Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards BOTN Main Message Board G2008:U15 Fall 2022/Spring 2023

Spot on

We need to put a stop to this nonsense right now. First of all, Long Island in general does have a good number of minorities and to say that the population here on Long Island doesn't have a large minority population isn't accurate.

I would also say, that Long Island is racist. Don't say it isn't. Youth soccer isn't cheap, and with that said, many in the African American community choose other sports, like basketball, track, football, and baseball.

In my opinion, if there's going to be a scholarship pay off, it's going to be in those sports because those are the sports that generate revenue for colleges and universities While soccer does not. My two. Cents

Here's my 2 cents. I am a referee and I do a LOT of games so I see more games and more teams than any of you. The demographics of Long Island has been changing a lot in the last 10-15 years and with that the makeup of soccer rosters throughout Long Island has been changing a lot. There are a lot more minorities playing now than 10 years ago, especially those considered Latinos. If you think about it, it makes sense- soccer (or football or futbol depending on your heritage) is a lot more popular in Latin American countries and is a bigger part of the culture there than here in the US. There are some clubs that are almost exclusively made up of Latino families.

Please don't bring in "racism". Racism is an individual trait. There are no racist clubs or racist teams, only racist people. They exist in all walks of life- bank executives, attorneys, nurses, doctors, police officers, dog-catchers....and yes....gasp...soccer coaches. I do my job as a ref based on the LOTG. Soccer coaches are supposed to do their job based on the skill levels of the players- no more - no less. If you really believe they aren't playing your child because you think it's due to your child's skin color then speak to the Club President. If nothing happens, leave the team. If enough people see it and complain then maybe it's true.

As to youth soccer not being cheap and cost preventing non-whites from participating, that is pretty insulting to those middle class minority families who choose to spend their hard-earned money on the club of their choice. There is a seat for every ass on the LI soccer scene. Just a matter of how much you want to pay. And with the play all year mentality of parent and leagues, the other sports can be equally or even more costly than soccer. Ask any parent who has a kid playing travel baseball how much bats and gloves are and tournaments. Baseball is now played almost year round in NY. Crazy right? Track is probably the best bang for the buck and if your kid is fast and/or talented, probably the best chance for that elusive athletic scholarship (even full rides).

At the end of the day, your child should be happy playing this game. Remember - it's a game and kids want to play, not sit on the bench of the latest "greatest" team.

Save your money for college, keep your kid on the local team with her friends and you'll all have a happier ending! Good luck to all this season.

Since when is travel any sport cheap

I find this comment offensive and quite discriminatory. Are you suggesting that African American families choose other sports because soccer is too expensive for them??? Judging someone based on their race is the definition of racism. I think you want to clarify your statement.

I agree, I believe they choose those sports simply because African Americans in the US are not as interested in the sport. There is more money to be made in football, baseball and basketball. Have you any idea how much it cost to play travel for any one of the sports? It’s the same cost or more then soccer.

My son plays travel hockey. Bar far more expensive than any of these sports. I pay almost twice as much than I do for LISC. We travel every weekend to cities all over the east coast. No colored people on his team or the teams we have played against in the 3 years he’s been on the team. I guess every team we play must be racist? Whoever keeps posting this racial stupidity should do some homework rather than accusing people or organizations of being racist.

Totally missed the point. Somewhere in these threads earlier on was an account of a parent that identified such. Now comparision between sports that are dominant of a certain race/color is a thing? How about getting back to the club in focus and the mis deed done to the kids that were treated unfairly and forced to leave to find a home at another club. Stayed focused my friends, distraction does us no good.

Colored people? Ffs… what is this? 1950? You know who keeps this stuff going? You and garbage like that…

I agree with this comment. You can crit them for not developing players, and cutting players that have been with them their entire soccer lives, but racist I have never seen. Their staff is diverse. If Rauri has a player that is beastly talented and lights out…he is not going to cut them if they were hot pink.
Be salty about your kid getting cut…because that’s what us parents do, but it’s a merit based system and it’s about soccer.
…and one more word before I am DUNN!

Sneaky little pun you threw in there right at the end

That was probably the last true athlete developed out of LI that hit the women's soccer national team by storm. She's still playing top level! She also complained about the issues OP was talking about above. Soccer in the US is built to sideline kids from minority families and poor communities. LI is no exception to that. In the past East Meadow has been called a racist run club, not sure if that is as result of Ruairi's actions(highly doubt that is the case) but for some reason their policies leave families feeling "slighted". Too bad it often the minority girls that goes to play elsewhere anyway.

Ms. Dunn has also been very vocal about how women and girls are treated by coaches.

Who is the other one

Allie Long went to Northport!

Their are plenty of clubs out their that will scholarship kids who are a talented "A team" player but unable to pay the club fees... because most of these clubs want to win and the B & C teams are footing the bill.

SUSA is the only club I've heard of on LI that will do this. Perhaps the only club that can afford to as well. They've got team 3-4 levels deep all paying for ECNL. No other club can boast those numbers.

100% untrue, Plenty of clubs do. You don't need 4 teams in an age group to carry a few players for free (Well SUSA does cause their overhead is absurd)
a winning team will bring in more paying players... it's the same if the club is for profit or non profit.

Name one then! There is t any other team on Long Island that’s playing high level soccer where talent will want to go that is also “winning”. GA and EDP team don’t have good LI representation.

I don’t think there is a racism issue at EM but there is definitely a coaching one. It takes some going to have an ECNL franchise and have every age group in last place, especially in a place like LI where thousands of kids play.

LI doesn't lack diversity and is very racist. It's a shame that in the worlds game so much ignorance is still happening.

Why is Long Island so racist? Because you have all white towns? Is that the only reason? Go into the boros snd you will find neighborhoods of just asian, just Jewish, just irish, just Italian, just Dominican, etc etc etc. Are they racist too or its only when white people live amongst each other?
What ever happened to hiring the best qualified person, or putting the best sports player on a team. Now, so we are not labeled racist you have to throw oversee the best qualified to be "equal". Is that really fair and equal by bypassing the vest qualified yo meet a quota....
For the most part this country is not racist, the media pushes that narrative and makes you think so. What this country is against, is crime, living amongst the dangerous, and paying a [****] load of money to live somewhere, but then have people come in and call is racist bc they cant afford it. Thats not racist thats called life.work hard play harder. Everyone has an opportunity to rise up and create a nice life, whether they do it or not is their business

BRAVO!!! Well said.

Some people want equal outcome rather than equal opportunity.

on the boys side, Valencia, Olympiacos, Barca, just to name a quick 3