Last week, the Long Island Rough Riders held an orientation session for the parents of the Under-8 through Under-13 teams. With a mix of parents new to the program and those that have been involved for years, the orientation night was a way for the Rough Riders to explain their goals of the Junior Rough Riders program and to introduce their Passport-to-Play program, which will begin in the spring of 2010.

During the orientation, members of the administrative side of the Junior Rough Riders spoke to the parents about the program itself, their own personal experiences, and what to look forward to as members of each team. Director of Coaching John Diffley, Technical Director Shaun Higgins, President Peter Zaratin, Camp Director Bill Hender, and General Manager Flavio Ferri were the featured speakers on behalf of the Rough Riders.

"The Junior Rough Riders are looking forward to an exciting year with an outstanding group of players, coaches, and staff.," said Rough Riders Director of Coaching John Diffley.

The newest addition to the Junior Rough Riders program, Passport-to-Play, was introduced to those in attendance. Passport-to-Play is a series of soccer trips designed specifically for each age group in the Junior Rough Riders program. Starting at the age of 9-years old Junior Rough Riders teams will combine the experiences of traveling and playing against the best soccer clubs both domestically and internationally.

For more information on the Junior Rough Rider program, please visit www.liroughriders.com or call (516) 622-3900.