Despite the frigid temperatures and persistent snow covering soccer fields across Long Island, the Mineola Athletic Association’s Soccer Board has been busy planning for the upcoming spring season.
MAA Soccer, now entering its 38th year, offers a range of programs designed to meet the needs of both entry level beginner and high school athletes looking to play at the next level. Beginning at age 4, MAA Soccer offers young soccer players the opportunity to learn the game in a fun and nurturing environment.
As these “soccer tots” graduate to the MAA’s intramural (in-house) league, they are offered opportunities to play with their friends but also to join the organization’s pre-travel developmental program, which begins at the U7 age level. This program provides additional training and an introduction to a higher level of competition against outside programs across Long Island.
The pre-travel curriculum delivers a solid mix of technical and tactical training, structured to help these young soccer stars progress in their knowledge of and passion for the game, all the while improving their skills. At the U10 age group, all MAA soccer players in that age group are invited to try out for the club’s travel team program, which competes in the New York Club and Long Island Junior soccer leagues.
A new program being offered this spring is the co-ed league for seventh-and eighth graders. Recognizing that this age group is often underserved across the Long Island soccer landscape, MAA Soccer created a co-ed experience to offer interested boys and girls the chance to continue playing the sport during their middle school years. MAA may decide to extend the age groups for the co-ed league to include high school ages if this initial foray is successful. Games for the co-ed league will be played on Saturday nights during the spring.
MAA Soccer’s long-time training partner Empire Soccer Academy provides soccer skills development every step of the way, as a player progresses through their MAA Soccer career. Leading Empire is Pete Hulse, a product of the Manchester United club and current Assistant Coach of the LIU Post Men’s soccer team.
Hulse, along with his team of dedicated trainers, brings an unmatched passion for teaching and helping children learn the beautiful game. Two years ago, Hulse’s organization partnered with Gold Coast Football Club to offer opportunities for advanced MAA athletes to play on select tournament teams while receiving additional, more focused and intense, training with other young soccer players from other towns.
This additional level of progression provides a great opportunity for MAA soccer players seeking extra challenges in the game without feeling the need to leave their local club team.
Damien DeCollibus, the President of the MAA Soccer Board, feels Empire and the extra training programs now being offered are improving the program in many ways.
“Empire Training has played an integral role in the MAA Soccer program in the past few year,” said DeCollibus. “Not only have the trainers provided our young athletes with consistently high-end training and guidance, they have built relationships with them that are often more valuable than the actual skills they teach. Now with the inception of the new Gold Coast Academy teams and developmental leagues, players have a new venue to build on their individual skills and soccer IQ.”
If you still have not registered for the Spring 2015 season please do so before March 1. Registration is ongoing and can be completed online at www.mineolaaa.org. If you have questions about the MAA Soccer program, please email soccer@mineolaaa.org
