New Jersey Youth Soccer recently hosted its inaugural Every Kick Counts event, a FootGolf fundraiser sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health, bringing together more than 50 players, families, and volunteers to support the NJYS TOPSoccer Program. Held at the Bel-Aire Golf Course in Wall Township, the event celebrated inclusion, community, and fun through FootGolf — a blend of soccer and golf — for players with disabilities.
Every Kick Counts is a new NJYS initiative created to raise funds and awareness for TOPSoccer, a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with mental or physical disabilities. The program currently serves nearly 1,000 players across the state. The day was full of memorable moments, including a special appearance by Tab Ramos, former U.S. Men’s National Team captain, who joined players on the course, signed autographs, and posed for photos.
“What matters is not the experience I had but the experience the kids had,” said Ramos. “Being out on the course, running around and kicking the ball into the holes was really exciting for them. It made my day, and I’m sure it was a special day for them as well.”
A Youth-Led Vision
The vision behind Every Kick Counts came from Zack Dabby, a high school student and passionate advocate for inclusive soccer. In 2020, Dabby started volunteering in a program called Challenger Sports. Like TOPSoccer, Challenger Sports is a program in which volunteers get paired up with a kid who has special needs. Together, the pair engage with peers, playing sports throughout the year, creating a bond between the two kids.
It was through Challenger Sports that Dabby met Jack Costantino. When they met, Jack was a 6th grader with autism attending Howell North Middle School. Over the last four years, Dabby and Costantino built a special relationship, through Challenger Sports and spending time together outside of it. Through this event, Dabby brought together two very important and personal things, soccer and helping others. Over eight months, Dabby committed nearly 100 hours to organizing the event, from developing the logo and digital assets, to recruiting sponsors, managing the budget, and producing an Event Operations Guide.
“I had so much fun playing and helping the players enjoy the day,” said Dabby. “My hope is to grow this initiative and replicate it with other state associations across the country.”
Dabby collaborated closely with many individuals and professionals developing this program. The professionals with US FootGolf and US Youth Soccer helped Dabby develop the brand identity and educational materials for Every Kick Counts.
Laura Balestrini, CEO of US FootGolf, added, “FootGolf’s inclusive nature makes it a perfect vehicle for awareness and connection. We’re honored to support Every Kick Counts.”
Dabby also worked with staff at NJ Youth Soccer to launch registration and donation platforms and led outreach efforts to the Challenger Sports program and TOPSoccer communities statewide.
Community at Its Core
Among the many supportive and smiling faces at the event was Jonathan Yee, NJYS TOPSoccer Chair, who helped champion this initiative. Yee served as a buddy and reflected on the event.
“Playing a round with brothers Noah and Tyler was so much fun! From birdies to Pokémon Go chats, the spirit of the day was incredible. I look forward to this event becoming a staple.”
Constantino, a 16-year-old participant from Howell, shared “Every Kick Counts was really, really fun. The best part was kicking the ball really high. I got to run like Saquon Barkley!”
Jack’s mother, Michelle Constantino, added “This event was phenomenal. It brought players and buddies together in a beautiful way. The connection between Zack and Jack, two young people learning from each other, was powerful.”
Sponsor Support & Community Partnerships
The event was made possible by generous contributions from sponsors and donors. RWJBarnabas Health served as the title sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, community-driven health and recreation.
“It was inspiring to see so many kids with special health care needs participating in such a fun, meaningful event,” said Justin Edelman, SVP of External Communications & Corporate Partnerships at RWJBarnabas Health. “TOPSoccer aligns perfectly with our mission of compassionate care and inclusive opportunity.”
Bill Ross, East Regional Representative for US Youth Soccer, emphasized the broader potential.
“The event was wonderful,” he stated, “I’d love to see this blueprint shared nationally, both for the impact on the program and the joy it brings to the players.”
Monmouth County Parks System was also a key partner in hosting the event, with supportive and welcoming staff who helped ensure its success.
Sponsors and Donors
In addition to RWJBarnabas Health, event sponsors included the New York Red Bulls, Ray Catena Auto Group (Lexus, Audi, Mercedes) and SCORE Sports. Hole sponsors included WeDo and Toyota. Donations and in-kind support were provided by Wegmans (food and snacks), MLS GO and the NYNJ World Cup Host Committee (t-shirts), PRIME (beverages), Print2Go (signage), Central Jersey Pools and Gotham FC.
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