Friday, October 16, 2026
As young children sign in for their first soccer practice of the season, each one is greeted by name from West Hempstead Chiefs soccer club board president Loraine Magaraci. Magaraci, a lifetime resident of West Hempstead, has been a member of the club since her now adult children played in their youth.
The West Hempstead Chiefs soccer club includes intramural and travel teams for various age groups. Each spring and fall, the club hosts intramural training sessions led by professional trainers and student volunteers at the Eagle Ave. Soccer Field at Gersh Academy for Students on the Autism Spectrum. For $140 the club provides training two times each week for children ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to eighth grade.
“Here we fill them with skills and get them ready for travel,” said Magaraci. “As kids come in, we hope to feed them into new or existing travel teams.”
Their travel soccer teams are available each season to players in grades four through twelve, providing them the opportunity to compete against teams from across Long Island.
The club also organizes a TOPSoccer Program at George Washington Elementary School, which is available for athletes with physical, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. TOPS allows children with disabilities to learn to play soccer, focusing on player participation, soccer skills and being a part of a team.
Despite competition from other soccer organizations, Magaraci and her board are dedicated to their mission of promoting a love for soccer in the local youth, all at a reasonable price point.
“We couldn’t do this without our volunteers. We are a non-profit, everybody here is a volunteer, and none of us have kids in the program,” said Magaraci, on opening day, April 5. “If we aren’t on the field, we are on the phone or computer trying to figure out what else we can do to enrich the program.”
The Chiefs recently began a training program to prepare young goalies for playing games. They also host events for the community to participate in, such as attending the NYCFC game at CitiField together.
A large goal of the soccer program is to get the kids outside and playing together during practice and games. They also aim to keep the kids active, hosting winter training sessions in the school gyms during the off season.
“To me a good training session, for a three or four year old, is that they didn’t leave the field, they stayed, they smiled, they kicked the ball,” Magaraci said. “They learn what it is to be on a team and by the end of the season, they’re scrimmaging games, they’re passing to their friends, they’re shooting on goal.”
“When they come out here, there’s no cell phones or electronics, the kids are playing,” Magaraci added. “They make soccer friends who may not be in their class at school. Everybody comes, they exercise, and they’re all excited to see each other.”
