By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 24, 2016-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) continues its unprecedented video series in educating Soccer Moms and Dads with an interview with local soccer product John Wolyniec, the longtime pro who is now coach of New York Red Bulls II.
“I must have said it a thousand times to reporters, I was just there to get better everyday,“ John explained. “Whether it was a practice, game, whatever, my goal was to fight as hard as I could to get better and as long as I’m getting better, I’m going to get more playing time and more opportunities.“
His advice to parents is “your child is the one who will determine how far he or she goes. It’s more about how much the child wants it rather than how much the parent wants it. As much as you can and as hard as it might be to take a step back and let them be as independent as possible because I know from my experience, my parents drove all over the place and were so supportive but I didn’t really blossom until they took a step back and let me be myself and going away to college (Fordham University) was a reason for that. They certainly prepared me and gave me all those great lessons about loyalty, dedication and commitment but at the end of the day, it was my own choice and my own passion that drove me forward and made the difference.“
The video is linked here:
John grew up playing in Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) as well as for St. Claire’s (now the Great Kills Soccer Club) of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), Silver Lake in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) and the Northport/Cow Harbor Celtics of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL). The Staten Islander was a professional player for a dozen years, competing for the Long Island Rough Riders, Rochester Raging Rhinos and Milwaukee Rampage and in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars and the team that succeeded them, the Red Bulls. Although he scored the Red Bulls’ only goal in the 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew in the 2008 MLS Cup Final, he is best remembered for scoring one of the best goals in MLS history, a 6-yard volley for the MetroStars after a 55-yard free kick in a 2003 game, also against the Crew. John had two caps for the US Men’s National Team.
Eastern New York is providing this video series, as a service to its 11 member leagues throughout New York State and its over 100,000 players, in response to the increased pressure on parents and players regarding college scholarships.
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.