The Long Island Junior Soccer League Convention may not have taken place since 2019, but it was certainly not forgotten.
Last weekend marked the event’s triumphant return to the Long Island Huntington Hilton in a celebration of the League’s 60th anniversary with a bevy of events from February 27-March 1.
“It was wonderful to have the Convention back after a six-year hiatus,” LIJSL Sporting Director John Fitzgerald said. “The connections and collaborations that come from such an event tend to have a positive and productive ripple effect. It was great to see so many colleagues and friends, and to also meet new people involved in soccer on Long Island.”
The Convention kicked off in perfect fashion with the highly-attended Friday Night Gala. Over 400 people enjoyed an evening of dinner and awards as Club Volunteers of the Year were honored. Also, the 2025 Electrolit USL Youth Final U15 Girls Champions received recognition and commemorative sweatshirts from the League.
The next two days brought plenty of excitement, learning, and enjoyment of the beautiful game. Speakers such as Giovanni Savarese and Deb Raber imparted valuable knowledge. College coaches – Tom Bowen (Hofstra), Andreas Lindberg (Seton Hall), Frank Vertullo (Queens College), and Raber (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) – provided guidance for the next talented group of college athletes at the College Coaches Forum, in partnership with Long Island Soccer Tryouts. American Soccer Club New York provided a fantastic demo for coaches to use in their own sessions, while a group of Massapequa Soccer Club players were able to get a first-hand experience alongside the ASCNY players.
Celebration was the theme at the top of mind throughout, though. Teams that won the 2025 Fall Season were able to have individual medal presentations and TOPSoccer Athletes of the Year were also honored with medals and trophies. The Long Island soccer community brought that celebratory energy in the engagement with all of the events and exhibitors, including New York City FC who serves as the League’s official training partner. Lastly, in celebration of the 2026 World Cup, a pair of tickets were raffled off and won by Mr. and Mrs. Zetelski of Hauppauge.
“Sharing thoughts, ideas, and general opinions is a by-product of something like this, and it was enjoyable to do so with so many other soccer enthusiasts,” Fitzgerald said. “The return of the convention was an overall success, and we at LIJSL are very proud to be the hosts of it again!”