PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER

New Jersey Youth Soccer looks forward to 2021-22 season

New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) and its member leagues have announced a renewed commitment for the 2021-22 season.

Through this ongoing relationship, the state association and its member leagues remain focused on continued collaboration to improve the membership experience, both on and off the field.

“Member leagues are one of our critical partners in the long-term success of soccer in New Jersey and continue to support the game day needs of the approximately 100,000 players throughout the state,” Jess Yeager, NJYS president, said in a statement. “The leagues are an influencing factor in the decisions we make that impact the game itself. Representatives of the leagues hold key positions on our various advisory boards, and the presidents of the member leagues are part of the League Roundtable that we introduced in the last year. Without them, we could not do all we do for the most important member that we all serve, the player.”

NJYS member leagues currently consist of CJYSA-EDP, Metro Youth Soccer League, Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association, Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association, Morris County Youth Soccer Association, Ocean County Recreation Soccer, Rockaway Valley Soccer League and Suburban Youth Soccer League.

CJYSA-EDP has maintained a longstanding affiliation with NJYS and U.S. Youth Soccer, and the league has seen continual growth over the years, according to the statement. Today, CJYSA-EDP operates youth leagues (ages 9-19), organizes EDP Futures programs for youth players (ages 7-11) and also manages U20/23 men’s and women’s leagues. Additionally, CJYSA-EDP conducts more than 20 tournaments and showcases each year to provide different forms of competitive experiences.

Metro Youth Soccer League (MYSL) maintains a mission to foster and promote the game of amateur soccer within its communities, according to the statement. MYSL has been operational for over 30 years, giving underserved communities and many Hispanic teams an affordable opportunity to play in a league. Beginning this fall, MYSL will be operated by the NJYS staff office with strategic guidance from the league’s Board of Directors who continue to volunteer their expertise.

The Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association (MNJYSA) is a soccer league that was created to provide soccer education and competition for youth teams. An organization of affiliated clubs, each of their member clubs have voting power to elect league officers and amend the constitution and bylaws. MNJYSA takes a “kids first” approach to all of its activities and accepts all clubs looking for travel competition, according to the statement

The Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association (MOSA) consists of teams that compete in Monmouth and Ocean counties. MOSA is a member of NJYS, and the league operates in accordance with NJYS policies. The goal of MOSA is to present amateur soccer players with opportunities to advance their careers, both on and off the field, according to the statement. Teams participating in MOSA range from the U8 to U18 age bracket.

The Morris County Youth Soccer Association (MCYSA) is dedicated to providing its participants with a safe and healthy environment to play soccer.  MCYSA is a registered nonprofit with 501(c)(3) designation made up of member clubs that have an equal voice in providing programs where kids come first, according to the statement. MCYSA is a sustaining and consistent member of NJYS since 1988, supporting clubs throughout northern New Jersey. Today, MCYSA provides community-based and growing academy clubs competitive travel soccer programming for youth players 9U through 19U, League Cup for clubs in the region and also administers North Jersey 4v4 for players 7U and 8U, according to the statement.

Ocean County Recreation Soccer (OCRS) is a collection of clubs and townships throughout Ocean County. There is a range of 10-15 clubs that are involved, and league play has eclipsed 100 teams at times. The purpose of the OCRS is to create a place for players who are not ready for travel soccer, or for parents who cannot commit to a travel schedule, according to the statement. The league strives to keep soccer enjoyable for youth players who range in age from 6 to 13 years old.

Rockaway Valley Soccer League (RVSL) is a recreational soccer league for 6- to 18-year-old players without flighting or standings. Servicing teams in both Morris and Sussex counties, the league has a range of 10 to 15 townships represented during its spring and fall seasons. The goal of the league is to provide a safe and productive environment that enables children to learn and apply the principles of teamwork, discipline, dedication and sportsmanship, according to the statement.. The RVSL also encourages youth coaching and promotes youth referee training.

Suburban Youth Soccer League (SYSL) is a non-profit, semi-recreational soccer league based in Union County. The league has approximately 3,100 players and averages 160 teams per season, representing 16 townships and clubs at the U9 to high school age levels. SYSL supports good sportsmanship, positive learning and fair play with a “Kids Remember Moments, Not Scores” mentality, according to the statement.

To find out more about New Jersey Youth Soccer, email [email protected] or follow on social media @NJYouthSoccer