Super Y-League Feature
Monday, December 17, 2012
BRADENTON, Fla. – Juggling is nothing new for Samantha Coffey, who is trying to balance the busy life of a 13-year-old girl in Sleepy Hollow, New York, including school, friends and elite-level soccer with the reigning New Jersey state champions. It’s no surprise, then, that Coffey was able to juggle her way to acclaim at the recent Super Y-League North American Finals, presented by the National Guard. 
At the National Guard booth at IMG Academy on Saturday, December 8, Coffey stepped up to take her shot at juggling in front of the crowd, with commemorative T-shirts available for top performers. Hundreds of SYL players stepped into the booth during the five-day event, and many walked away having impressed the gathered onlookers.
Nobody, however, was prepared for Coffey, a 4-foot-10, 92-pound midfielder for the New Jersey Stallions competing in the U13 finals. She began the challenge, feet only, alternating right and left. Her head stayed down, focused on the ball at all times. Her touch was the key, with the ball barely leaving her feet each time. The National Guard representative began to count… and count … and count.
“One hundred … five hundred … one thousand … five thousand.”
The crowd grew; players from other clubs began to gather as word of mouth spread through the Player’s Village. Some of the best youth players in the country stood in awe as Coffey continued. The National Guard was forced to change counters four times due to fatigue, but Coffey persevered.
“Seven thousand … seven thousand, one hundred.”
At that point, after 50 minutes of nonstop juggling and nonstop concentration, Coffey kicked the ball up to her hands and caught it.
“I was thirsty and my neck hurt," she said using perfect 13-year-old logic, content with having blown away her own previous record of 4,857.
Once finished, Coffey was surrounded by some of the gathered U16 and U17 boys, and in the same spot where U.S. soccer icon Mia Hamm had signed autographs the day before, they asked Coffey to sign their shirts. Perhaps it won’t be her last time.