Rye Brook Kickoff Classic- 2010 Tournament

1,500 kids get their kicks at Rye Brook soccer tourney

 

 

By Richard Liebson •  The Journal News • March 20, 2010

More than 1,500 young people enjoyed the first day of Spring kicking soccer balls Saturday at the fourth annual Last Licks/Rye Brook Youth Soccer Kickoff Classic, which has quickly become one of the largest youth soccer events in Westchester.  The tournament, which ends today, featured boys' and girls' teams from throughout Westchester and Connecticut, competing on fields at Blind Brook High School/Middle School and at Rye Brook Athletic Field. Squads in age groups from 9 to 15 played four 25-minute games each, vying for trophies, but mostly just having fun.

"Tournaments are more fun than regular games because you play a lot in one day and you get to see all these different teams," said Julia DiCostanzo, 11, of the Rye Magic. "We haven't had our first game yet, but I think we'll be awesome."  Eight-year-old Rich Daronco, a mid-fielder for the Westchester Scorpions club from White Plains, said his team had already proven its awesomeness.  "We've played three games so far and nobody has scored a goal on us," he said. "We're doing really good. I think we might win a trophy."

Richard Becker, coach of the Briarcliff Bullets boys' under-10 team smiled as his squad took the field.  "Pre-season tournaments like this are about having fun," he said. "It lets the kids get used to playing again after the long winter. We have a beautiful day here today, and I'm hoping that they all go out and enjoy it and have fun."

 

To ensure that things ran smoothly, an army of about 100 Rye Brook volunteers helped people with parking, kept the fields policed of trash, manned the registration booth and concession stands and did anything else that might need doing. The volunteers included parents and high school students who received community service credit.

At a table on a hill overlooking the fields, Blind Brook high school freshman Brian Hershaft and Kasey Silverman, Jeff Silverman's daughter, were collecting used cleats, balls, uniforms and shin guards for "Pass It On," a project they thought up to support the Claudio Reyna Foundation's efforts to create an International soccer academy in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Reyna, a four -time World Cup player for the U.S. National Team, was to appear at today's closing ceremonies to accept the donated items, which will be shipped to the "Team Haiti" academy.

"We've been playing soccer since the third grade," Hershaft said. "You outgrow cleats and uniforms, but they're still good. This way, they can go to other kids who really need them."  Kasey Silverman said they found out about the Claudio Reyna Foundation on the internet in October and were excited about helping.

"We have more than 100 donated items already," she said. "It's just amazing that we'll be able to help other kids this way."  Also on hand were representatives from United Against Malaria, who were there to educate people about the disease that is ravaging children in Africa. The group sponsored a speed kick contest, with $10 donations being used to buy mosquito nets.