By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
March 28, 2018-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) President Bill Smith has been selected as one of the 100 most powerful people on Staten Island. The Staten Island Power 100 list honors the 100 most influential people in government, business, culture and social services. The group will salute Bill and the other top leaders on Thursday, April 26 at a reception at the Hilton Garden Inn (1100 South Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This is far from the first honor for Bill, as he was most notably inducted into the Halls of Fame for the SIYSL in 2013 and for Eastern New York a year later.
Bill started his career in youth soccer a quarter-century ago, coaching the SIYSL’s Richmondtown Wildcats Girls-Under-6 team. The following year, he began coaching the girls Rockets team for the same club, serving as their head coach for the next six years and capturing numerous tournament championships along the way.
In 1996, Bill became director of the Richmondtown Soccer Club and increased membership by 71% during his tenure. He also assumed another coaching responsibility, the club’s Boys-Under-6 team. In 1999, Bill took on the additional responsibility of training Richmondtown’s entire program.
In 1997, the Oakwood resident also began coaching the Boys-Under-8 team for Staten Island United, continuing as their coach for the next 10 years. Bill received his US Soccer National D coaching license and also became a certified referee plus certified assignor at that time. He went on to coach the Metrostars/Red Bulls Academy team and at Monsignor Farrell High School.
In 1995, Bill joined the SIYSL’s Executive Board as Fourth VP and moved up the ranks. In 2004, Bill was elected President of SIYSL’s more than 5,200 players, a position he still holds today.
Under his leadership during the past 14 years, SISYL has implemented the following:
• TOPSoccer for children with special needs
• SIYSL Presidents Cup competition
• 3v3 Friendship Cup for intramural players
• SIYSL select soccer program
• SIYSL Hall of Fame
• SIYSL Indoor Recreational Tournament
• Senior Day recognizing middle-school graduates from the SIYSL
• Annual SIYSL Holiday Gala and recognition for volunteers
• Construction of a SIYSL soccer complex to be built in the Hurricane Sandy-ravaged section of Oakwood Beach, where homes once stood
In 2010, Bill was elected to the ENYYSA Executive Board as Fourth VP and is still a member, currently serving as the Second VP while volunteering on many committees.
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.