On Thursday, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), announced registration is now open for their nine-week spring soccer program that will feature skills training, fundamental drills, scrimmages and games to be led by New York City-area collegiate soccer players and parent volunteers.
The program is open to both residents and non-residents of Roosevelt Island.
“There are more than three million young people playing soccer in the United States and that number continues to rise every year,” said Erica Spencer-EL, RIOC’s newly-appointed Director of Community Affairs and managing director of Island’s Youth Center.
“Interest in youth soccer is just as high here on Roosevelt Island,” she said. “We’re excited to debut something popular, fun and physically beneficial for our children.”
Like many youth sports, experts agree that soccer teaches life lessons about collaboration and cooperation.
“Besides mastering the ability to control, shield, juggle, and dribble the ball with both feet, we want to teach our young people how to work together,” said RIOC President Susan Rosenthal.
The free program will run every Saturday from May 5 through June 30 at the Island’s Octagon Field. Starting at 9 a.m., there will be eight different workshop sessions, organized by age and skill level, lasting up to 90 minutes.
Click here to sign-up. Registration ends Monday, April 30. Parents interested in volunteer coaching are encouraged to email the program at RIYouthSoccer@rioc.ny.gov.
“Soccer is the first of, what we hope will be, many new program options for our Youth Center and community as a whole,” Spencer-EL said.