Spring sign-ups will be held in March
Even though New York looks like a winter wonderland with all the snow, the spring season of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is scheduled to begin in five weeks. The traditional kickoff to the spring season is the LIJSL Convention, which will be held on March 6 to 8.
One of the world’s largest soccer conventions, approximately 10,000 people are once again expected to flock to the Huntington Hilton on Route 110 in Melville for the annual LIJSL event.
“We are very enthusiastic to welcome soccer fans from around the world to the LIJSL Convention once again,” said convention chairperson Holly Maresco. “There are new LIJSL families and players so this will be their first convention and that’s quite exciting, too.”
The fun begins at 7 p.m. on Friday night, March 6, with the annual awards dinner where the Volunteer of the Year from each LIJSL club will be honored. At the dinner, Gene O’Connell of the Brentwood Soccer Club, Frank Schmidt of the Sachem Youth Soccer League, Joe Viscontithe of the Hicksville Americans and Jim Volpe from Oceanside United will be inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame. The Boys-Under-12 and Girls-Under-12 Sportsmanship Coaches of the Year, as nominated in an essay by their players, will also be honored.
Throughout the day on Saturday, March 7, and on Sunday morning, March 8, there will be LIJSL Sportsmanship Award presentations, meetings for club presidents, coaches and volunteers, clinics for coaches and referees, plus a college forum, as thousands of people purchase items from vendors who have come from around the world.
Admission to the 33rd Annual LIJSL Convention is free on both Saturday and Sunday. For more information, contact the LIJSL at 631-648-9020.
