Norwalk Junior Soccer Kicks Off Fall Season

NORWALK, Conn. — Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, the Norwalk Junior Soccer Association (NJSA) recently kicked off its fall season.

This fall, over 600 players are expected to play for NJSA, which offers age-based squads for kids as young as two years old (via the Little Kickers program), a recreation league for children in prekindergarten through grade 8, and travel teams. 

“We have two sides: we have recreation, and we have travel,” said NJSA President Bob Fosina. “For travel, we will have about 125 players; on the recreation side, we will have 500.”

The rec program has eight-week sessions in the fall and spring and a seven-week session in the winter. Travel teams, meanwhile, require a year-long commitment. 

Though some NJSA teams have already begun their fall seasons, Fosina said it’s not too late to register for any kid who is interested.

“We are about getting kids to play; if, all of a sudden, four or five kids want to play, we will figure out a way to put a team together to get them that experience. We don’t want to turn anyone away,” he said.

While rec teams don’t make cuts, travel teams are more selective—though Fosina stressed “it’s not really a cut—it’s just a matter of whether they get an invite to play.”

He also pointed out that NJSA is a great value when compared to more expensive competitors. 

“What I like to say is we provide premier-level training at travel prices, which most often is half or less than half of the competition,” he said.

NJSA also refuses to let a family’s inability to pay get in the way of a kid’s ability to play. 

“If there are underprivileged kids who can’t play because of financials, we give financial assistance,” explained Fosina. 

“There have also been instances where a parent died early unfortunately due to an illness or car or motorcycle accident,” impacting the family’s ability to pay for their child to play for the NJSA, he explained.

“Guess what? That kid is playing; he is not going to have his life disrupted any further because he can’t afford to play … we will take care of him—that’s the way we roll,” he said.

Asked what he thinks has helped the NJSA endure for half a century, Fosina responded, “Simply trying to do the right thing for the kids—it’s just that simple. You make it inviting, you make it fun, and you make it collaborative.”

Playing soccer has also led to countless kids making lifelong friends over the years.

“It’s not about learning how to strike a soccer ball at two years old; it’s about learning how to socialize … and create lifelong relationships,” he explained. 

“For example, I recently went to the wedding of a girl I coached when she was 6 years old and for a bunch of years,” added Fosina, who has had three kids play for NJSA.  “So it’s those kinds of things that are important to Norwalk Junior Soccer. We have been here for 50 years; we are a volunteer parent-run organization, and we just want to promote the beautiful game of soccer. We want to give every child in Norwalk that opportunity, that chance to learn/grow/thrive.”

To that end, NJSA also offers TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer), a community-based skill-building and physical fitness program for young athletes of all abilities, according to its website. 

“The program is designed to bring the opportunity for learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl age 5-21 with challenges, requiring individualized modifications and program support to ensure success,” NJSA explained on its website. “This program includes socialization and positive self-esteem at the forefront!”

Fosina also emphasized that NJSA is helping kids build soccer as well as life skills. 

“There is teamwork, there is perseverance … a lot of confidence,” he said. “We want them to leave the field smiling win, lose or draw; that’s what is important.”

When it comes to NJSA’s longevity, board member Ericka Molina, observed, “I believe the foundation of our association’s 50 years of success has been our strong commitment to the community and to developing young athletes. To be honest, none of it would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers and coaches. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.”

To mark its golden anniversary, NJSA is currently collecting stories, photos and testimonials from anyone—current and former players, coaches, parents and fans—involved with the program over the years.  

For more information, or to submit a “shared history submission,” visit njsa.org.