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

July 17, 2018-The Eastern New York Young Olympians/Red Bulls Program was created this year through a partnership between the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. The program provides Eastern New York’s 11 affiliated youth leagues the opportunity to send its best players to train in the Eastern New York/Red Bulls program, providing a connection between Eastern New York and its more than 100,000 local players, and the New York Red Bull Youth Programs.

Hopefully, one day kids who grew up as Young Olympians will play for the Red Bulls.

But although the Young Olympians program has just kicked off and is for players preparing to play in Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP), six current Red Bulls––head coach Chris Armas and five players from all over Eastern New York––grew up playing youth soccer in ENYYSA:

“It’s great to see so many local players in MLS, particularly on the Red Bulls,” commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano. “We hope to see even more of our players who grew up in Eastern New York on MLS teams in the future."

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 11 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 Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.