Dear Parents: I would like to first thank every one of you for an amazing indoor season.  I have seen the kids improve so much and I have been very impressed with the enthusiasm and level of engagement of your children.  It is always a privilege to work with young people and often they teach me as much as I teach them.  Together we have learned what it means to play together, learn new skills and learn what it means to respect each other and the game itself.  

I would like to remind you that although this weekend was the originally end date we will be extending the season to include a few make up classes.  The Saturday class will be receiving one make up class, and the Sunday group will be receiving 2 make up classes.  March 19 and March 20 will have class at the same times.  For the Saturday group this will be the last class of the winter season (March 19th), and  I would like to encourage the parents to bring some healthy snacks to celebrate.  Sunday class you will be having your last class on March 26th, which is the day before Easter Sunday.  We will be having class at the same time as usual.

Schedule Indoor Winter:
Saturdays
Time:
1:00 - 2:00 pm: 5 - 8 years old CLOSE! 
2:00 - 3:00 pm: 9 years and up AVALIABLE
Location: Neighborhood School

Sundays
Time: 
1:00 - 2:00 pm: Pre K - 1st Grade AVALIABLE
2:00 - 3:00 pm: 2nd - 3rd Grade CLOSE! 
3:00 - 4:00 pm: 4th - 5th Grade AVAILABLE
Location: Neighborhood School

Thank you so much for your support. 
Coach Vince and the LYS team

I just received word today from the Parks people that our beloved field for the spring will commence resurfacing as of tomorrow.   This means that we will have to relocate out practice.  I know this may be an inconvenience but the good news is that come June 10 when construction ceases our field will be completely resurfaced and a much better playing environment.   So here are the changes:


Tues:   We will be on the East River just south of Houston on the grass softball fields. Same time 4 to 6pm.

Thurs:  we will be at the field just 3 blocks south of current field on Grand st and Christie.   Same time 4 to 6pm. We will be there for the next 2 Thursdays
  

Saturday:  we have a change in field AND Time.   We will be at softball fields on East River just south of Houston.  

5-7 yr olds 8 to 9am.  
Family soccer 9-10am
Freestyle and older group  10-11am.


I know that this may represent an inconvenience and I am truly sorry.  I was told repairs were to be done in the summer,  but on the other hand I am happy that they are actually fixing the field.   I thank you for your understanding and patience.  Any questions whatsoever please contact us.  

Dear LYS Families:


Greetings LYS Families! I hope that all of you have had a wonderful summer so far.  For those of you who have stayed in the city, we have enjoyed probably the coolest summer in the last 20 years!!!  For those of you who left to see family, get out of the city, or to vacation I hope you have enjoyed your break from our beloved concrete jungle.  I want to write to you to get you up to speed on Loisaida Youth Soccer. 

Mini-Summer Camp
This summer we have initiated the first LYS mini summer camp, and I am happy to say it has been a great success.  We consistently had 15/20 kids with a nice balance of gender and age, and the dynamic among the kids has been awesome. I have had the great fortunate of getting to know your children more and the kids have enjoyed an exciting and dynamic environment of soccer, freestyle, movement and music.  Coach Frankie has brought his freestyle flair and stories from the World Cup, where he performed and assisted the semi-final and final.  Coach Adriana and coach Iliana have contributed face painting, food runs to Whole Foods, assistance of the movement and soccer activities and so much more.  We also had with us a professional hip hop dancer, Franck from Martinique, as well as the North American Top Freestyler Jose Avalos from Canada who is here this week visiting.  If you have not checked it out there are still a one week left and you can always stop by the field Mon or Wed morning at 9am at the Nike Field at Christie and Stanton.

Fall Season
The fall permit has been secured at the Baruch Field just behind Bard High School and Adriana has just put the finishing touches on the fall registration up on the webpage, so do not delay and go tolysyouthsoccer.com to sign up for the fall season.  We are super excited to get going and I am happy to offer we are offering Tues/Thurs and Saturday.  You will have the option of doing one or all of the classes and I am excited to see everyone again.

New Program
This fall we are going to be offering a new program called Family Soccer Hour.  On Saturday only (between the first and second classes) I am going to run a program where parent and child will be able to do soccer related activities together. This will be an all-age group activity and will involve each parent playing movement and soccer-related games with their child in a friendly, structured environment.  In this way we can reinforce the social bonds of family through sport and we can mentor the parents a bit and help them experience the joy and frustration of learning how to control the ball and play soccer.  Although many kids are happy to have their own space to play and prefer the parents on the side, I think many kids would also relish the opportunity to see dad or mom on the field (as I have witnessed in the kids vs parents games), so I have decided to give it a try and I am excited to see how it goes.

Equipment Fundraiser
I do have to report a little bad news.  Last week my car was broken into and a majority of the soccer equipment for LYS was stolen.  While it was an unfortunate incident I am happy to report that 3 LYS families have already come forward and contributed to replace what was stolen. Also we had one of our players, Tana, donate a ball and some of his savings to help us out.  If any of you want to help you can donate cash or a write a check to big apple seeds.  Our goal is $1000 dollars and we already have $250!    I have already made a few purchases and I expect to have everything within the next few days.  These are the things that had to be replaced.

15 soccer balls

2 soccer tennis nets

Duffle bag to carry equipment

3 agility ladders

Cones and agility rings

Small goals

Although the loss of equipment was unfortunate the response by those who found out first has been so generous and sympathetic that I feel proud to be a part of such a great group of families in our soccer program. For the people who stole our soccer equipment I only hope that it makes its way to kids who will use to play soccer.

Thanks for your support and believing in our program.

Coach Vince

Our policy about the rain is play soccer, only with lightning will be cancel the practice.

If the lightning occur on the middle of soccer practice we take the kids to the whole foods at houston and reach every parent. To get back for each children to get home.

Dear LYS Parents:

The weather is calling for rain and some thunderstorms today at the same time as out practice.  As you know I rarely cancel practice for rain and usually adopt a wait and see policy.  Today is an exception:  at 4pm the 2014 World Cup in Brazil begins.  Instead of playing out in the rain I am encouraging all of you to find a bar or turn the Tv on, if you have one, and tune into Croatia vs Brasil, what should be an amazing game.  All of you are welcome to make up this cancellation on thurs or Saturday, or by attending any of our summer sessions.  I am sorry to not have practice, but at the same time I am absolutely thrilled to be able to announce the beginning of the most watched event on the earth.

Go USA!!! And Brasil!!!

REGARDS
Coach Vince

The Spring Session end at June 21

Schedule
Tuesdays & Thursdays 
First group (5-7 years old)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Second group (7-11 years old)
5:00 pm - 6:00pm

Saturdays
9:00 am - 10:00 am (4 years old)

10:00 am - 11:30 am (5-7 years old)

11:30 am - 1:00 pm (8-11 years old)