By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
February 27, 2018-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) is the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) with 1,500 travel and premier teams from 104 member clubs. The LIJSL Convention is one of the world’s largest soccer conventions with 10,000 soccer fans expected to attend once again for its 36th edition on March 9, 10 and 11 at the Huntington Hilton on Route 110 in Melville.
Returning this year to the LIJSL Convention are technical demonstrations to help educate coaches as well as other adults. These clinics were a staple of the convention in its early days.
“We are proud to bring back three technical demonstrations given by expert clinicians in order to further educate our coaches as well as for any parents that would like to teach their child at home,” explained LIJSL Convention Chairperson Holly Maresco. “They are free but we strongly recommend you signing up to reserve a seat. This sign-up can be done through the convention schedule on our website, www.lijsoccer.com.“
The LIJSL Convention begins at 7:00 pm on Friday night, March 9 with the Annual Awards Dinner as the Volunteer of the Year from LIJSL clubs will be honored as well as the three newest inductees into the LIJSL Hall of Fame. This year, Joe Camarda of the Rocky Point Soccer Club, Theresa Dawes of the Terryville Soccer Club and Bessie Lamonica of Oceanside United will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining the 106 members already inducted.
At 7:00 pm on Saturday, March 10 in Salon D, the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame will honor its seven newest Hall of Famers: Ron Antanasio and Bobby Auletta (both from Oceanside), Ron Eden (Brentwood), Alain Maca (Massapequa), Dan McCrudden and John McCrudden (both from Kings Park) and Chris Tyson (Northport).
Although there is a fee for attending both dinners, admission to the rest of the LIJSL Convention is absolutely free. Throughout the day on Saturday, March 10 and on Sunday morning, March 11, there will be LIJSL Sportsmanship Award presentations, meetings for club presidents, coaches and volunteers plus coaches and referee clinics as thousands of people purchase soccer items. There will be three technical demonstrations in Salon D on Saturday, March 10:
9:00 am-Advanced Technical Training: Passing and Receiving
The importance of good technique, especially when it comes to fundamentals
Presented by LIJSL Player Development Program clinician Bart Polster
10:30 am-Improving Soccer IQ Through Player-Centered Environments
Highlights activities that give the problem-solving back to the players for improved learning and engagement
Presented by Bryan Alcantara, Manager of Coaching Education for the New York Red Bulls
Noon-Speed of Play in the Modern Game
Pure speed, technical speed and mental speed will all be demonstrated
Presented by LIJSL Director of Coaching Education John Fitzgerald
The full schedule is linked here. For more information about the 36th Annual LIJSL Convention, please contact the league at 631-648-9020.
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 Special Children. 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.