NYC Footy's Spring Survival Guide: The One Stop Shop for Winning On & Off The Field
The arrival of spring brings with it planet Earth’s annual reminder that growth - both on and off the field - cannot be stopped. So whether you used this past winter to play in NYC Footy’s Indoor Leagues, enhanced your touch technique with BetterPlayer, or spent time taking care of nagging injuries, the launch of NYC Footy’s spring season on March 17th is your chance to celebrate the arrival of the new you.
But much like jumping into an empty subway car at rush hour only to realize after the doors close you’ve made a horrible choice, you need to see the full picture of what you’re dealing with ahead of time before making a fateful mistake that ruins the entire ride. So whether you're a seasoned footballer or a newcomer to the NYC Footy community, we know providing support in all forms goes a long way in making sure your season doesn’t stink.
That’s why we’ve put together our very own spring survival guide below to help you navigate everything our community has to offer. From choosing a league and field that’s right for you to the type of experiences we want all players to walk away with pre and post game, our spring survival guide is designed to help you focus on one thing: the joy of playing the beautiful game. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Surviving & Thriving NYC Footy’s Spring Season
Our VIBE: Creative, Competitive, And Completely Original
NYC Footy is more than just a recreational co-ed soccer league—it's a community of passionate players dedicated to promoting the joy of the game. Founded with the mission of making soccer accessible to everyone, NYC Footy offers a variety of options for players who want to achieve different results when playing recreational soccer.
The principles that guide us are grounded in kindness and inclusivity. We call it in respectfully when someone crosses the line and prioritize our community values above all else. We have captured these core beliefs in our official Ted Lasso Code of Conduct, which we ask all players to review and abide by when participating in any Footy organized activity.
Note: our code of conduct also works great for real life Non-Footy situations too!)
Riverbank State Park in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan is one of the many fields we offer here at NYC Footy
Our Fields: Find A Pitch That Matches Your Personality
NYC Footy organizes indoor and outdoor games in public and private parks located across New York City. We have captured these locations using an interactive map as well as individual location pages categorized by neighborhood. If you’re more of a list type of person, we’ve captured all of current spring league locations below, most of which you can still register for as of today:
League Formats: Finding the Best Fit
Ready to step on the pitch, but not sure which level is right for you? Here’s our roster of league formats which can help you find the best situation and have way too much fun whether you win or lose.
Flip: Footy exists to crush traditional soccer constraints, and our Flip league is the place to be if you’re looking to be part of a team where the majority of players identify as female.
P1: Advanced. Former professional, NCAA player, or just love endless cardio? This is likely your best option to continue reliving your glory days of competition as its our most advanced level.
P2: Intermediate/Advanced. Select P2 if your love language is challenging yourself on the field of play. Choose this level if you’re looking for competitive play and enjoy being surrounded by a mix of players who are at or above your skill level.
P3: Intermediate Leagues. Former high school star that hasn’t played in awhile but are ready to strap up the old shin guards and find out where you’re at right now? P3 is the perfect middle of the road option.
P4: Intermediate/Beginner: Select P4 if you love learning and want to enhance your solid dribbling and passing techniques by leveling up.
P5: Beginner. If you know you’re in love with soccer but not exactly familiar with its rules of engagement, this is the best way to get indoctrinated. Ideal for beginners, you are joining for the joy of getting to know the NYC soccer community
Spring Tournament: The Governors Cup
Our flagship spring tournament is The Governors Cup which takes place on Governors Island June 1 - June 2 this year. It’s so popular that it already sold out prior to our team publishing this guide, but we’ve got a waitlist going which you should absolutely sign up for as previously registered teams have been known to drop out beforehand.
Reminders for First Time (And returning) Players
To make the most of your NYC Footy experience this spring, here’s a quick r
Stay Active: Keep an eye on NYC Footy's website and social media channels for updates on upcoming games, leagues, and events.
Pack the Essentials: Bring water, sunscreen, your Footy jersey, and the right footwear as each location
Respect the Game: Embrace the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship both on and off the field. Treat your fellow players, referees, and opponents with respect and courtesy at all times.
Have Fun: Above all, remember that soccer is a game meant to be enjoyed. Whether you win, lose, or draw, cherish the opportunity to play the sport you love with like-minded individuals.
Dress the part: Did you know Footy offers custom kits for teams now? Email info@nycfooty.com
Getting Started
Ready to kick off your spring season with NYC Footy? Visit the NYC Footy website to join a current league or sign up for invites to upcoming events (Premier League matches anyone?) . Want to see Footy players in action? Follow NYC Footy for exclusive video and photo content, merch drops, and more!
Winter's Secret Weapon: Futsal and its Knack for Creating Better Players.
Winter footy offers something unique.
One primary reason for this is quite simple: indoor hardcourt footy, AKA futsal.
Futsal is the most action packed and dynamic game of soccer imaginable and there are some marked advantages to playing.
For beginners, it means becoming a much more comfortable and confident soccer player. For experienced players, it strengthens your touch, your movement and your communication.
The game is tighter so you need to pass the ball quickly and move off-the-ball constantly. This translates to way more touches and way more movement. Everyone is closer together, including the person defending you, so two touches (trap the ball, then pass the ball) becomes less of a suggestion and more of a necessary habit.
The added bonus? It's the best workout in soccer you can get. And right smack in holiday weight-gain season, amirite?
We guarantee, regardless of your level, if you join an indoor hardcourt league, you'll enter spring as a better individual player and, your team will move up in the rankings.
Without further ado, check our Footy’s Hard courts.
Footy's Hard Courts: Manhattan, Downtown
University Settlement - Bowery
Located in Manhattan’s East Vilalge/LES Neighborhood. This beautiful court can accommodate one large format game our two smaller format games.
Avenue of the World School - Chelsea
Avenue of the World School’s gym is as beautiful as it looks in the photos. Located conveniently in the Chelsea district of Manhattan’s West Side, this gym is perfect for traditional futsal.
The Aula - Lower East Side
Located as part of St. Patrick’s, this historical gym is perhaps the most convenient location for a little post-footy brunch on weekends or after Footy drinks on weeknights,.
Nord Anglia International School - Lower East Side
New in the Footy ranks is this small, fast-paced gym on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Leman Preparatory School - Tribeca
Perhaps ranking as the most perfect gym for futsal, Leman’s gym is the most convenient Manhattan gym location in the Footy Portfolio. Nestled along most major train lines in Tribeca.
Footy's Hard Courts: Manhattan, Uptown
John Jay College - Midtown West
John Jay gym opened it’s doors to Footy Players in the 2023 winter season, and quickly became a fan favorite. Located near Columbus Circle, it’s accessible by train or bus and perfect for folks living on the west side of Manhattan.
Brearley School - Upper East Side
When we first laid our eyes on this gym, we couldn’t believe how enormous and beautiful it is. The size of this gym allows 4 full NYC Footy teams to take the court at the same time, increasing those footy vibes and inviting larger amounts of players to enjoy on the court and off the court festivities in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Julia Richman Educational Complex - Upper East Side
Home to many a Manhattan indoor soccer player over the years, Julia Richman’s gym is also conveniently located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and is the perfect size for a 5-a-side game of futsal.
The Town - Upper East Side
Joining NYC Footy’s Upper East Side portfolio of gyms is the The Town, home to one of our more intimate futsal formats: fast futsal.
Stephen Gaynor School - Upper West Side
Upper West Side gyms can be few an far between. But we got lucky with Stephen Gaynor’s colorful court, nestled high on the upper West Side on west 90th street. This is also home to an indoor turf field, which you can find here.
Footy's Hard Courts: Brooklyn
The Post - Bushwick
An expansion of the wildly successful Post in Williamsburg, this new location in Bushwick gives Footy players an opportunity to play indoor futsal any day of the week.
The Post - Williamsburg
NYC Footy’s Williamsburg Futsal HQ, The Post is littered with full size basketball courts, often taken completely over by futsal. You can find us playing here on weeknights and the weekend.
That’s all for now. Check back regularly to see if we’ve added new, wonderful indoor courts to the NYC Footy portfolio.
Cheers!