By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
January 7, 2015-In sports, only one team can win but both teams should be having fun. Sadly, this basic concept is sometimes forgotten by overly enthusiastic parents and way too competitive coaches in youth sports.
In 2002, the Shrub Oak Athletic Club (SOAC) of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) had 235 intramural players and less than 100 travel team players. They have increased their numbers dramatically during the past decade by focusing on participation, development and coaching education instead of winning.
“Shrub Oak was losing players to other sports and other clubs. To their credit, those responsible in the club opted for drastic change,” said Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching Instruction for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). “In addition to ensuring that players played in-house in an environment which stressed participation and player development rather than win at all costs, they also restructured the age groups so young children got to play year-round with their age groups from their schools.”
“In 2004, we moved to a New York State School year age group structure, instead of the August 1 cut-off date used in youth soccer,” commented SOAC Intramural Co-Commissioner Dan Kelly. “This allowed kids to play with their many of their classmates. In 2013, with the advent of inter-town recreation with two other local clubs, Mahopac and Yorktown, we have increased numbers so much that we now have a high school intramural division.”
No scores or standings are kept for intramural teams of players from four to nine years old.
“They have a tournament in some of the age groups once a year––that’s the only time score matters,” Dan continued. “The end of the Spring Season also ends with a parent-child game, which really emphasizes the fun of the game. Once a year, we send an e-mail to the parents reminding them of the all-volunteer nature of the program, and emphasize the encouragement of all players when good things happen on the field, regardless of which team they are on.”
Shrub Oak hosts a 4-hour Recreation Course approximately every three years and requires all intramural coaches to attend. There are not any games scheduled that day so there is no excuse not to come.
For travel teams, Shrub Oak began requiring coaches to receive their F coaching license, generally within their first year of coaching.
“Picking up an idea from a neighboring club, Mahopac, we send out 10 practice sessions per season to coaches, essentially one for every week of the season,” Dan said.
By focusing on fun, fundamentals and friendships, Shrub Oak has nearly tripled in size during the past 13 years and now boasts 654 intramural players, 242 travel team players and more than 100 volunteer coaches.
“Congratulations, Shrub Oak, for being an example to all,” Coach Bradbury exclaimed.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 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.