Editor’s note: We had previously covered several events hosted by JOGA NYC, with the purpose of building community and bringing kids together to play local sports that they may not normally have access to. JOGA NYC provides sports training sessions that would normally shut out the kids they serve due to their high cost. Instead, these youth can have access due to charities such as JOGA NYC and others, including the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, where young people are invited to compete in tennis matches, and some are even signed to play collegiate tennis after participating, thus increasing access to and popularity of tennis, an often misunderstood and very expensive to play sport. Soccer is also expensive, with uniforms, balls, nets, and other equipment that is necessary for both practice and championship game playing.
There is a real Harlem and citywide connection [with the soccer games and practice that JOGA provides]. A lot of the players who come through JOGA stem from all five boroughs, especially Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. They are not just showing up to play and leave.
They are building a real soccer community across neighborhood lines: kids from different backgrounds becoming friends, arriving early together, staying after sessions, and pushing each other in a serious but welcoming environment.
Saturday, August 29, JOGA also helped supply equipment to an event in the Bronx connected with Senator Gustavo Rivera’s office.
The bigger story is access. JOGA gives players the chance to play for free, be seen for free, and connect with real coaches for free. Sessions like this would usually cost players $20-$40. We charge nothing.
We have had club coaches, scouts, directors, and college coaches in attendance. Coach Max Watson, head men’s soccer coach at the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx, has shown up to almost every session, spoken directly with players, and helped create real opportunity pathways. We also send players into preseason environments and have been contacted by major clubs about hosting tryout-style events to help identify unfound NYC talent.
The standard matters. Players are using professional balls, being photographed by professional photographers, and getting treated like the game they love deserves a professional environment.
This is not just another pickup game. It is a free citywide soccer pathway for young players who may not otherwise get seen.
Useful links:
JOGA NYC: https://joganyc.com
About JOGA: https://joganyc.com/about
NYC soccer guide/map: https://joganyc.com/map
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joganyc_
Senator Gustavo Rivera: https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/gustavo-rivera
JOGA NYC summer youth soccer program. Image Credit – JOGA NYC
Banner Image: JOGA NYC summer youth soccer program. Image Credit – JOGA NYC
JOGA NYC
JOGA NYC is a grassroots soccer initiative founded by Davide Clarkson to make soccer opportunities more accessible, organized, and connected across New York City. What started as free community sessions has grown into a broader platform for players, families, coaches, clubs, community organizations, and local partners. JOGA hosts free soccer sessions and community events, organizes competitive games, supports players with equipment and giveaways, connects players with clubs and coaches, and provides guidance for families trying to understand the NYC soccer landscape. The mission is simple: remove barriers, bring players together, and create real opportunities for young people through the game.