By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 6, 2016-The soccer community is mourning the loss of the legendary Rocco Amoroso, who was a US Soccer Life Member and inducted into the Hall of Fame of both the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York for his many decades of volunteering. Rocco also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nassau County Sports Commission in 1998, which is interesting as he lived and worked just over the county border in neighboring Suffolk County.
The LIJSL’s Sportsmanship Program was the brainchild of Rocco in 1980 and is the first program of its kind––not just in the world of youth soccer, but in youth sports. Rocco, a Melville woodworker, had become concerned when he saw a lack of civility on the playing fields. As the LIJSL grew, there was a movement within the league to remain focused on its mission to develop mature teenagers and responsible citizens through the lessons of teamwork and Fair Play. The goal was to Build Character Through Soccer, a sentiment that comes from the Sportsmanship Program and continues to be the league’s slogan and mission statement to this day. With this in mind, Rocco wrote the guidelines, secured initial sponsorship of the program with the Sports Billy organization and tirelessly promoted the program. He stressed the important role that sportsmanship plays in the development of players. The LIJSL Sportsmanship Award is given each season to a team in every division.
In 1982 and 1983, the LIJSL sent the guidelines of their Sportsmanship Program to every youth soccer association in the United States so it spread well beyond the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Many of these groups adopted the same guidelines and Rocco promoted sportsmanship at their invitation in Connecticut, Maryland, Kentucky and Washington State. AYSO adopted the guidelines after Rocco gave a presentation to AYSO in Buffalo three decades ago.
In 1983, Congressman Thomas Downey entered the name of the Long Island Junior Soccer League into the Congressional Record, mentioning the program’s slogan of Building Character Through Soccer. In addition, the principles of the program have also been incorporated by leagues in Ireland and China.
The US Youth Soccer Association handed out the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Trophy during the Girls-Under-19 national finals to the individual who was the best example of Fair Play during the finals. The Amoroso Sportsmanship Trophy was handed out in 1983 in Boston, 1984 in Dallas and 1985 in Seattle. The Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Cup is given annually to men’s and women’s teams in Eastern New York. And New York Men’s-Over-40 teams compete annually for the Rocco Amoroso Cup.
Rocco’s emphasis on sportsmanship changed the fabric of youth soccer in New York, throughout the United States and indeed in other parts of the globe, for the good of the game and the development of the character of its players. An enthusiastic public speaker, Rocco gave speeches on sportsmanship throughout Eastern New York at the meetings of the diverse youth and senior leagues, including annually at the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association AGM. Rocco paid for signs which line the touchlines of local soccer fields that say: Fair Play, Please.
Exactly a month before his passing, I had penned this appreciation of Rocco’s life which appeared in Soccer America:
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/68296/rocco-amoroso-an-appreciation.html
Services will be this Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm both days at the M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, NY 11746. A Mass of Christian burial will be on Monday, May 9 at 9:30 am at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 175 Wolf Hill Road in Melville.
May our dear friend who gave so much to soccer rest in peace.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.