One of the many advantages of being a player in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association is that there are diverse ways to receive a scholarship.

Eastern New York awards college scholarships for deserving high school graduates.

The scholarships available are named after Jack Bauman, Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll (four total scholarships for girls) and Livio D’Arpino (two scholarships for boys).

Criteria for Consideration

* Must have a C+ average or better and graduate by August of the current year

* Must plan on attending a school of higher education in the fall

* Must submit a 250-word essay on why they are deserving of the scholarship. Essay must include at the top of the first page, your name, address, phone number and scholarship applying to, indicated below.

* Must submit a personal resume and a school transcript.

* The essay, resume and transcript must be submitted no later than June 1 to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association, 167 Nassau Blvd., Garden City South, NY 11530, to the Attention of the Scholarship Committee

Indicate on top of the essay which scholarship you are applying to.

There also is a new Olympic Development Program college scholarship for one girl and one boy. Applicants must meet all these criteria:

* Must be currently playing ODP in the 2005 age group

* Must have a B average or better

* Must plan on attending a school of Higher Education in the fall

* Annual family income of $100,000 or less

* Must submit a 200-word essay on why they are deserving of the scholarship. Essay must include name, address, phone number and e-mail address

* Must submit a school transcript

The essay and transcript must be submitted no later than April 30 (deadline was extended to this date) to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association, 167 Nassau Blvd., Garden City South, NY 11530, to the Attention of the ODP Scholarship Committee

Five ENYYSA leagues – Capital District Youth Soccer League, Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League, East Hudson Youth Soccer League, Long Island Junior Soccer League and Staten Island Youth Soccer League – have separate scholarship programs as well.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.