea brand with an international reputation and shop in the Manhattan section of SoHo. Sweets and pastries are sourced from South Bronx bakeries Mottley Kitchen and Sully & Vanilla.

The opening of the Clubhouse Café enables South Bronx United to strengthen its college and career success services through a new workforce development program for underemployed young people, ages 16-24. The program will help participants build job skills, cultivate a potential career and secure long-term employment through weekly workshops and on-the-job training. During a six-month cohort, program fellows are employed in the Café Fellowship as baristas and food/hospitality staff or on the soccer field as coaches and mentors through the Coaching Corps. Ultimately, the program aims to help fellows gain full-time employment either in food service and hospitality or sports, transition into employment or a training program for another career of interest or pursue a full-time college degree.

“We are excited to finally open our doors at the Clubhouse Café,” stated South Bronx United Executive Director Andrew So, the 2020 Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and East Region Administrator of the Year. “This area has long lacked a spot with a neighborhood feel for residents, workers and even tourists and fans to stop in for a coffee or tea, for a meet-up or a quick workspace. Now they can do so while also supporting an important cause. With every cup and every purchase, guests will be giving our young adults something they’ve been asking for job training, professional skills and a potential entrance into a career.”

The first employment cohort launched in July with 12 young women and men, including seven who participated in the Café Fellowship. They completed barista training at Devoción’s state-of-the-art education lab in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Please drop into the Clubhouse Café to meet the Fellows behind the counter and continue their training.

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/

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 3, 2024-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. The finals of both will be played on June 1 and 2, 2024 at Stringham Park in LaGrange as that first weekend in June will be a celebration of New York soccer.

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. Last year, the Girls-Under-18 national championship game featured two teams from Eastern New York: champions Patriots FC and Middle Country SBMC.

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.

4. TOPSoccer. This is a wonderful program for Children With Special Needs. Special Children playing soccer in an organized league 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.

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 where outdoor fields are frozen and unplayable. Both New York Futsal and the Long Island Futsal League play under the Eastern 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, communicating information regarding field and player safety.

7. Coaching Education. 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 recently helped secure a new turf soccer field at Big Bush Park in Woodside that started play last fall.

Holiday Message from Tim Bradbury

A Time to Say “Thank You!”

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Perhaps it is because I really love the idea of Christmas and the holiday season in the old-fashioned sense that we all get to breathe for a second and spend time with family and loved ones. Or perhaps it is just the idea of giving and saying, “Thank you!” that I like the most. Whatever the reason, with a few tweaks, this is the message this December 2023.

I would like to say an enormous “Thank you!” to the thousands of coaches who have taken the time to take their grassroots license courses. Since we introduced the idea that every child playing travel-aged soccer deserves a minimally licensed coach, we have had more than 6,000 coaches participate in a wide variety of course experiences. The obvious outcome of which is that tens of thousands of players will be placed in better soccer environments in 2024.

I would also like to thank all the educators who have helped support the program and spent endless hours teaching these courses. A great commitment from a great team. None of this would have been possible without the support of all the staff that work in the ENNYSA office who over the last 3-4 years have dealt with thousands of calls and e-mails regarding the grassroots mandate program.

As a part of the grassroots course experience, coaches learn about the six tasks of a coach. The idea of two of those tasks “leading the player” and “leading the team,” perhaps with a third managing the performance environment, is I hope illustrated by all that follows.

I take great care and pride in the efforts I make to lead players and teams in a holistic way. I’m completely aware that although many of them may not become great players who play professionally or at college, they all may become great people who play for life, coach one day, and become active responsible adults. I spend time learning about my players’ lives outside of the game, how they are doing at school, and how family life is going and attempt to display a genuine interest in their likes and dislikes.

As I coach a good number of teenage players, I frequently talk to them about how they are helping their families and what they do to actually support moms, dads, brothers, and sisters. Are they a positive member of the family community or are they purely wrapped up in their own wants? The conversation starts with how they perform and act at practice. The challenge I present to all the players I coach is:

“Can you be the player who most impacts practice and ensures that the learning environment is ideal for all? Can you be the first one in ?, Can you be the most coachable player in the group? Can you be the one who most helps with equipment ?, Can you be the player who notices a teammate is down and gives them a word of inspiration or comfort ?”

I work hard to make them aware that the mission above should be their number one priority and that if I can get all 18 to place it as their core mission, we will soon have a team that makes remarkable progress.

Another of the core values that I work on with players is respect. The team dynamic is that we respect each other, we respect the refs, we respect the parents and all the work they do so players get to train and play. Part of this culture that deals with respect is saying “Thank you!” I encourage them to thank each other at the end of each game and practice, thank the refs at the end of each game and, of course, thank their parents at the end of the drive home. I ask them all to try and display their thanks by helping at home by doing something around the house that helps the family.

It seems appropriate at this time of year to once again encourage a few thank-you notes (Jimmy Fallon-like). So not just because it’s Christmas but more because it’s just the right thing to do I encourage all

“Players to thank your parents for the endless hours spent driving you to practice and games while remembering not to shout orders to you as you play.”

“Parents to thank coaches for their efforts in developing your child even though they didn’t win as many games as you thought they should have and have yet to recognize your child is the next Messi.”

“Coaches to thank club officials and administrators for all their efforts even if the biggest space you got to train in was only suitable for 3v3 and you got the 9:00-10:30 pm slot on a Friday.”

“Coaches to thank referees for the courage they show in turning up game after game knowing they will be subjected to endless ridiculous comments shouted at the top of their voices from an adult who obviously never kicked a ball.”

“Coaches to thank the refs who forget to give you and the players the 5-minute speech on when and where substitutes may enter the game like they are sharing some news on a discovery in creating energy.”

“Coaches to tournament organizers who remember that we live in the Northeast United States and that winter along with frigid temperatures arrives at about the same time every year. They also should be thanked for remembering how it feels to play outside when the real feel is so harsh you lose the feeling in your toes after five minutes.”

And lastly but most importantly:

“Players to parents who spend the car ride home listening to loud holiday music and in so doing forget to share the latest post mortem on your performance in the game.”

Best wishes to one and all,

Tim

ODP Director Jim Volpe was inducted into the Oceanside High School Circle of Pride

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

November 20, 2023-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that James Volpe, the longtime Director of our Olympic Development Program (ODP), was inducted into the Oceanside High School Hall of Fame Circle of Pride on November 13 in front of 200 people and other honorees at the Oceanside Knights of Columbus Hall. The Circle of Pride is reserved for those who have achieved the greatest level of success in their athletic careers at Oceanside High School and beyond plus certain others deemed worthy of this honor.

“It was a great night, more than I ever could have anticipated,” Jim explained. “Players who I played with in high school, players who I coached on my first boys travel team, and players who I coached on my first girls travel team were all there. I took it to heart to receive an award and was with the people I grew up with.”

Jim’s soccer career kicked off when few Americans were paying any attention to the sport. He started playing for the Oceanside Dynamo in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) even before the Oceanside United Soccer Club was founded in 1962. He graduated from Oceanside High School in 1968.

Jim coached a half-dozen Oceanside United teams in Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) games through the years. He was an ODP coach for 15 years and a LIJSL Select Team coach for a couple of years in the period from the early 1980s to 2001. Additionally, from 2006 to 2010, he was an assistant coach for the St. Peter’s College women in New Jersey.

He volunteered as Oceanside United President from 1989 to 2000 and remains on the Board of Directors today as Director Emeritus. The soccer lifer was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2015.

Jim, currently a Long Beach resident, has been our ODP Director since 2014 and under his leadership, many of our ODP players make the Regional Team plus the Boys South ODP Team of players born in 1999 won the ODP national championship in 2016.

Jim’s children, Chelsea and Shaun, grew up playing in the LIJSL and then for the Manhattan College Jaspers and are still involved with the game today. For the past 12 years, the Volpes have teamed up and raised over $300,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) through the Marianne Volpe 5K and Pumpkin Fun Run after Jim’s wife Marianne passed away from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) at the age of 56.

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/

CJSL appoints Darren Marshall as Director of Education

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

December 7, 2023-The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), the oldest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and in all of American youth soccer, has announced the appointment of Darren Marshall as the first Director of Education (DOE) of the league. This newly established position underscores the CJSL’s commitment to elevating player and coach development plus providing a world-class soccer development platform for clubs in New York City. As the CJSL celebrates its 90th Anniversary, the addition of Coach Marshall demonstrates the league’s ongoing commitment to excellence and growth in partnership with US Youth Soccer, where Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer, addressed the milestone celebration.

In his role as Director of Education, Darren will collaborate closely with CJSL clubs, fostering personalized player development plans plus overseeing talent identification and growth evaluations. Key responsibilities of the DOE include maintaining up-to-date coaching education pathways, teaching courses tailored to league coaches, offering guidance and support to clubs plus monitoring coaching needs.

“The establishment of the Director of Education position represents a major milestone for our league,” CJSL President Ron Restrepo stated. “We are dedicated to providing our clubs and players with the highest level of coaching education and development opportunities. Darren’s appointment reaffirms our commitment to enhancing all our clubs and to be ‘more than a league.’ “

Darren has served as a staff coach at US Soccer’s National Training Centers, contributed to club development and coached diverse age groups. His impressive coaching background includes time with the Boston Breakers, leading Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams in international tournaments and evaluating ODP Regional Pools. He holds the US Soccer “A” License, US Soccer Premier Diploma and Grass Roots Instructor qualifications among others.

“As the Director of Education for the CJSL, I hope to open pathways on player and coach development and create a lasting support network within the league,” Darren said. “I want to use my soccer education and experience to contribute to the league’s mission of providing top-tier soccer development for all clubs and players.”

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/

The Staten Island Youth Soccer League hosts their TOPSoccer Luncheon

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

November 28, 2023-The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), held its end of the Fall Season TOPSoccer Luncheon on Saturday, November 18 at the Manor House. TOPSoccer stands for The Outreach Program for Soccer, providing an opportunity for children with intellectual, physical and/or social characteristics that may require modified educational practices and services in order to develop to their potential.

Under the guidance of Jerrier Atassi, 27 kids are registered with SIYSL TOPSoccer. The children range from ages 7 to 19 and are on various levels of the spectrum.

“Some players are very capable while others need additional care and handling but we tend to everyone’s needs,” Jerrier explained. “Thanks to several volunteer coaches from high schools as well as all the parents who assist.”

SIYSL TOPSoccer is busy at the same time as the rest of the league, during the Fall and Spring Seasons. TOPSoccer plays on Saturdays, 3 pm for one hour at Owl Hollow Fields.

For more info, to register your child or to volunteer, please contact Jerrier at 917-636-3180 or jerrier.atassi@gmail.com

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/

East Hudson Rebrands

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

November 20, 2023-In 1974, the West-Put Youth Soccer League was founded. It originally served just Westchester and Putnam counties. But the league quickly expanded its geographic footprint and has been known as the East Hudson Youth Soccer League for most of the 49 years of its existence.

As the league prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024, it has rebranded into the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) as that name better reflects their nearly 15,000 registered youth players both east and west of the Hudson River. The league brings together clubs from Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties in New York plus Pike County in Pennsylvania.

The HVYSL logo is representative of the Hudson River that formed the Hudson Valley as well as the Catskills and the Gunks that rise high above. The symbolism of the bridge was to “connect” the clubs from the entire Hudson Valley region and the logo does not depict one particular bridge that spans the Hudson.

Logo design by Media Solstice with the input of HVYSL volunteers. Media Solstice, based in Port Jervis, does a great deal of branding in the Hudson Valley.

In addition to changing its name and logo, HVYSL also recognized that it was necessary to expand its Academy Program offering for its clubs. The Academy is a supplemental training program from November through July and culminates with summer tournaments.

Three years ago, the league began its Premier program. Many boys and girls play on club travel teams and would like to challenge themselves at the Premier League level. HVYSL Premier teams train once a week and play their games on Saturdays. The understanding for all of these players is that they also should play with their local club teams on Sundays as they cannot just do HVYSL Premier.

Also new from HVYSL is the T3 Program, a skill-based program that focuses on the 3T’s: Technical, Tactical and Thought. HVYSL has indoor and outdoor training options for all travel team and recreation players from HVYSL clubs. The home training complex is the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, New York.

For more information about the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League, please contact the league office at 845-765-2864.

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/

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