Arya Shirazi is the long time Commissioner of the Roosevelt Island Little League. During the December 4, 2025 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Meeting Public Session, Mr Shirazi announced the formation of a new non-profit Roosevelt Island youth sports organization.
According to Mr Shirazi:
I have run youth sports programs here on the island for the past several years including the spring baseball league. I know some of you have kids involved with that and I’m really excited to announce the creation of a new nonprofit for which I’m the director of called Roosevelt Island Sports, which is a brand new organization dedicated to providing year round affordable sports programs for the kids of this community and the surrounding communities…
… The idea being to provide affordable, organized and safe athletic opportunities for our children. We look forward to developing a fruitful and lasting relationship with RIOC that I believe will be mutually beneficial. And in addition to continuing and enhancing the programs that exist already, myself and the other members of the organization are going to be very present over the next year engaging the community to find out what programs that don’t currently exist, what is there a need for?…
… and most crucially, reach out if you’re interested. A huge part of the success of this organization is going to be the members of this community being active participants and taking leading roles as volunteers in either leading or participating in these programs and really directing the programs towards the needs and the shape of what this community is….
According to the Roosevelt Island Sports web page:
… Roosevelt Island is home to a diverse and international population, and this non-profit will offer programs for children ages 5-15. In addition to conducting seasonal league play and skills clinics — Soccer during Fall / Basketball during Winter / Baseball during Spring — Island Sports also intends to launch programs for activities that don’t currently exist in the community (Gymnastics / Wrestling / Pickleball, etc). Additionally, Island Sports will offer Summer programs that will enable working parents the opportunity for their children to participate in safe and invigorating outdoor activities.
Click here to learn more about Roosevelt Island Sports program.
I spoke with Mr Shirazi following the opening day of the 2025 Roosevelt Island Little League season.
In 2024, the Roosevelt Island Little League was chosen as the Outstanding Baseball League in NYC and awarded a $5 Thousand grant for operations and equipment by SNY Play Ball.
UPDATE 1/13 – Roosevelt Island Sports adds:
Roosevelt Island Sports is excited to present our annual Spring Baseball Season (registration begins in March / League Play begins in April).
We’re also planning to create a Martial Arts / Self Defense program (for multi-ages) that will hopefully launch in the Spring.
Coach Arya and Coach Scot will be running our second year of Summer Sports Camp at Capobianco Field in July and August.
We welcome hearing from members of the community that would like to know more about – or be a part of – our organization.
Coach Arya has shown immense faithfulness to the good of the kids of RI for many many Little League seasons! We are so excited for this addition to the community!
I wonder if fencing would be of interest? My son did it at our Rec Center before we moved here. It was great for all ages!