THE LONG ISLAND ELITE NATIONAL TEAM

Long Island Elite National Team

Long Island’s top players competing against the best teams in America.

An all-star postseason team with a full calendar of competition, development, and education.

Invitation only  ·  Tryouts required

For detailed program and registration information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

View Tryout Dates   ·   Tryout Requirements   ·   Register for Tryouts

The National Team Program

The Long Island Elite National Team (LIE495) is an invitation-only travel program for football players ages 7–16. Players are selected through evaluation to represent Long Island in national competition against accomplished programs from across the country.

The program combines on-field development with a full calendar of competition and education. Coaches include former Division I and NFL players, current and former high school coaches, and accomplished youth coaches. The event schedule varies from year to year.

The Commitment

This is not a recreation program. National Team membership requires preparation, consistent attendance, travel, and a serious commitment from both the player and his family.

• Schedule priority: Long Island Elite practices and events take priority over other sports and activities, with exceptions for school, religion, and family matters.
• Travel: Families must be prepared to travel for practices and games. Some travel an hour or more to practice, including families coming from the Bronx to Suffolk County, and teams compete across the country.
• Conditions: Players train outdoors in cold weather, sometimes around 30 degrees. Families should understand both the physical demands and the financial commitment of a competitive travel program.
• Multi-sport participation: Players are encouraged to participate in other sports, especially at younger ages. Families in this program generally make football their primary athletic commitment.

Local recreation and PAL programs serve an important purpose by introducing players of all abilities to football. Long Island Elite serves families ready for a demanding national program focused on preparation for high school and college football.

The Culture and the Development

New York is well known for producing Division I lacrosse talent. Football families deserve comparable access to coaching, education, and resources. Long Island Elite brings the approach of leading youth programs in Texas, Florida, Georgia, California, and other football hotbeds to players here on Long Island.

Our culture challenges entitlement and leaves no room for gossip, daddy ball, or sideline drama. Players, coaches, and families share a commitment to high standards, meaningful development, and competitive football.

The curriculum combines technical skill development with off-field education to prepare players for the demands of high school and college football. The work is demanding and competitive, and families must be willing to make the necessary commitments.

Year-round development does not mean year-round contact. The calendar includes clinics, drills, and practices with varying contact levels. Long Island Elite does not endorse a full year of hitting.

A Record of Success

Long Island Elite alumni have earned college scholarship offers and competed in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC, as well as Division II and Division III programs. Rino Monteforte, an alumnus from Massapequa, played for Notre Dame in the national championship.

The program has produced two players who competed as freshmen in the Big Ten, along with one of New York’s most highly recruited players, who received eight Division I offers as an eighth grader.

More than 130 players from the program are playing Division I, II, and III football. Every player’s ceiling is different. Our goal is to develop each player to his highest individual potential and educate his family about the nuances of recruiting and NIL.

The National Team Calendar

Fall and Winter

• End of October: Fall season ends and practice begins shortly afterward. Practices are Tuesday and Thursday night from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00am to 11:00am. Most practices are held at Granny Rd Park in Medford. Occasionally practices are at other Nassau and Suffolk locations. 
• Thanksgiving weekend: Teams participate in the annual Turkey Bowl. Practices and scrimmages continue afterward.
• December: Media Day brings players together for the program’s annual press event.
• December or early January: Teams travel for a national bowl game. In recent years, teams have attended the New Year’s Bowl in San Antonio, alongside the NBC Sports/Navy High School Combine and All-Star game. Past travel has also included Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Georgia, and other football destinations.

2027 destination: Miami, Florida — January 9 for the Miami New Year’s Bowl.

A scheduled break follows the national bowl game, generally lasting until March.

Spring

• March: Practice resumes in preparation for the Shamrock Showcase in Virginia, usually held around St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
• Mid-March through approximately May: The developmental Spring Camp season takes place. It is included in National Team registration and is also open to outside players.
• Around May 1: The first round of spring National Team invitations is issued.
• May, when scheduled: The oldest team may attend the Memorial Day Classic in Maryland. Younger teams may participate in Gold Coast games at home in mid-May.
• Fall Elite selection: Tryouts begin for the separate Fall Elite program, whose season starts July 15.

Late Spring and Summer

• The calendar may include a short break before practices resume a couple of weeks ahead of the Liberty Challenge.
• The Liberty Challenge concludes the National Team calendar, generally in mid-to-late June or early July. Past venues include Columbia University and LIU.

Dates and events are tentative. Activities may be added, adjusted, or removed as circumstances require.

Registration and Program Details

Tryouts are available throughout the year as team and roster needs arise. Players invited after the season has begun pay a prorated National Team fee.

The National Team season fee is provided in the invitation email sent to selected players. Registration includes:

• A premium NCAA-style uniform and player apparel package.
• The program full calendar, bowl games, spring camp, practices, and scrimmages.
• Coaching and player development.
• Recruiting and NIL education for players and families.
• B.E.A.S.T. mentoring: Branding, Ethics, Academics, Social Media, and Time Management.

Required Equipment

Players must provide their own helmet, shoulder pads, cleats, mouthpiece, and protective athletic cup. Long Island Elite does not supply this equipment.

Need-Based Assistance

Each year, Long Island Elite supports dozens of children through need-based assistance. The program has served players from homeless shelters, foster care, single-parent households receiving public assistance, and families facing other significant hardships.

Families who need financial assistance may complete the need-based hardship application.

Coaching, General Managers, and Volunteers

Coaching and general manager applications are accepted year-round for all teams. General managers carry meaningful team responsibilities and participate in coaching meetings and organizational affairs.

To apply as a coach, general manager, or volunteer, use the Apply to Coach or Volunteer button below.

Tryout Information

The $100 tryout fee is non-refundable and includes participation in all tryouts, with coaching during each session.

• Equipment: Helmets and full football equipment are required at every tryout. Players must provide their own equipment.
• Current players: Attendance at every tryout is mandatory.
• New players: Attend every tryout for maximum consideration and the greatest opportunity to be evaluated.

Group and Private Tryouts

Group tryouts are announced throughout the year on this page and on program social media. Private tryouts are also available: register online, and a coach will contact you about attending practices for evaluation.

Online registration and payment are required for both group and private tryouts. Players selected for the National Team receive an invitation by email.

Upcoming Tryout Dates

Register promptly. Available roster spots can fill quickly.

Schedules may change. Check this page regularly and review Instagram, Facebook, TeamSnap, email, and text updates on the day of the event before leaving home.

Practice and Tryout Locations

Most sessions take place at Granny Road Park in Medford. Other locations may include St. Anthony’s High School, St. John the Baptist High School, Seamans Neck Park in Seaford, Chaminade High School in Mineola, Oyster Bay Park, Holy Trinity High School, and other fields across Long Island.

Registration Is Required for Consideration

Every player must complete online registration and pay the tryout fee to be considered. This applies to new and returning players regardless of previous team membership, personal connections, conversations with coaches, or the number of tryouts attended.

Registration creates the player’s record in our system. Our volunteers reconcile those records with tryout data so coaches can evaluate hundreds of players using collected results, observations, coaching recommendations, and submitted film.

Use the Register for Tryouts button below to begin. You can also review the Frequently Asked Questions.