Soccer Convention Has a Little Something For Everyone

Set for this weekend, the Long Island Junior Soccer League’s 37th annual convention will be held in Melville and it promises events that everyone will enjoy.

About 10,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event at the Huntington Hilton on Broadhollow Road and it will kick off with the annual awards dinner honoring the volunteer of the year on Friday night at 7 p.m. Four new members will be inducted into the LISJL hall of fame including; John Davis from the East Islip Soccer Club, the West Islip Soccer Club’s Gary Kofsky, Diana Riccardi of the New Hyde Park Wildcats and Robert Walters of the Baldwin Eagles.

Throughout  Saturday and Sunday, there will be LIJSL Sportsmanship Award presentations, meetings for club presidents, coaches and volunteers plus coaches and referee clinics as thousands of people purchase soccer items. Venders will be visiting from around the world, as well as three Long Island Legends forums including; Red Bulls coach Chris Armas, Red Bulls Academy director Bob Montgomery plus former Cosmos and New York Arrows goalkeeper and current Red Bulls commentator Shep Messing have a candid conversation about the state of the game in Salon D Saturday at 3 p.m.

Other highlights include a bilingual College Forum (English/Spanish) for high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors in Salon D Saturday from 1-3 p.m. where the expert panel will talk about what every parent and player needs to know, including NCAA requirements, financial aid packages plus “picking the college that’s right for you.”

The American Red Cross will be there for CPR/AED training conducted by the Long Island Sports Care Group on Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon in the Mattituck Room, and the United Soccer Coaches 4v4 Diploma – a three-hour lesson designed for those who will be coaching youth soccer players from 4 to 10 years of age in Salon D Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

There is a fee to attend dinner, but admission to the convention on Saturday and Sunday is fee.

Church Hosts Food Packup to Help Needy

Leave a Reply