How Bodegas and Block Parties Teach Us to Be Better Soccer Players

Who’s dropping by The Chopped Cheese Classic this Saturday? Credit: @choppedcheeseclassic

What do bodegas, block parties, and soccer teams have in common?

They're all built on community. They thrive off crowds. And they know how to triumph when the pressure is on.

On Saturday, July 12, the first-ever Chopped Cheese Classic kicks off at McCarren Park. The Chopped Cheese Classic isn’t just a soccer tournament. It’s a borough-wide tribute to the corner stores that keep NYC running, wrapped in the adrenaline of 7-a-side footy and served with a side of block party beats. With all the excitement surrounding this action-packed day, it’s easy to forget there are life lessons bodegas and block parties teach us that direclty apply to the soccer pitch.

🗽 Bodegas: The Heartbeat of the City

If you’ve lived in NYC long enough, you know your local bodega better than your own extended family. The guy behind the counter knows your snack order, your hangover cure, and your weird brand of seltzer. He probably gave you credit once when you forgot your wallet. Bodegas are more than stores—they’re lifelines. Refuge during late-night cravings, go-to spots for emergency Advil, and yes, a place to gather neighborhood gossip and watch cats roaming the aisles provide much-needed relief in the city that never sleeps. If you’re team is giving you the comforting feels like your local bodega, it’s time to cut ties.

⚽ Soccer: The People's Game

Soccer doesn’t ask for much. A ball, some space, and a will to win. It’s the world’s most democratic sport—no expensive gear, no country club required. Just like a good chopped cheese, it’s accessible, satisfying, and somehow always better when shared.

The Chopped Cheese Classic celebrates that ethos. The tournament’s street-style format—7-a-side, co-ed, all-boroughs—mirrors the pick-up games we grew up with, but with higher stakes and way more flavor.

🎉 Why a Soccer Tournament Is the Perfect Showcase

Pairing local bodegas with a city-wide soccer tournament isn’t just clever—it’s perfect. It puts the spotlight on two of the city’s most unshakable institutions: small businesses and the beautiful game.

It’s borough pride on display.

It’s teamwork fueled by neighborhood rivalries.

It’s a pitch full of culture, grit, and homegrown legends.

And when the final whistle blows? The celebration spills into a full-on block party on Richardson Street. DJs, food vendors, streetwear drops, and a mobile soccer museum parked on the curb. This isn’t just another event—it’s a reminder of what NYC does best: community, creativity, chaos (the good kind), and homegrown street food classics.

✨ Show Up, Rep Hard, Eat Well

Whether you’re lacing up or just pulling up, the Chopped Cheese Classic is a chance to root for the real NYC. The bodega owners, the local players, the weekend warriors, and the neighborhood kids who’ll grow up thinking this was normal (and it should be).

The 5 Best Soccer Fields in NYC for Families (Where Grownups Ball & Kids Go Wild on the Playground)

Plan on bringing a tiny human sidekick or two in tow to your next Footy match? Since they're not about to sit on the sidelines just to watch you roam the field, finding a park with a functioning children’s playground is paramount to your success.

In honor of all the soccer parents out there trying to do both this summer now that’s school’s out, here are the top 5 NYC fields where grownups can play hard—and kids can play harder.

BBP is the place to be this summer if you’re an NYC Footy parent

1. Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Location: Brooklyn Heights

Let’s just say this is the Beyoncé of NYC soccer fields. It’s got views, it's got vibe, and it's got three beautifully maintained turf fields floating over the East River. And right next door? One of the best playground set-ups in the city.

The adjacent Pier 6 playgrounds (yes, plural) feature water jets, sand pits, climbing structures, and slides that look like they were designed by NASA engineers. Plus, Smorgasburg is within stroller range.

2. Riverside Park – 101st St Soccer Field

Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan

Classic NYC energy with a side of convenience. The 101st Street field is tucked right along the Hudson River and has become a go-to for adult pickup and leagues alike.

Walk five minutes in either direction and you’ll hit not one, not two, but three playgrounds, including the Neufeld Playground (known for its sprinklers and shaded seating). Bonus: there’s often an unofficial “scooter Grand Prix” happening nearby.

3. Red Hook Park Soccer Fields

Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn

You want grit and charm? Red Hook’s got both. These fields are big, bold, and right next to a massive playground zone with climbing structures, monkey bars, and splash areas.

While you're chasing a through ball, your kid can be chasing pigeons or making lifelong friends in the sandbox. And when the final whistle blows, you’re just a few blocks from Hometown BBQ and Steve’s Key Lime Pie. We call that a full send.

4. Saratoga Park (Hilltop Playground), Bed-Stuy

Location: Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

This spot recently got a glow-up. New turf, a track, and one of the freshest playgrounds in the borough. The Hilltop Playground includes colorful climbing zones, splash pads, and space to scooter like it’s a competitive sport.

The soccer field here is full-sized and ideal for adult games, especially if you’re looking for a quieter, community-feel kind of match.

5. Grassmere Playground Soccer Field

Location: Far Rockaway, Queens

You probably haven’t played here yet—but you should. This under-the-radar gem was recently upgraded with a new junior soccer field, playgrounds for different age groups, and even a mini track.

It’s designed for families and built to handle a full afternoon of sports + snacks. There’s plenty of parking, and the beach isn’t too far if you want to turn game day into a mini getaway.

Final Whistle

Finding a park that works for you and your mini-me is the brace everyone needs when playing soccer in the summer.

Next time you’re scouting your league’s schedule, remember: you’re not just picking a field—you’re picking a playground, a memory, and probably your kid’s next favorite hangout. Your weekends are their childhood, so with that in mind, be sure to bookmark NYC Footy’s available and upcoming fall leagues here.

Cleats & Eats: New Summer Taco Spots (and the Fields Closest to Them)

Summer in NYC means two things: soccer season is in full swing and it's way too hot to be cooking at home. Luckily, we’ve scouted some of the city’s freshest taco spots—perfect for a post-match bite or a midweek team outing. Bonus: we’re mapping them to the closest soccer fields, so you’re never too far from your next cheat meal.

Whether you're chasing scarfs or suadero, here are three options to start your citywide taco crawl:

1. Cariñito Tacos

Tacos served in a husk and guac made with nam jim make Carinito

📍 85 University Pl., Greenwich Village
🗓️ Limited-time pop-up – 6 months only
Closest Field: Peter’s Field
Must Eat: The Isaan taco, the crunchy wrap, and don't you dare skip the chips and guac. This place has serious flavor hustle.

Why it’s worth the trip: This pop-up isn’t sticking around forever, so get there before it’s gone. It’s the kind of spot that makes you wish extra time was a thing in taco form. Also, there’s a secret mezcal bar upstairs in case you’ve got room for something else (not a given)

2. Santo Taco

Santo Taco’s steak trompo taco is a contender for NYC’s best new taco.

📍 114 Kenmare St., Nolita
Closest Field: SRP - Nike Field & SRP - Canal St.
Must Eat: The steak trompo taco is the MVP here, but the pork carnitas and pillowy corn tortillas are the first bites you need to go 1v1 with a contender for NYC’s best new taco.

Why we love it: Santo is quietly becoming a downtown staple. It's casual, quick, and the perfect stop before or after a pickup session. Bring teammates. Bring appetite.

3. Oyamel

Jose Andres’ Oyamel expands to NYC with a home at Hudson Yards.

📍 505 W. 30th, Hudson Yards
Closest Field: Chelsea Parks
Must Eat: Fish tacos with tempura crunch and chile arbol mayo. Light, spicy, and totally addictive.

Why it scores: Chef José Andrés doesn’t mess around, and neither should you. Oyamel brings D.C. heat to NYC’s Hudson Yards with flair—and flavor. It’s high-end taco energy with enough chill to roll in wearing cleats - though if you need an outfit change you have an entire mall at your disposal.

Final Whistle

New tacos are popping up like corner kicks this summer—fast, fun, and full of surprises. So lace up, loosen up, and make your way to one of these fields with a post-match taco plan in place.

The Ultimate Guide to Cup of Dreams

The Cup of Dreams is back to crown new champions ready to rise to shine on polished concrete. Like the red dirt renegades who own the clay at Roland Garros, our street-style, indoor, air-conditioned all-day tournament attracts a particular breed of Footy folks: 5v5'ers without fear of a grey, grassless field.

Street-style ball brings out the no fear breed within NYC Footy

Kicking off just days after the Club World Cup Final crowns their champ next door at Metlife Stadium, you'll find no shortage of "ultras" glued to the sidelines at America's 2nd largest mall. Not to mention, for all you Toffees or Mancs out there, Metflie will be hosting their EPL Summer Series the same night of the world's greatest show on (melted) ice: The Cup of Dreams.

The Cup of Dreams also offers activities for the caravan of spectators that supports our soccer habits throughout NYC and across state lines, thanks to our host, The Rink at American Dream

(Note: Before reaching out to our CX Team, despite playing at The Rink, this tournament will not be played on ice.)

Our flagship tournament of the summer is already stacked with stellar contenders, who plan on leaving American Dream with the very real title of champions, along with Atlas Everyday Bags courtesy of Mack Weldon.

The Tournament: Indoor Rules, Gear & More

Read up on our indoor rules before chatting up our refs (you may need to save up that Oxygen)

Get a jump on NYC Footy's indoor rules by reading through them in advance.

Choosing The Cup of Dreams as your first NYC Footy tournament is an excellent call. To assist with pre-tournament planning, we've gathered the essential details you'll need to know about NYC Footy's indoor rules, what to wear, and where to find last-minute gear onsite if needed.

The Rules: In addition to the list below, you can save energy and oxygen that might be spent chatting with a referee during a match by first reviewing our indoor rules here.

• All players must wear shin guards.

• All watches and hard-surfaced wristwear are not allowed and must be covered up during play.

• No cleats are allowed

• When the ball goes out of bounds, a kick-in restarts play.

• During the kick-in, the ball must be kicked at “below-the-waist” height. If the ball is kicked above the waist, the ball will change possession to the opposing team, who will restart with a kick-in from the same location.

• Goalkeepers must ensure the ball touches the ground before the halfway line with throws, goal kicks, or punts. If this rule is violated, the opposing team receives possession from the midfield sideline.

• Goalkeepers may slide inside their penalty box only to block shots, make saves, or challenge fairly

Format: 5 v 5 (including the keeper). 1 female minimum on the pitch.

Duration: Five (5) 20-minute game slots + semi-finals and finals.

Roster: 8 rostered players at most, of which one (1) must be female.

The Pitch: The Rink at American Dream. This means you'll be playing on a polished concrete slab inside a converted hockey rink. Please keep this in mind, as well as the safety of all players during game time.

Also, to the one guy who thinks punching the shielding that separates players from spectators is a good idea, how's the hand?

The Footwear: Only indoor soccer shoes or sneakers will be permitted

The Look: All players must wear an official NYC Footy Cup of Dreams jersey during game time. We recommend that goalkeepers wear kneepads.

For any last-minute gear grabs, our sponsor JD Sports is conveniently located at American Dream.

The Schedule: Timing is Everything

Plan ahead to avoid last minute mall wind sprints.

Don't be like the McAllisters and make sure to arrive early for registration

Although American Dream is large, there are limitations to the number of fields (3 total) and the maximum number of teams we can allow to participate for tournament timing purposes.

All teams will have at least one sizable (~2 hour) break between games to eat and/or explore the mall. If you do plan to venture away from The Rink, please be sure to build in enough time to get back so you can avoid running through American Dream like you're the McAllister family in Home Alone.

If you do plan on bringing non-NYC Footy guests, you'll want to make sure they know that by attending, they may have to be on alert for any flying balls, although thanks to the shielding at The Rink, there's an added layer of protection just as long as that one guy doesn't start punching it again.

Tournament Time: 10 AM - 7 PM. Game slots are approximately 20 minutes each, and opening rounds will be followed by playoffs, which include semi-finals and finals.

After Party: TBD, but we'll be looking to set up shop sometime around 5 pm. Last year, The Yard House was our destination of choice, but please keep your eyes open for an official announcement on where our 2025 Cup of Dreams after party will take place.

How to Get to American Dream

The Rink at American Dream, the site of Cup of Dreams

American Dream is easy to get to: see below for the best day of travel options

Waiting for the G train or picking up a pizza at Ceres are two activities that will most likely take longer than the trip to American Dream. Here's the easiest way to find your way into the Garden State's most prolific shopping center.

Public Transit's Most Direct Route: NJ Transit Bus No. 355

Average Travel Time: 20 Minutes

Bus No. 355 departs NYC's Port Authority Bus Terminal Gate 305. You can see the current bus schedule via the NJ Transit website.

Second Most Direct Route: NJ Transit Train to Secaucus Junction + Ride Share/Taxi

Average Travel Time: 30 Minutes

Depending on your travel preferences, you can also take the NJ transit train one stop from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction station, followed by a 10-minute taxi or ride share. Trains depart Penn Station approximately every 15-20 minutes

Traveling by Car

Average Travel Time: 20-45 Minutes

Carpooling with the squad is a great tool for team bonding, as long as you don't get lost. To make sure you end up at the correct mall and not that den of sin in North Bergen, make sure to plug in the following into your navigation system of choice: 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ.

Activities: What to Do During Game Breaks

Pre-booking massages at Dream Nail & Spa during a game break is a must.

Need a reset to help shake up the standings? Here are 10 activities to enjoy when your team is on a break.

Enjoy a mid-tournament espresso at Rosetta Bakery

Schedule a massage in advance at Dream Nail & Spa

Work on your balance with Skudin Surf

Build out formations at the LEGO Discovery Center

Stroll The Avenue to keep the legs fresh

Legends of the Hidden Temple: Ropes Course Challenge

Create a dream food crawl

Avoid getting tagged with a red card at G.I. Joe Battle Station

Lost your game? Find your way out of it at Mirror Maze

Close out your evening with a trip on the Dream Wheel

The After Party: It Doesn't Count Unless You Can Close It Out

After you win the championship, Footy after party tradition demands you celebrate.

After your tournament run comes to a close, be sure to stick around and tell your spectators to join you for a post-game beverage of choice at our official after-party headquarters.

Last year, we selected the Yard House as our destination of choice, and we'll be sure to choose a location that's airing the Premier League Summer Series.

The Cup of Dreams isn't the only party where you'll find competitive soccer matches taking place in New Jersey on Saturday, July 26th.

The Premier Leagues Summer Series visits MetLife Stadium on July 26 (aka CoD Day)

The Premier League Summer Series arrives in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with two unique match-ups, both scheduled for Saturday, July 26:

4 PM: Everton v. AFC Bournemouth

7 PM: Manchester United v. West Ham United

Pre-gaming for the pros at The Cup of Dreams is the greatest call you can make, and if you'd like to learn more about availability, you can review more on the Premier League's Summer Series page here.

Champ Swag: You've Got This in the Bag

The Atlas Everyday Backpack, our champ swag for Cup of Dreams winners

Thanks to our sponsor Mack Weldon, each player on this year's Cup of Dreams winning team roster will take home an Atlas Everyday Bag.

Helpful when you don't feel like carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, the Atlas Everyday Bag is made with a water-resistant canvas which means it's the perfect accessory to accompany a traditional NYC Footy celebratory champagne pour.

Now that you’ve got the full rundown, sprint right over to our Cup of Dreams Registration Page before our final spots fly away for good.

5 of the Fastest Rising But Also Late to the Party Soccer Players in History (and What We Can Learn From Them)

You’ve signed up for your first NYC Footy league. Maybe you’re feeling a little nervous, wondering if you’ve got what it takes—or if you’ll just spend the season trying to remember which way you're supposed to be shooting.

Hey, we’ve all been there. Even the greatest players in history started somewhere. Some were late bloomers. Others went from total unknowns to game-changers seemingly overnight. And a few even saved their best moves after they hung up their boots.

So, in honor of every beginner finding their footing (and maybe their left foot), here are 5 of the best "beginner" soccer players in history—plus what we can steal from their success stories.

1. Didier Drogba – The Late Bloomer Turned Legend

Drogba didn’t join a professional academy until he was 21 (practically ancient in soccer years), and he didn’t make his Premier League debut with Chelsea until he was 26. But once he got going? Pure chaos for defenders. He became one of Chelsea’s all-time greats, winning four Premier League titles and scoring clutch goals in major finals.

Beginner takeaway: You’re never too late to start balling. It’s not about how early you start—it’s how much heart you bring when you do.

2. Jamie Vardy – From Factory Floors to Premier League Glory

Vardy was playing in non-league soccer and working in a factory at age 23. Most pros at that age are peaking—he was barely getting noticed. But then came his rocket ride: Leicester City signed him, he exploded in the Premier League, and helped lead the most unexpected title win in English football history in 2016.

Beginner takeaway: Keep showing up. The grind pays off. That Tuesday night game at Bushwick Inlet could be the start of something epic (or at least a free beer and epic skyline views).

3. Marta – From a Dirt Field in Brazil to GOAT Status

Marta didn’t have fancy cleats or elite coaching growing up—just raw talent and relentless drive. She was often the only girl playing street soccer in Brazil. Fast forward: she’s a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year and the all-time top scorer in World Cup history (yes, men’s or women’s).

Beginner takeaway: Don’t let your environment define you. Talent can come from anywhere, and so can greatness.

4. George Weah – From War-Torn Liberia to the Ballon d'Or

Weah grew up playing barefoot in the streets of Monrovia. He wasn’t scouted until his late teens, but within a few years, he was scoring goals for AC Milan and became the first (and only) African player to win the Ballon d'Or. Oh—and after retiring? He casually became the President of Liberia.

Beginner takeaway: The field can be the start of any journey. Soccer may be your intro, but who knows where it takes you next?

5. Megan Rapinoe – Finding Her Voice Later, Then Changing the Game

Rapinoe was a solid but not a superstar player early in her career. Injuries slowed her down, but when she hit her stride, she did it with style and swagger. Her leadership during the 2019 World Cup and activism off the field made her a household name and global icon.

Beginner takeaway: Your impact isn’t just about goals. It’s how you show up for your team—and what you do with the platform soccer gives you.

So, What’s the Lesson for NYC Footy First-Timers?

You don’t need to be the fastest, strongest, or most experienced player on the field. You just need to start.

Every season, we see new players become team captains, build lifelong friendships, and level up their game way faster than they expected. The secret? Show up, have fun, and don’t be afraid to make a few (or a dozen) mistakes.

Because legends aren’t born—they’re made on the field. Even the ones in borrowed shin guards.

Want to start writing chapter one of your soccer story?

👉 Check out our beginner-friendly leagues here.

New to Soccer? Don’t Worry — We’ve Got Your Back.

Learning to play shouldn't feel like you're trying out for the Premier League.

We know joining a league when you’re just getting started can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve never kicked a ball before. Maybe you have, but it went straight into a tree. Either way, if you’re signing up for a P5 New to Soccer league here at NYC Footy, you’re in good company — and more importantly, you’re in good hands.

Here’s how NYC Footy protects our P5 New to Soccer beginner experience so you can have fun, come back for more, and encourage others looking for a safe space to come talk to NYC Footy.

1. Our Refs Are Real Ones

Our referees receive continuous training and are here to make P5 games run correctly.

We take referee operations seriously here at NYC Footy, and a world without proper referee training and rule enforcement is one where safe and entertaining soccer matches can’t exist.

Our referees are trained not just to know the rules, but to manage games in a way that keeps the pace friendly, the tone respectful, and the slide tackles nonexistent (seriously, no slide tackles). If someone’s playing a little too hard for a league where new players are just trying to figure out how to pass, our refs step in.

They're not just refs — they’re vibe protectors.

2. We Know Who Signs Up Where

Anyone can claim to be a beginner. But if someone shows up to a P5 New to Soccer match dribbling like Messi, we notice.

We have a skill assessment and monitoring process in place to make sure players are slotted into the right league. If a player is clearly in the wrong division — too advanced, too aggressive, or maybe just too much — we’ll reach out and help move them to the level that’s a better fit.

3. When Something Feels Off, You Can Tell Us. And Your Secret is Safe.

We believe in fair play and understand that competitions can tend to unleash an unfiltered side of human nature that we don’t see anywhere else. So if something weird happens on the field — a player acting out, an unsafe play, or something that just didn’t sit right — you’ve got a way to flag it.

We’ve got an Incident Report Form that you can fill out anytime, but soon after an incident occurs is typically best for memory purposes. It helps us follow up quickly and make sure the right conversations happen. It’s not snitching. It’s caring about the community and helping us take the appropriate action.

Our P5 leagues are designed to break down social walls for those new to soccer.

P5 Isn’t Just a League — It’s a Mindset.

It’s for the players who want to learn the game, get active, meet new people, and maybe fall in love with soccer for the first time. That’s a big deal to us. So we’ll keep protecting that vibe, week in and week out.

Because here at NYC Footy, no matter your skill level, there’s always room for one more.

Want a hand finding the right league for your first season? Hit us up — or browse our League Finder and see what fits.

How to Set Your Team Up for Glory the Night Before Gov Cup

The team photo is the first vibe check you’ll find at Gov Cup (so don’t be late or lost)

Alright, Gov Cup is almost here. You’ve been texting the group chat all week, everyone’s arguing about who's playing striker, and someone’s already asked, “Do we need matching socks?” (You don’t, but it helps.)

So let’s talk about what matters the night before the big one—and how your team can show up ready to win it all.

Team Dinner = The Real Secret Weapon

Grab your crew and hit up your go-to group dining spot. This isn’t just about carb-loading (though yes, load the carbs). It’s about getting on the same page before you even touch the ball.

While you're passing around plates, figure out:

Who’s playing where?

What’s the vibe—are we pressing high, parking the bus, or going full chaos?

Who’s in charge of bringing extra water and snacks (aka MVP)?

Oh, and agree on the one rule for tomorrow: nobody ghosting in the group chat.

Show Up Early So You Can Warm Up Together.

Don’t be late for registration, or miss your team photo for that matter. Kick around, stretch, do some rondos or short-sided keep-away. It doesn’t have to be intense, just enough to wake up the legs and dial in the focus.

Plus, when you warm up as a squad, it looks like you know what you’re doing. That counts for something.

Wanna Win It All? Play Smart.

The Governor’s Cup is a full-day tournament. You’ve got multiple games, short halves, and only 7 players at a time. Winning isn’t about being the most talented team—it’s about being the smartest one. Here’s how to play it like a pro:

Rotate Like It’s the World Cup

Sub early, sub often. Keep everyone fresh. Don’t burn your best players out in the first group stage game.

Don’t Lose Shape

Chasing the ball all over the field = death. Stay organized, cover for each other, and make sure someone is always thinking about defense.

Attack At All Costs to Score First, Then Protect the Nest

Early goals are gold. If you get one, settle in and play smart. If you’re down? No panic. These games are short—one good play can flip everything.

Between Games = Recovery Mode

Find shade. Sit down. Eat something. Refill your water. Don’t wander off for a 40-minute burrito run (unless you’re bringing extras).

Championship Energy > Everything

The teams that win? They stay locked in and have fun. They hype each other up. They know when to get serious and when to laugh off a bad pass.

You never know—tomorrow might just be your team’s day.

Cleats & Eats: The Best New Dining Spots Near Footy Fields

Sticking around NYC throughout the summer means you've got your pick when it comes to prime time dining at NYC's top restaurants.

If you're in search of new stops to fill up after game day, here are the most notable restaurant openings as of late and the closest NYC Footy fields nearby.

Maison Passerelle

End a shopping trip at Printemps with a big plate from Gregory Gourdet Photo: Maison Passerelle

Location: One Wall Street, Financial District

Nearest Footy Field: Battery Park

Cuisine: French with global influences

Located inside the new Printemps department store, Chef Gregory Gourdet's restaurant empire expands into NYC with duck breast in tamarind jus and shrimp Creole. Don't forget to check out the bakery here too.

Santo Taco

Nolita’s Santo Taco is a quick cool down walk for SRP players. Photo: Santo Taco

Location: 114 Kenmare Street, Nolita

Nearest Footy Field: Sara Roosevelt Park - Nike Field & Canal Street

Cuisine: Mexican

Open from Wednesday to Sunday, this is your new team spot to huddle up post-game for a tasty taco plate if you're playing at one of our Sara Roosevelt Park pitches.

The Dynamo Room

Chelsea teams have a new team dining spot for big wins Photo: The Dynamo Room

Location: 2 Pennsylvania Plaza

Nearest Footy Field: Chelsea Park

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Is there a better celebratory move than booking a hot new steakhouse for a night of camaraderie with the crew that helped you win it all? Possibly, but we're big fans of the restaurants within Sunday Hospitality, who are behind this ode to the dining days of old NYC that's perfect for large and hungry groups.

The “Just Tell Me Where To Play” List of Summer Leagues

Still struggling to find that perfect situation to show off your skills? Let our “Just Tell Me Where to Play” list of summer leagues do the work for you.

Best New Turf Field Nobody Knows About: Corlears Hook Park

Corlears Hook Park has new turf and no one to break it in - yet!

There's nothing like the sound of breaking in new turf near the LES waterfront. Summer 2025 will be the first season in forever that organized soccer will take place here, so if you're looking for a downtown Manhattan spot that's close to a ferry stop but far enough away from the windy chill of the water, this is our pick.

Best Summer Neighborhood: Red Hook Leagues (Red Hook) (Field 2) & (Field 8)

The sticky toffee date sundae at Pitt’s is our pick for the perfect post-match order.

Things hit differently in Red Hook when summer rolls around. Our Sunday and Wednesday leagues at Red Hook's revamped turf fields are ideal for those in love with a taste for old Brooklyn, but also new Brooklyn by way of Red Hook Tavern for a top 5 NYC burger, pancake souffles at Pitt's, and candle-making classes at Apotheke.

Best for Westchester & UES Residents: The Dwight School (UES/East Harlem)

The Dwight School’s outdoor field is ideal for uptown east siders and Westchester residents.

One of our newest outdoor options, the rooftop at The Dwight School's Athletic Center is our pick if you're coming in from Westchester or want something within walking distance near the six. One of the best quality pitches you can play on, your on-the-field moves will inspire the next generation of NYC soccer talent to better understand the beauty of playing within a coed community.

Best Brooklyn Beginner Vibes: Van Voorhees Playground (Brooklyn Heights)

Van Voorhees Playground is the top option for Brooklyn’s P5 beginners this summer.

Our Sunday night P5 league at Van Voorhees Playground in Brooklyn Heights means you can hang out at Brooklyn Bridge Park during the day (and watch some of our BBP leagues too) before it's time to hit the stage yourself. Warming up with a walk through charming Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights also works well, instead, plus one of the city's top casual group dining spots - Al Badawi - is within walking distance.

Best Uptown Manhattan Beginner Vibes: Frederick Douglass Playground (UWS)

Frederick Douglass’ brunch time Sunday P5 league leaves plenty of time for picnicking.

Skip brunch and start your day at Frederick Douglass' P5 new to soccer league. Afterwards, stop by Banh and order an egg custard iced coffee along with a banh tiêu (a stuffed donut that will hit just right) before making your way over to either Central or Hudson River Park for a picnic with your newly found forever footy friends.

Best Downtown Manhattan Beginner Vibes: Pier 42 (LES)

Talk about a view, Pier 42 is a waterfront pitch that you'd probably write home about, but your IG photo already tells the perfect story. After your afternoon or early evening match, you'll want to make the walk inland through Two Bridges and the Lower East Side, where you'll find great eats in relaxed settings like  Les Enfants de Bohème and Betty, along with drink deals at NYC Footy's bar partners.

Murray Playground: our Queens home this summer for beginner players.

Best Queens Beginner Vibes: Astoria Park (Astoria) (P4/P5) & Murray Playground (LIC) (P5)

What's this? One of NYC's most popular soccer fields is under a bridge? Astoria Park is the ideal summer spot if you're at a P4/P5 skill level. For those completely new to the game, Murray Playground's Sunday P5 leaves plenty of time to learn the basics and also bond with a team trip to MoMA PS1 or Fifth Hammer Brewing.

The Field That Makes Your BFF Move Here in the Fall: Washington Park (Park Slope)

Washington Park in Park Slope - the perfect mix of all things New Yorkers love the most.

We're ready to get roasted here, but we're going with Park Slope's Washington Park as the summer pick we'd put on a NYC Footy postcard. Washington Park's Old Stone House was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ clubhouse at one point, so it's got deep roots in NYC sports history. The soccer field is in the middle of the park so everyone can put on a show just like Shakespeare in the Round. And most importantly, Washington Park feels like that timeless spot people of all ages can find a connection with other folks on the field of play.

NYC Footy’s 2025 Summer Superlatives

This summer, our lineup of indoor and outdoor locations is stacked to satisfy the NYC Footy community’s wide-ranging turf tastes. To help avoid playing registration roulette, here’s a fresh round of summer-inspired superlatives for NYC Footy’s upcoming 2025 summer season.

📷 Most Likely To Take Over Your Instagram Account: Brooklyn Bridge Park

The field to tell your friends about back home (so they can move to NYC immediately)

🏙️ Most Likely to Help You Overcome a Fear of Heights: The German School

Because rooftop soccer is a time honored NYC tradition, we have The German School.

🍽️Most Likely to Make You A Foodie (Because It’s Surrounded by Restaurants): SRP - Canal St.

Sara Roosevelt Park’s location near the East Village, LES, and Nolita is ideal for dining out after.

🫣Best Field Hiding in Plain Sight: Roosevelt Island’s Octagon Field

Roosevelt Island’s Octagon Field is the ultimate in the city limits escape

👟Best Comeback: Corlears Hook Park (Because Brand New Turf!)

Corlears Hook Park is back for Summer 2025 and brought along a new turf pitch to play on too.

NYC Footy’s 3 Biggest Registration Fails (and how to avoid them)

Summer’s private rollover registration period will officially open to NYC Footy’s active spring players with early bird pricing for select leagues on May 1st - with all players being able to sign up starting May 7th

This means you should spend the next few days reviewing NYC Footy's three biggest registration fails and how you can easily avoid them.

Fail #1: You wait to tell NYC Footy's Customer Success Team you registered as an individual but want to play with a certain teammate.

What’s this team photo missing? Probably you if you wait to tell us who you want to play with.

Every season, individual players register as free agents and then request to join a friend who has already been placed on a team roster that sadly doesn't have room for one more. 

The Fix: Sign up with your preferred teammate(s) at the beginning of registration by connecting with your team captain or selecting the "Play with Friends" option to register a small group. If you have any issues creating a small group or indicating who you'd like to play with, please reach out to NYC Footy's Customer Success Team.

For additional support, read our blog post, Joining an NYC Footy League with a Group of Friends.

Fail #2: You don't take advantage of the following equation:

Early Registration Discounts + Early Registration Availability =

Your best chance to land a spot in your favorite league... for less.

This isn't Steiner math for all of our beloved "freaks" in the NYC Footy community but please do holler if ya' hear me on this. Rollover, early bird, and Ladies First promotions comprise our early registration discount periods. We reward teams and players that are ready to act early on so we can ensure leagues hit their full player potential and get this summer soccer show kick-started.

Fail #3: You don't review guidelines, including our skill level compliance.

Signing up for a beginner league when you’re an advanced player has consequences.

We know mistakes happen, but we rely on every player and team to honestly assess their skill level before signing up for one of our leagues. Failure to do so ruins the experience, particularly for new players.  You're going to get caught eventually if you think you can sneak by, so just be honest from the start and rest easy knowing you're doing the right thing.

How to Nail a Throw-In Without Looking Like You’ve Never Played Before

Practicing a unique throw-in tactic might be the key to victory. Here’s how to find your favorite.

Throw-ins. Not flashy. Not fancy. But mess it up, and you’ll either hand the ball back to the other team or—worse—be called for a foul throw and get roasted by both sidelines.

Done right, though? It’s a free reset, a sneaky way to attack, and a flex of your soccer IQ. Let’s break down how to pull off a proper throw-in without committing a felony against the rulebook.

Step One: Choose Your Throw-in Style (Yes, There Are Options)

There’s more than one way to get the ball back in play. Think of these as your throw-in personality types:

Option 1: The Quick Pass

This is your bread and butter. Ball goes out? Scoop it up and get it back in fast. Hit a teammate nearby and keep the flow going. Perfect for catching defenders napping and keeping possession.

Pro tip: always check your surroundings before launching a quick one—you don’t want to throw it straight to someone wearing the wrong jersey.

Option 2: The Long Launch

Got a cannon for an arm? This is your moment. A long throw-in can function like a corner kick, especially near the opponent’s box. However, don’t sacrifice form for power—you need to keep both feet down and throw it over your head.

Think of it as the soccer version of a quarterback bomb. Not every team has someone who can do it, so if you can? Congrats, you’re officially a cheat code.

Option 3: The Tactical Reset

Sometimes it’s better to play it safe and throw it back to your defense. It’s not sexy, but it keeps the ball. And possession > panic. This move’s all about control—especially if you’re stuck deep in your own half and don’t have clear options upfield.

Step Two: Don’t Commit a Foul Throw (Seriously, It’s Not Hard)

Let’s go over the basics of not embarrassing yourself on the sideline:

Both Feet Down

Doesn’t matter if you’re wearing Sambas or studs—both feet need to stay on the ground until the ball’s out of your hands. Toes can be on the line. Heels can be off. But no jumping, hopping, or Michael Jackson lean-backs.

Behind the Head, Over the Top

Hands on the ball, bring it behind your head, and throw it over in one smooth motion. No side-armed slingshots. No one-handed shenanigans. The ref will call you out.

No Twists or Spins

You’re not in a javelin competition. Keep it simple. The moment you start adding flair, you’re one shaky elbow away from turning the ball over.

Step Three: Add a Little Strategy

Once you’ve got the fundamentals down, here’s how to level up:

Move the Defense Around

Fake one direction, throw the other. Ask for movement from your teammates. A stagnant team equals a wasted throw-in. (Yes, this is a group project.)

Scan Before You Throw

Don’t just grab and chuck. Look up. Who’s open? Who’s being tightly marked? A second of composure can lead to way better results.

Use the Sideline to Your Advantage

Throw-ins are the only time the ball starts completely out of play. Use that to get creative—overlapping runs, quick one-twos, back passes to switch fields. You’ve got options. Use them.

Final Whistle: Respect the Throw-In

It may not be the sexiest part of soccer, but throw-ins are where smart players shine. Do it well, and you keep the tempo, flip the field, and frustrate defenders. Do it poorly, and you become a human turnover machine.

So the next time you pick up that ball on the sideline, don’t panic. Breathe. Scan. And throw with confidence.

Your team (and the ref) will thank you.

Want more overlooked soccer skills explained like this? Scroll down our homepage and stop where you see subscribe to our newsletter, where we break down the game in a way that beginners through advanced players alike will understand and appreciate.

Cleats & Eats: 3 Group Dining Spots for Your NYC Footy Squad

Signed up for a Pier 40 league? Port Sa’id is a room full of hits. Photo: Port Sa’id

Every team (especially those newly formed free agent squads) needs an off-field captain to guide the team on what to do once the game ends.

Since the spring dining season has just started, we're sharing three spots your team should seek out within walking distance of an NYC Footy pitch.

Brooklyn

For Cleats: Prospect Park Parade Grounds

For Eats: Jiku

Jiku’s casual Korean pub grub and cozy back patio are ideal for team meals. Photo: Jiku

Taking over the covered backyard patio at this casual Korean wing and pub grub spot is what a team rolling 11 deep must do. Eating Jiku's Corn dogs, rice cakes, and Korean-style wings aren't going to make you a healthier player, but they're easy to share and you're probably not going to care after a round of soju here anyway.

Manhattan

For Cleats: Pier 40 Rooftop & Pier 40 Courtyard

The spread at Port Sa’id is ideal for passing around the table. Photo: Port Sa’id

For Eats: Port Sa'id

Want a spot that curates its starters the same way you put together your pre-game spotify playlist? A vinyl lovers dream that has no shame about declaring its sound system one of a kind for an NYC restaurant, pulling up in this port means you'll be sharing several seasonally driven favorites inspired by Israeli cuisine. Bread salad and lamb shishlik are considered must shares for the table.
 

Queens
For Cleats: Grover Cleveland Playground

For Eats: ECB

ECB’s extensive menu means every team member should be able to find a tasty bite. Photo: ECB

Pizzas, pastas, salads, pork chops, and ribs should give you the sense that ECB is a restaurant where every team member can find something to nosh on. Sure the restaurant's menu reads like a playbook that's a little much to remember it all, but we're confident after a match full of tough decision making a place that makes it easy to unwind is all you need.

Have a place you believe should be featured in our next Cleats & Eats? Email [email protected]

Fuchs Fest Field Guide: What To Know About Warwick, NY

Our first Fuchs Fest tournament in Warwick, NY, is less than a month away, so it's time to outline why one of the latest additions to the NYC Footy tournament lineup is soooo worth the scenic drive from NYC!

Taking place at Hudson Sports Complex, Fuchs Fest is the newest tournament NYC Footy has the pleasure of organizing alongside former English Premier League star and Hudson Sports Complex owner Christian Fuchs, for whom our tournament is named.

We did a quick scout on the road to Warwick to give every player a little taste of what adventures await outside NYC’s gates.

Fuchs Fest is the perfect fit for NYC Footy's tournament lineup, but before you enter this former prison on April 12th and start locking down the opposition with stellar D, here’s five things you should know about the village of Warwick, New York

1. The Warwick Valley features some of NY state’s best breweries, wineries, and distilleries

The scene at Drowned Lands Brewery, just down the road from Fuchs Fest. Photo: Drowned Lands

The Drowned Lands Brewery is just down the road from where you’ll be working up a thirst, which means we’ve alerted them to ensure their lines (tap lines that is) are in order.

We also suggest stopping at Tin Barn Brewing in the town of Chester and Destination Unknown Beer Co. in Warwick too if you plan on turning your post-tournament cool-down routine into a brewery trail. Tin Barn features freshly made pizzas right out of the oven while Destination Unknown Beer Co. has a full kitchen.

If wine or spirits are your preference while listening to some live music, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery offers tastings along with food you’ll want to pair alongside (especially if you’re going for a wine/cider/spirit of choice hat trick.

Tin Barn Brewing’s pizza & brews make it a must visit pitstop before going home. Photo: Tin Barn

2. Warwick’s location lends itself to historical preservation

Baird’s Tavern dates back to 1776 (it’s still open for business btw) Photo: Warwick Historical Society

Warwick’s off-the-beaten-path location means it’s found a way to retain its historical charm. Make it a point to walk around town if you’re planning on turning your Fuchs Fest trip into a weekend getaway. The Warwick Historical Preservation Society has all the information you need to get started on a self-guided tour.

3. Hudson Sports Complex has had many past lives

Formerly the Mid-Orange Correctional Facility, a medium security (or what we’d classify as a P3) prison, the site of Fuchs Fest was once a vocational training school and reformatory for boys. Though the days of locking in inmates have been traded in for locking down strikers with stellar D, Hudson Sports Complex still channels its old self around Halloween, when it becomes The Prison of Horrors haunted house!

Now that you’ve got a lay of the land, it’s time to add April 12th to your calendar and start planning a day trip or weekend getaway. Here’s everything else you’ll want to know:

Fuchs Fest Essentials

Date: April 12, 2025

Time: 11 am - 5 pm; an after-party nearby will follow.

Location: Hudson Sports Complex (Warwick, NY)

The Tournament

Format: 7v7 (including keeper); 2 females minimum per team.

Roster: 11 players per team.

Levels: P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5. All teams and players will be assigned to the division that best matches your skill level.

Duration: Each team will play five 20-minute games. The top two teams from each division advance to divisional playoffs (Semi-final & Final)

The Setting

The Field: New turf field.

The Vibe: Former prison turned soccer pitch tucked away from a small town with mountains in its background. Think Season 3 of The Walking Dead, if they had a state-of-the-art soccer facility inside.

Registration

Period: Regular Registration

Team: $549.99 per team

Small Group: $59.99 per player

Individual: $59.99

To reserve your spot, visit our dedicated Fuchs Fest tournament page.

5 Spring Soccer Leagues You Can Join To Manage Your Love/Hate Relationship With NYC

Living in New York isn't always easy, but the good news is that no matter your mood, NYC Footy has leagues to help ease the burden. So, where should you play when you're feeling a certain kind of way?

Here are the leagues that will put a spark back into your heart when that love letter to NYC you've been writing is lost for words.

1. When the “You’re not from NYC” crowd invade your neighborhood

Prospect Park’s Parade Grounds is the place to head when you need an escape

Join: Sundays P2/P3 11v11 at Prospect Park’s Parade Grounds

It’s not just Santacon and St. Patrick’s Day that attracts unruly visitors to NYC. That’s why if you live in a neighborhood that feels prone to tourist invasions every weekend, finding that spot in NYC where you can breathe easy is key to sticking around the city for the long term. If you really resonate with what we just said, our 11v11 late Sunday afternoon league in Prospect Park is the relief you need. Not only will you be able to make new friends who understand your pain, but you have all of Prospect Park to wander for a pre-game decompression session that other leagues just can’t match.

2. When You Hear Your Favorite Bodega/Restaurant/Bar is Closing

Brooklyn Bridge Park is the home of NYC’s first singles only league.

Join: Brooklyn Bridge Park's 7v7 Singles League (If You're Single)
When you know a place you love is leaving you, it hurts. Ease the pain by signing up for our first Singles League at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The skyline view of Manhattan will help you realize that change doesn't have to impact your big picture, and you'll be joining a league whose primary purpose is to help people discover new places together.

3. When You See "Weekend Service Changes" listed at your station.

Roosevelt Island’s Jack McManus Field: a place our players jump for joy.

Join: Sundays P3/P4 on Roosevelt Island

When the MTA puts a wrinkle in your weekend plans, hop on a bike and head right to Roosevelt Island. Our late afternoon into early evening start time on Sundays means you’ll have plenty of time to take in the sights beforehand and afterward for a post-game drink too.

4. When You Want to Scope Out Life in the Scenic Suburbs

Warwick’s Hudson Sports Complex is hosting NYC Footy’s Fuchs Fest on April 12.

Join: Sundays 7v7 P3 & P4 leagues in Warwick, NY

If you haven't thought about it, you know someone who has. Moving to the suburbs is either the best or worst thing you can do after living in the city, so if you're going to entertain this idea, make sure the town you're considering respects itself enough to have a decent soccer pitch. Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, NY is owned by former Premier League player Christian Fuchs and will host the Fuchs Fest tournament on April 12th in addition to our Sunday leagues.

5. That Moment You Realize It's New York or Nowhere

East River Park’s 6th Street Field is our pick for the place to take it all in.

Join: East River Park's 9v9 on Saturdays

Picking a field to close out your "I love NY" love story doesn't have to be tricky. To be honest, plenty of parks in the NYC Footy portfolio provide the perfect end scene before that cut to the credits

However, if you want the best spot to take it all in, head straight to East 6th Street Field at East River Park. Our Saturday league from 6 pm to 7:30  pm is the perfect time to take in the shift change from day to night, and with NYC's best bridges, along with Brooklyn and Queens in sight, it's the unsung hero of local landing spots that remind you there's no place else you'd rather be living.

The 5 Best Spring Soccer Pitch Value Picks

Want to know what soccer leagues provide the best value if you’re looking to save on registration? The following fields are NYC Footy’s top steals for the spring 2025 season.

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1. Randall's Island (Upper East Side, Manhattan) (11v11)

Randall’s Island hosts our P3 league on Wednesday this spring. Photo: Randall’s Island Park

Regular Team Price: $2000

Play with Friends Price: $200

Regular Individual Price: $200

Why Choose Randall's Island? Sometimes, you need an open field far removed from your typical stomping grounds. If that feels like a move you need to make this spring to get your game on track, Randall's Island is the getaway you're seeking. A good time gathering spot for Dave Matthews fans and Cique du Soleil attendees alike, their dedication to providing playing fields for NYC athletes means your passion for playing the game is welcomed here.

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2. Red Hook Field 8 (Red Hook, Brooklyn) (7v7)

Red Hook’s Field 8 is one of Brooklyn’s top value picks for Spring 2025.

Regular Team Price: $1250

Play with Friends Price: $125

Regular Individual Price: $125

Why Choose Field 8? A new turf pitch in a park that's been getting a significant upgrade as of late? Before Red Hook gets a full Williamsburg-inspired makeover, make it a point to play and stay in this quirky Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood, which tends to rise in popularity as the temperature gets warmer.

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3. Gaelic Park (Kingsbridge, The Bronx) (7v7)

Want to play in a stadium setting with amazing turf? Then swipe right on Gaelic Park.

Regular Team Price: $1550

Play with Friends Price: $155

Regular Individual Price: $155

Why Choose Gaelic Park? Do you care about field quality and playing in an actual stadium? The home of the Manhattan Jaspers, Gaelic Park is a precious pitch that's located a few steps from the north end of the 1 line. There's also several parking lots nearby, so if you need a pitch with quick access in and out of the city (and avoids congestion pricing too), this new turf-filled castle in Kingsbridge awaits.

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4. Riverbank State Park (West Harlem/Hamilton Heights, Manhattan) (7v7)

The top quality turf and bright lights at Riverbank State Park are back for Spring 2025!

Regular Team Price: $1650.00

Play With Friends Price: $165

Individual Early Bird Price: $165

Why Choose Riverbank State Park? We've covered How to Have the Best Time at Riverbank State Park, and if you need a new reason to pick this uptown pitch, we haven't really talked about how fantastic their parking lot and proximity to the 1 train is. So there's that (and also Sugar Hill Creamery's spring menu will be coming out soon).

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5. Reinaldo Salgado Playground (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn) (7v7; 7v7 50/50)

Looking for a neighborhood pitch? Reinaldo Salgado Playground has two 7v7 leagues this spring.

Regular Team Price: $1650.00

Play With Friends Price: $165

Regular Individual Price: $165

Why Choose Reinaldo Salgado Playground? Playing in a neighborhood park surrounded by charming homes is the heart of NYC's soccer scene. We love the central Brooklyn location Reinaldo Salgado Playground provides our players, plus being steps away from cool spots like Marian's and Turtles All the Way Down doesn't hurt either.

Turtles All the Way Down is a bar that really lives up to its name.

NYC Footy Singles League Are Here

We know NYC Footy has a reputation for being full of players that play games, but our community has plenty of keepers and only some of them can be found hanging around the goal.

That's why if you're tired of the traditional NYC Dating scene and ready for a right winger to put a ring on your finger, our new singles-only leagues are the long-term commitment you've been looking for this spring.

Available to single members of the Footy community, our first-ever singles-only leagues this spring will take place at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 5 on Saturday nights from 7 pm to 9 pm, as well as the Lower East Side's Baruch Playground on Sundays from 9 am to 11 am.

Featuring a 7v7 format (including the goalkeeper) along with a three-male maximum on the pitch at all times as all single leagues honor our 50/50 league rules on representation, players will have the chance to score meaningful conversations with one another over an eight-game season, with the top teams moving on to the playoffs. Players across all skill levels (both relationships and soccer) are invited to apply.

 Singles-Only Leagues (Open Now)

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 hosts one of our first ever singles-only leagues this spring

Brooklyn Bridge Park: The best place to find your better half this spring.

Legend:

Blue = Indoor                                            🤝 = Partner League
Green =  Outdoor                                     ⏰ = Anticipated League
                                                                 🦸‍♀️= Flip Female Majority Leagues
👩‍🎤 = Female Player Spots Only                ⚖️= 50/50 League Format
👫 = Free Agents Spots Only                    💼 = Company Leagues
👩‍✈️ = Team Captains Only                         ❤️ = Singles League
⌛️ = Limited Spots                                    🧛 = Vampire Leagues

BROOKLYN
❤️Brooklyn Heights (Brooklyn Bridge Park)
Saturdays | 7v7 | All Skills (50/50 Singles League)

MANHATTAN
❤️Lower East Side (Baruch Playground)
Sundays I 7v7 I All Skills (50/50 Singles League)

Our new singles-only leagues are here to help you score in your relationship goals.

And since no one wants to flub their first touch, we're spreading the love with a sneak peek at what a weekly single league practice session might look like if you line your shot up right.

A Guide to NYC Footy’s Rollover Registration: What Is It, When Does It Happens, and Why Players Should Use It Right Away

When you’re part of the NYC Footy community, you’ll notice several words, terms, and phrases that pop up repeatedly throughout the year. Though our off-the-pitch lingo is well known to many longstanding players, we know there’s a benefit to running through NYC Footy’s focal vocabulary to best inform future decisions for our newest members.

Today, we’re focusing on an important term that appears throughout the year, typically as we prepare players for the start of each season’s official league registration period:

ROLLOVER!

We believe an FAQ format is the easiest way to share Footy terminology, so we’re breaking down what Rollover refers to, who Rollover impacts, and why it’s important for every player to consider for future registration periods.

When you hear NYC Footy is rolling it back in The Bronx

What does the term “rollover” mean here at NYC Footy?

When we reference “rollover,” we’re talking about an exclusive window of time during every seasonal registration period that only currently active teams are offered. The rollover period exists so that active teams who wish to play in the same location, at the same time in the season that immediately follows the one they’re playing in now can access early bird registration ahead of our general registration period. The rollover period can also include additional incentives for a team to register during its time frame.

How do I know if I’m rollover eligible?

We selected the word “rollover” for this program because we believe it’s the most accurate way to describe what is taking place. Only teams that are currently playing in a league this season are rollover eligible, and have two options to choose from when looking ahead to the next season’s registration period:

• Option #1 (Not Rollover): An existing team can join a new league to play in a different location or on a different day of the week. This is not eligible for a rollover code, but teams/players will receive private early bird access to register.

• Option #2 (Rollover): An existing team - including first-time free-agent teams that want to play together again - can stay put by rolling right over into an upcoming league taking place on the same day of the week and in the same location as they are currently playing in. If the league a team is currently playing in is not available the following season, teams will be provided alternative rollover designated leagues they’ll be able to join.

Brooklyn Bridge Park: a fixture that’s a beauty to play on no matter the time of day.

Does taking part in the Rollover program guarantee my team a spot?

Rollover is designed to provide active teams early registration access to only the league they’re currently playing in (or an alternative rollover-eligible league if that current league isn’t offered the following season) prior to general registration opening for everyone.

Rollover does not automatically guarantee or reserve a team spot for you. Teams that wish to take advantage of their rollover status must still register in a timely fashion, particularly if they’re interested in remaining in one of our high-demand leagues.

My team is eligible and interested, and we’re wondering when we’ll receive access so we can be ready to sign up as soon as rollover registration begins?

For this season, we are providing teams a rollover specific password via email 24-48 hours before opening rollover registration As many teams do tend to sign up immediately, we suggest being ready to go right at the start.

My team might want to weigh our options first before committing. How long do we have until Rollover before it ends

The sport we play is fast paced and so too are our redemption periods. Eligible teams can secure their spot for one week prior to the official community registration launch.

Options are heading straight at you. Rollover is here to make life easy

How much can I save on registration fees if I sign up during Rollover?

Since rollover access has traditionally been accompanied by a 10% discount and also launches alongside early bird pricing, where select (but not all) leagues offer anywhere from 10%-20% off the standard registration fees, you’re looking at a range of savings up to 30% depending on the league and location.

Well, now that I know all this, signing up during the rollover period sounds like a great option for my team. But are there better deals to be had later on?

Rollover is going to be by far the best deal offered all season. It means you’ll have the largest range of options available to you at a significantly discounted rate.

It’s true that we offer some sweet deals later on, those are usually reserved for just last minute individual needs (1-3 player spots) at a small handful of leagues (usually our lower demand options based on location or time of day - that’s why they still have space).

We’re all about rewarding consistency here, and while there’s definitely a case to be made about switching things up from season to season, just know if you want to stay in the same place, our rollover period is our way of saying thank you for coming right back.

2025’s State of the Flock

Hi Footy Friend,

Welcome to the "what the hell goes on behind the scenes at Footy" email, which gives you a look into the journey that makes this league available to you.

The last "State of the Flock" update was in January 2023, reflecting on our most intense year yet and the challenges we overcame (including fighting for our survival). If you're feeling nostalgic, you can read that email here and if you want to read this one later, you can find it on our blog as well, here.

Now, two years later, I’m again writing from our annual station in Brazil. This trip, intended to be a joyful visit with family as always, has been clouded by my father-in-law’s failed surgery, resulting in a precipitous health decline and an extended stay in the ICU (where he currently remains). A situation where regaining his ability to even talk (let alone walk), will be cause for monumental celebration.

I won't carry on too much about the perspective that events like these bring to us. But I will deeply acknowledge how it helps us appreciate our health and the health of those we love, how quickly it changes priorities and how suddenly we find emotional strength we didn't know we had or time we didn't know was available. 

When I started NYC Footy, I had just turned 29. I'm now turning 43. It's wild how such a small span can find oneself amazed, daily, at the vibrancy and growth of youth (children) juxtaposed against the merciless aging of our parents. It all happened (and continues to happen) so unrelentingly fast.

I promise that the melancholic tone of this email stops right here. Before we get started, however, I want to share with you two quotes that reign true to me in my life and perhaps yours as well (and yes, my soccer loyalties are clear #YNWA):

• “Football is the most important of the least important things” - Jurgen Klopp (also attributed to, you guessed it, Pope John Paul II. I once went to a mass with PJPII, so I consider it fate.)

• "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." Bill Shankly

Now, let’s talk about what we achieved in 2024 and our big goals for 2025. Spoiler: you’re a crucial part of this journey (more crucial than you might expect - read till the end).

How It Started (In NYC, Year 2011). I (#10) was squeezing all the juice I could out of this great city. Now I live in the Jersey suburbs (#saynomore). 

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The NYC Footy Community: Who Are We?

NYC Footy is the largest adult soccer league in the nation. That fact continues to blows our minds and many of our friends' minds—especially our British friends who almost can't handle the added reality that every single team is also mixed-gender.

In 2024, we welcomed more than 10,000 new players, bringing us to nearly 50,000 humans (and a few dogs, cats, and pigeons).

Here’s a quick breakdown of our players:

• Team Captains: The community builders who make it all happen. Captains, we're working on a rewards program just for you.

• Free Agents: New Yorkers looking to join a team solo or with a small group of friends. This is how my journey in rec soccer began almost 20 years ago.

• Team Players: The ones who show up when their captain tells them (and hopefully pay on time. I'm looking at you, Juan 👀). They're also least likely to read this newsletter...

In 2025, we'll be working hard to make sure this newsletter (and all comms) engages everyone, even the Juans. (Juan, if you're seeing this. I love you like a son.)

Due to budget cuts on champagne, we decided to have all 3 division champs celebrate together at the 2024 Cup of Dreams.

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What Was New and Improved in 2024?

THE TEAM

2024 was the year our team grew to a point where, for the most part, folks are falling into a more predictable work schedule and recovering distant memories of weekends free of labor. We grew our full time, part-time and contractor staff to over 100.

• Customer Success: Now a team of three, we’re handling inquiries 7 days a week and improving wait times on a daily basis. Fede & Zee will now have more time to focus on player happiness & retention.

• League Operations: With Meghan and Amanda joining the "heart" of our organization, our leagues are more organized than ever, improving our ability to grow more seamlessly.

• Field Operations: Gabe stepped into a full-time role to join Pat and keep the warehouse organized and logistics running smoothly alongside our part-time crew.

• Events & Sponsorships: Fabricio joined to lead tournaments and partnerships, helping us offer more non-league programs while invitin creative additions through new brand partnerships.

• Referees: With leadership from Gianluca & Andrew, we increased our referee head count to over 100, with a core group of 80 active seasonal referees (yes, 80), 25% of whom came through our internal training and development program (if interested in joining, apply here for your chance to win the coveted NYC Footy Golden Whistle Award).

• Market Expansion: We hired Alex, a former long time NYC Footy captain to lead our first out-of-state market.

• Other: We added a slew of part-timer support and contractors (including moms of two team members (myself included)) to help us scale our efforts across all departments.

PROGRAMS

We take great pride in constantly injecting newness into the operation. This is why every year you'll see new programs, formats and events designed to bring the community together in unique ways.

New from 2024:

• The Cup of Dreams: Our first indoor tournament is held at the nation's 2nd largest mall and neighbor to the World Cup Final's MetLife Stadium: American Dream. This new annual tournament was a massive hit and a personal highlight (or not) for me.

• Footy for Singles: The interest broke our email open record as we launched our first event designed to help footy lovers find...love—stay tuned for Valentine’s Day 2025.

• Year-Round Indoor: Expanded indoor leagues to all four seasons.

• New Fields: We launched our first league in The Bronx and grew our locations to over 70 in NYC.

• MIA Footy: We flocked south for the winter, launching our first leagues in Miami, setting the stage for Footy Fest: Miami in March.

TECHNOLOGY

• NYC Footy App: Designed to level up the player experience, captains can now leave feedback on referees and opponents and players can more readily see their schedule, standings and new leagues.

• Website: Upgraded interactive field map, added an official events page, and improved overall responsiveness. Continued makeovers planned in 2025 Q1.

• Footy HQ: Our community forum for recruiting players and teammates has now grown to over 4,000 members.

CONTENT & SPONSORS

• Social Media: Our instagram following hit 50K with engaging rec soccer memes (like this) and full-scale productions (like this).

• Sponsors: Highlights include partnerships with Paloma (see my favorite video of the year), JD Sports, Waterloo Sparkling Water, Brooklyn FC, Mack Weldon, MVPs, Pocket Coffee (what's that), Manhattan FC (support free youth soccer programming), and the return of El Buho Mezcal (and our Pigeon Punch).

I promise this referee doesn't need glasses...Footy Refs receive ongoing training and support (and player respect)

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The Challenges

Fortunately, 2024 didn't deliver the type of existential crisis we faced in 2022. And I'm proud to say that we have made enormous improvements in key categories: referee no shows (only 3 across over 10,000 games in 2024), customer service delays (we currently reduced our longest wait to under 24 hours) and we've heavily reduced league disruptions (e.g. equipment failures, field changes, etc.).

However, as the dust continues to settle, our more challenging, stubborn difficulties remain at the forefront (to be heavily prioritized this year):

• Female Player Recruitment: Balancing mixed-gender teams remains our biggest challenge, particularly with free agent teams. 

• Advanced Player Recruitment: As our beginner and intermediate communities have soared in recent years, we've seen significantly slower growth on the advanced player front, limiting the number of P1 leagues we offer.

• Protecting the Beginner Experience: Our end of year survey surfaced one clear reality for Beginner players: there are too many experienced players joining P5 leagues. With an overhauled skill-level auditing process, this will come to a stop in 2025. Learn more about skill-compliance.

• Permit Issues: Seasonal permits where soccer receives lowest priority during peak seasons, makes it difficult to maintain consistent locations year round and hinders our ability to meet demand and build sustainable micro communities. 

  • Our biggest challenges remain Harlem, Sunset Park, Williamsburg and Midtown.

• Limited Sports Lighting: The most practical solution for solving availability issues, particularly since soccer gets priority in fall & winter, when the sun sets before most Footy folks finish work.

• Communication Overload: Keeping our growing community informed without overwhelming them is a constant struggle.

Our promise to you is that we accept the challenge and promise to commit every ounce of energy to make strides improving the player experience. 

2025 is gearing up to see a meaningful increase in women ballers of all skill levels joining the Footy community.

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2025: What To Expect

COSTS & PRICING

Let's start with the less than ideal news. Starting this spring, the NYC Parks Department is more than doubling permit fees. Yes, a 100%+ increase.

While this will impact league prices, we remain committed to affordability. In fact, our average team price in 2024 is still lower than it was nearly 15 years ago, when we first started. To uphold this commitment, we are taking the following measures:

• Added discounts for registering early. Early registration helps us close out leagues sooner and focus our energy on adding new leagues and filling less convenient locations. Win-Win.

• Reducing the price for numerous leagues in our Tier 3 pricing category (learn about our pricing here). Look for incredible deals in Sunset Park, Harlem, The Bronx, Ridgewood and more.

• Confining most price increases or discount removals to our highest demand locations. So if you're willing to commute or play later at night, our Tier 2 and Tier 3 leagues will offer an opportunity to have a high quality soccer experience at a lower price.

• Expanding our referral program and generously rewarding referrals with no-cap credits. If you're a solid networker, you may just find yourself playing for free. Keep your eyes peeled for Referral Week, where credit awards are doubled.

ACCESSIBILITY

This remains our north star. Make soccer happen everywhere, for everyone. For 2025, we'll be focusing on:

• Increase recruitment efforts for female players. We're working to push up our current percentage of female players (1/3 of our community), helping us better balance teams and launch more female-majority programs. 

• Increase recruitment efforts for advanced players. Ain't nothing like watching two high-level mixed-gender teams duke it out in a P1 Championship game. We're pushing to make more of those happen in 2025.

• Keeping a closer watch on our beginner leagues, ensuring those new to soccer are having the best time ever. Plus, through our partnership with BetterPlayer, offering beginner players discounted access to skill development.

• Expand into more neighborhoods and creating affordable leagues in less dense areas. While such expansion (now 70+ locations) has made many of us a bit lazy (why commute when there's a league close to home?), the good news is some Tier 1 fields have become Tier 3 leagues as a result, creating affordable options in once popular locations. 

• Partner with companies to sponsor teams for our corporate leagues, reducing costs for players. 

• Fight for lights: Our efforts single-handedly helped secure $500,000 for lights at a field in midtown (loading...) and a more amenable Parks Department to exploring new, innovative options. We'll continue to lead on this front.

POLICIES

• Introduce upfront promotional discounts to replace last-minute deals. Visit our promotion & discount page for more details. 

• Reward captains and enhance loyalty rewards with exclusive perks and discount windows.

• Clarify weather protocols to reduce confusion, particularly when games are actually canceled (a rarity with Footy's "Game On" culture). See weather protocol for more details.

• Ensure player confidence when registering for "Anticipated" Leagues: Anticipated leagues (⏰) are at locations with unconfirmed permit dates and times, which may change or be revoked entirely. This includes midtown east fields, Pier 40, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. We're making updates to keep players better informed of their options, if a permit doesn't land as anticipated. 

NEWNESS & INNOVATION

• Launch new tournaments, starting with Footy Fest Miami in March and The Fuchs Fest in partnership with EPL winner Christian Fuchs this April in the Hudson Valley. Both tournaments are already approaching 100 participants!

• Launch new locations: With Miami off to a faster start than NYC, we're beginning the planning stages of two additional markets in 2025. 

• Experiment with wildly creative formats: think penalty kicks with two balls, allowing hands for power plays, etc.—share your ideas here!

• Continue expanding our technology footprint to get key information to players faster and give our community greater voice. Be sure to download the NYC Footy app to enjoy these upgrades.

• Upgrade the user experience online: We'll keep improving the way you discover and register for leagues. In fact, this spring you'll immediately benefit by user experience upgrades in the registration process.

The NYC Footy app has a few tricks up its sleeve.

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My co-founder Gerardo Cueva and I (I'm on the right) at Footy Fest 2024.

Whether you've been a player, referee, partner, or supporter since our early days or this is your first newsletter (they aren't always this long btw) thank you for being part of this journey.

Questions, feedback, or personal tales of triumph, defeat, and getting back on your feet you want to share with NYC Footy? Send them our way at:

 [email protected]

I'm grateful that you've chosen NYC Footy to be the place to share your passion for the pitch.
Bye for now.

-Tarek and the Footy Fam

P.S. This remains my favorite footy email of all time. Oh, and this year let's get back to the insanely creative team photos (like the one below).

Why Season 2 of Squid Game is Must-See TV for Every Soccer Team

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been glued to your screen watching season two of Squid Game. While the show is packed with life-or-death drama, it’s also full of lessons that apply directly to the soccer pitch. From building team chemistry to overcoming odd line formations, here’s what every NYC Footy player can take away from this fictional series.

Season two of Squid Game is the educational tactic new soccer players have been waiting for.

1. Building Team Chemistry

In Squid Game, trust is everything— it’s the literal difference between making it to the next round or, well, not. Whether it’s forming alliances or believing your teammates have the best intentions, players must trust one another if they hope to survive. Sure there can be only one winner, but the most powerful moments we’ve seen in Squid Game involve playing as a team.

For NYC Footy and MIA Footy players, team chemistry is clutch, especially since many of our teams are composed of free agents who have NEVER played together before until they put on a Paloma jersey. Building that authentic team connection with your squad means:

Communication: Call out plays, give heads-ups, and encourage each other.

Whether you’re a mom or a momma’s boy, every player offers a unique skill set.

Understanding Strengths: Know who’s got the speed, who’s got the finesse, and who’s got the banger shot from midfield.

Trusting Each Other: Trust is the first step to creating a path to victory. Pass the ball, cover for your teammate, and believe they’ll have your back.

2. Mastering the Best Soccer Formations

Formations in soccer are a lot like strategies in Squid Game: choose the right one, and you’ve got a fighting chance. In season 2, some players succeed by sticking to a plan, while others get knocked out by failing to stay composed. Soccer squads can take note by mastering formations like these:

4-4-2 (Balanced): Solid and simple, this setup gives you a strong defense and an organized attack.

3-5-2 (Aggressive): Want to dominate the midfield? This formation is your go-to, perfect for keeping possession.

4-3-3 (Offensive): When you need goals, this attacking lineup can stretch your opponents thin.

Whatever formation you choose (but maybe not the 5-0-0 used during Squid Game’s six-legged pentathlon, make sure your team’s on the same page. Everyone needs to know their role—just like those epic Squid Game challenges where one weak link could ruin everything.

Like Seong Ji-Hun, just act like you’ve been there before when the pressure starts to mount.

3. How to Play Well Under Pressure

If there’s one thing Squid Game teaches us, it’s how to handle pressure. Anyone else start shouting at the TV during the six-legged race? Those players who kept their cool had a way better shot at survival. Soccer is full of high-pressure moments —penalty kicks, last-minute goals, and literally every single corner kick ever taken. Here’s how to handle the heat:

Focus on the Basics: When the stakes are high, stick to what you know. A clean pass or a solid tackle goes a long way.

Stay Positive: Even if you’re down a goal, keep that energy up. Negativity spreads faster than a counterattack.

Practice High-Stakes Scenarios: Recreate intense moments in practice so they feel second nature during a game.

The Final Whistle

Watching season 2 of Squid Game s a rollercoaster, but it’s also a crash course in strategy, teamwork, and handling pressure. For soccer players across all skill levels, the lessons are clear: build trust, stick to your game plan, and stay calm when it counts. Now go crush it on the pitch—and maybe sprint to the goal like it’s red light-green light if the opportunity to get that ball across the line comes up.