Former Youth Player Helps Others
A young woman who grew up a short corner kick from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) office in Rockville Centre, U.S. Women’s National Team player Crystal Dunn, is very happy to help youth soccer players avoid injuries by serving as a spokesperson for At Peak Sports.
The At Peak app delivers strength and conditioning exercises and video workouts, specific to age, gender and sport, that are designed by medical professionals for youth athletes. The app comes with exercise videos demonstrating proper form and has a social platform where teammates can interact, upload photos, view sports-related video content and challenge one another in trivia contests.
“I love what the At Peak app is doing for kids playing soccer,” Crystal explained. “Physical and mental conditioning are so important to playing better and avoiding injuries at all ages, at all levels. I really wish At Peak was around when I was a kid. I encourage parents and coaches to urge their young soccer players to sign up for the At Peak app and do the workouts. They’ll get a weekly message from me if they do.”
Research shows that a 20-minute workout twice per week can help reduce sports injuries by 50%. Using the At Peak app, players as young as eight can build a base of strength and conditioning to reduce injury. Beyond individual training, the app allows coaches to communicate with their youth teams and monitor team training. Parents are also able to participate with their child or just monitor their progress.
Crystal spent her formative years in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), playing for the Rockville Centre Power, Rockville Centre Tornadoes and Albertson Fury ‘91 and received the 2009 Mike Clarke Award, named after the esteemed LIJSL volunteer, as the best high school player in Nassau County. Crystal also developed her wonderful skills with Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program, competing in ODP for six years, and used it as a springboard to represent the USA internationally.
She helped lead the USA to the 2012 FIFA Under-20 World Cup title in Japan, playing every minute of all six matches, and has her sights set on the Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer, when she will turn 23 years old. She is currently playing with the U.S. Women’s National Team in Europe.
As a junior at the University of North Carolina, she won the Hermann Trophy as college soccer’s best player, scoring five goals, in leading the Tar Heels to the 2012 NCAA championship. The versatile Crystal was named the 2010 and 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year plus the 2013 ACC Offensive Player of the Year while scoring 14 goals. She was the first player to be honored as ACC Player of the Year three times since Mia Hamm, who also played for the University of North Carolina.
Crystal was the first player selected in the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League Draft and currently stars for the Washington Spirit. Her teammates include two other former Eastern New York ODP players––Amanda DaCosta and Alex Singer.
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.
