Thousands to Come to the 34th Annual LIJSL Convention From March 4 to 6
It is soccer version’s of March Madness as approximately 10,000 soccer fans are expected to come to the 34th Annual Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Convention at the Huntington Hilton on Route 110 in Melville. The LIJSL Convention is not only the largest gathering in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) but it’s one of the largest soccer conventions in the world as it has something for everyone.
The fun begins at 7 pm on Friday night, March 4 with the Annual Awards Dinner as the Volunteer of the Year from each LIJSL club will be honored. Jack Byrnes of the Commack Soccer League, the Terryville Soccer Club’s Holly Maresco, Giulio Petruccelli of the Auburndale Soccer Club and Patricia Secko of the Sound Beach Soccer Club will be inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame at the dinner. The Boys-Under-12 and Girls-Under-12 Sportsmanship Coaches of the Year as nominated in an essay by their players will be honored as well.
At 7 pm on Saturday, March 5 in Salon D, eight Long Island soccer icons will be inducted into the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame. Seven played for the Long Island Rough Riders who won the national championship exactly two decades ago, in 1995, a year before Major League Soccer kicked off. Those players are Kevin Anderson, Steve Cadet, Mike Masters, Danny Mueller, Paul Riley, Jim Rooney and Giovanni Savarese and they will be joined on the podium by top women’s player and fellow inductee Danielle Reyna.
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 5 and on Sunday morning, March 6, there will be LIJSL Sportsmanship Award presentations, meetings for club presidents, coaches and volunteers plus coaches and referee clinics as thousands of people purchase items from vendors who have come from around the world. Highlights include:
• LIJSL “D” Coaching Course, NSCAA Level 1-2, on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm both days in the Mattituck Room
• A bilingual College Forum for high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 pm in the Savoy. The expert panel will talk about what every parent and player needs to know, including NCAA requirements, financial aid packages plus picking the college that’s right for you!
• Meet current and former New York Cosmos players all weekend at their booth plus ask questions of the Cosmos coaches on Saturday from 3 to 4 pm in the Savoy
• NSCAA Goalkeeper 1 Diploma Course on Sunday from 8:30 am to 1 pm in the Wildwood Room
• American Red Cross CPR/AED Training on Sunday from 10 am to noon in the Mattituck Room
• Soccer Cleat, Balls and Uniform Collection for needy children, all weekend in the Hargrave Room
• Soccer Games for LIJSL teams all weekend in the New York Cosmos Inflatable Soccer Field, outside on the tennis court
The convention schedule is linked here. For more information about the 34th Annual LIJSL Convention, please contact the league at 631-648-9020.
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: 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.
