Press Release

Register For the Grassroots Coaching Courses Kicking Off This Week in Washingtonville

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

June 22, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to offer two Grassroots courses, both starting this week in Washingtonville. The Grassroots License Courses focus on the age-appropriate needs of players at the 11v11, 9v9, 7v7 and 4v4 levels.

Both courses are run by Eastern New York educators and candidates will learn more about:

• The basic needs of Grassroots players

• The basic structure of the game

• The basic structure of a training session

• The basic tasks of a Grassroots coach

Click here to register for the 9v9 course.

Click here to register for the 11v11 course.

Questions can be directed to Tim Bradbury, Eastern New York’s Director of Coaching.

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/

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

Good Time Had By All at the TOPSoccer Friendship Cup

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

June 13, 2026-What is now known as TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) started in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) in 1978 when the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) and Massapequa Soccer Club separately kicked off programs in an era when Children With Special Needs playing sports was not as accepted as it is today.

TOPSoccer began to be played over three decades ago on fields being developed behind the old LIJSL office in Plainview and since 2004, those fields have been called the Peter Collins Soccer Park. Under the longtime direction of Eastern New York Hall of Famer Ann Marie Toth and using the slogan of “Come Play With Me,” TOPSoccer grew on Long Island and there are now over two dozen LIJSL clubs with TOPS programs.

On the first Saturday in June, the LIJSL hosts the TOPSoccer Friendship Cup and barbecue at the Collins Soccer Park. Nearly 200 Special Children played under sunny skies on Saturday, June 6.

The LIJSL Manager of League Events, Stephanie Hernandez, stated, “The TOPSoccer Friendship Cup is one of the league’s greatest events, and the best part of my job. It went above and beyond expectations. The turnout was phenomenal and it was a wonderful day.”

“This was by far the best TOPSoccer Friendship Cup we ever had because of the LIJSL’s generosity. We had nothing but good vibes from everyone who participated,” Toth stated. “A special thanks to Stephanie and all her volunteers who were outstanding. Stephanie shows so much love for all our TOPSoccer athletes and her commitment is unbelievable.”

If you are interested in finding out more about TOPSoccer in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), please contact Pete Bussa at 516-456-5828 or pbussa27@gmail.com.

All photos courtesy of the Long Island Junior 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.

Atlantic United Thunder Wins the Boys-Under-16 State Cup Championship

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

June 8, 2026-In an intense game between two teams from Long Island, Atlantic United Thunder defeated New York Hota Bavarian, 3-1, in the Boys-Under-16 final for the Livio D’Arpino Cup at the Blue Sky Sports Complex in Middletown on Saturday, May 30.

Jacob Velasquez scored two goals and Zander Ariasa added one for Atlantic United.

“We always battle Hota as they are a proud club with a long tradition,” Atlantic United coach Tim Graham explained. “It was as close a 3-1 game as you can get. I’m very proud of our boys as they overcame fatigue with all the games we have played this spring.”

Atlantic United will represent Eastern New York at Nationals from July 13 to 20 in Salt Lake City.

Hota received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died nine years ago, started the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland, and in the process, made soccer games kinder and gentler.

The cup’s namesake, Livio D’Arpino, was an Eastern New York Hall of Famer who was seemingly involved in every level of local soccer before his untimely passing on Christmas Day 2002. He was the third vice president of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), first vice president of the Eastern New York Adult Soccer Association and president of the Italian-American Soccer League. D’Arpino’s impact was so profound that Roman newspaper Il Messaggero recently wrote an article about him, 24 years after his passing.

Five on the USA World Cup Roster Grew Up Playing in Eastern New York

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

May 28, 2026-Five cheers for the red, white and blue as five of the 26 players named to the US Men’s National Team roster as we host the 2026 World Cup grew up playing in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Although goalkeeper Matt Turner lived in Park Ridge, New Jersey, he crossed the state line to play club soccer in Eastern New York. Matt excelled in other sports, especially baseball, and only started playing soccer in his mid-teens.

As a 16-year-old, he tried out for and made the Clarkstown Soccer team coached by Dimitri Giatrakis that played in the Eastern New York Premier League. He played for Clarkstown for the next two years.

“Matt came and tried out, the ability was there and we just had to develop it,” Coach Giatrakis stated. “What I really like about Matt is he was a clutch player and we had him in goal with the game on the line but he was always okay with me giving lots of playing time to other keepers so they could be seen by college coaches in showcase tournaments.”

Matt now plays professional soccer for the New England Revolution of MLS.

Defender Joe Scally of Lake Grove played for Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams Sachem Starburst, Sachem Falcons, Sachem Lynxes, Sachem Destroyers and the Mastic Destroyers. He also competed for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP).

Ralph Pascarella coached Joe on ODP and stated, “Joe was very motivated, very focused, a big, strong kid with a soccer brain. He was technically sound and could play anywhere on the field.”

Joe currently plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach of the German Bundesliga.

Midfielder Giovanni Reyna grew up in Bedford, playing in the New York Soccer Club of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). Gio is close friends and teammates with Joe Scally at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

“Gio was with us from when he was very young until he was selected for NYCFC’s Boys-Under-14 Academy team,” NYSC Academy Director Christian Gonzalez stated. “He was playing up a year and what caught everyone’s attention was his ability to make runs with the ball by unbalancing defenders with a close carry and ability to manipulate the ball. The other area of the game that was elite from the beginning was his ability to strike the ball, including from distance as well as crossing the ball with precision.”

Midfielder Tyler Adams (center in above photo) of Wappingers Falls returned to the Hudson Valley last July for the dedication of his childhood soccer field, Martz Field, as it became the Tyler Adams Soccer Pitch.

He grew up playing for the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club (TOPSC) of the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL). With Tyler leading the way, the Poughkeepsie Heat won the Boys-Under-14 Eastern New York Premier League in 2012. Kevin Longacre was the trainer and Andy Stamper was his coach.

“The number one thing about Tyler was his unquestioned desire to win and to be the best in training and in games. It became infectious within the team,” Coach Longacre explained. “He was the only boy playing up a year on our team. A midfielder back then too, he loved to win the ball back just like today.”

Tyler captained the red, white and blue at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and plays his club soccer for Bournemouth of the English Premier League. Additionally, Kieran McIlvenny reports that Tyler was always very generous donating cleats and soccer shirts to Kieran’s Kickin’ Back charity.

Forward Tim Weah of Rosedale played for the Rosedale Rockets Soccer Club plus travelled to other side of Queens to compete for B/W Gottschee. His uncle, Michael Duncan, is the longtime President of the Rosedale Rockets.

Michael said, “I’m extremely proud of Timothy and how he has blossomed into this wonderful player. His mother Clar coached intramurals in Rosedale, and she and I were Timothy’s first coaches. He played on the Rosedale Lions and the Rosedale Super Eagles in the LIJSL. His older sister Martha played on a Rosedale team of boys born in 1985 and his older brother, George Jr., played in our club too.”

Tim plays professionally for French Ligue 1 club Marseille.

All five ENYYSA alumni selected also were on the USA roster in the 2022 World Cup.

ODP Tryouts Kick Off This Summer All Over Eastern New York

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

May 28, 2026-Youth soccer players dreaming of becoming the next Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton, Joe Scally and Phallon Tullis-Joyce will have their opportunity when Olympic Development Program (ODP) tryouts start this summer.

Those four current members of the US National Teams developed their skills with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association ODP when they were kids. ODP is the highest level of play in every state association and because our geographic region is quite large, we feature both North and South ODP teams.

Tryouts start with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 age groups, both boys and girls, at seven venues across Eastern New York. The full tryout schedule is here.

For more info, please phone the Eastern New York office at 516-766-0849.

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

May 30 is Championship Saturday in Eastern New York

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

May 25, 2026-After multiple elimination rounds which kicked off in March in many age groups, the State Cup in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) concludes with Championship Saturday on Saturday, May 30. 22 championship games will be played all day at the Blue Sky Sports Complex, a 249-acre grass venue in Middletown. This is the second consecutive year that the State Cup finals have been hosted there.

And should the sky not be as blue as hoped for, the rain date is Sunday, May 31.

The US Youth Soccer ENYYSA State Cup Championship is for the top teams, it’s part of the National Championship Series and the champion teams go straight to Nationals this summer as there are no Regionals anymore. The Challenge Cup is for all teams at Under-10 and Under-11 as there is not a State Cup Championship in those age groups. For Under-12 to Under-13, it’s for mid- to lower-tier squads.

For more info, please phone the ENYYSA office at 516-766-0849.

Making the Grade For a College Scholarship

By Pat Grecco

When speaking to the student-athletes, I explain that there are three parts to their scholarship:

A. Academic money
B. Athletic money
C. Financial aid

This is called the package.

There is much more money to be given out for academics than athletics. College coaches are thrilled to see a smart athlete. The coach knows he can get him/her what is called a counter offer, aka academic grants, which do not come out of their budget of scholarships but come from the school. Having good grades is very important.

I’ve had the privilege of working with great athletes and their families. Unfortunately, some of these athletes had GPA’s in 70’s, low SAT/ACT’s and low class rank. Poor academic scores can potentially place an athlete at risk of being ineligible to play based on the NCAA eligibility criteria for D1 and D2 programs but they also cannot receive any academic money from the colleges they are looking at. Students who demonstrate strong work ethic in the classroom are more likely to receive an athletic scholarship.

The transfer portal is now making it a challenge for many high school seniors to play as freshmen at the D1 level. Many are opting for strong academic/athletic D3 programs where their only chance to receive money is academic money. Magnifying the importance of good grades, strong SAT/ACT scores and taking AP, IB and college level courses.

If you qualify for academic money, the coach can give you less in athletic and thus be able to offer athletic money to more players on the team. To qualify for academic grants, generally you must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, 25 ACT score or higher, 1200 SAT or higher and must rank in the top 10% of your high school class. Every college has different requirements.

I recently had conversation with a college coach at a school that has a mean entry requirement of SAT: 1025, ACT: 21 and GPA: 2.0. At this particular school, in order for a student-athlete to receive academic money, the requirement is SAT: 1140, GPA: 3.5 and be in the top 20% of your high school class. You could say then that academic money requirements are based on a sliding scale in accordance with the standard of each individual college or university.

I’ve also noticed that some parents have the mentality that because their son or daughter is an outstanding athlete, good grades are not so important. Do not fall into this type of thinking.

I encourage students not to neglect their high school academics. Train to be as good a student as much as a good athlete, they go hand and hand and that’s why you are called a student-athlete! On the field, give it your all but remember to do the same in the classroom.

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Pat Grecco is an Eastern New York and Long Island Junior Soccer League Hall of Famer who is CEO of the College-Bound Athlete Scholarship Service. For more info and a free 30-minute consultation, log on to www.collegeboundathlete.com or contact Pat directly at 631-988-7746 or soccervol@aol.com