News

Christine Gloth, NJ Youth Soccer

New Jersey Youth Soccer hosted its 2024 NJYS Awards Dinner Presented by RWJBarnabas Health on Friday, February 2nd, where players, coaches and guests of the soccer community attended the annual celebration at the Pines Manor in Edison, N.J. This year’s event was witness to a record setting audience with more than 1,000 attendees.

“As NJ Youth Soccer offers a full line-up of competitive, recreation and inclusive programs for kids of all ages and levels, RWJBarnabas Health is delighted to serve as a longstanding partner,” said Justin Edelman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, RWJBarnabas Health. “The Awards Dinner continues to be a highlight of the soccer calendar, and it is inspiring to see NJYS recognize so many individuals who make a meaningful impact in communities across the state.”

In addition to hundreds of players, parents, award winners and scholarship recipients, a host of VIPs and special guests were also present to celebrate the evening. Jess Yeager, President of NJ Youth Soccer; Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer; and Dr. Jason Krystofiak, Medical Director of Sports Medicine and Medical Director of the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Athletics Team Physician; delivered the opening remarks. Other distinguished guests in attendance included Tab Ramos, former US Men’s National Team captain, National Soccer Hall of Fame and NJYS Hall of Fame member; Ed Foster-Simeon, President and CEO of the US Soccer Foundation; Michael Lazar, Managing Director of External Relations at the US Soccer Federation; Dan Lynch, representing the NYNJ FIFA World Cup Host Committee; Chris Savino, Senior Director of Major League Soccer; as well as Glenn Crooks, radio voice of New York City FC and an NJYS Hall of Fame member. 

“As I said at the event, decades ago when I played, New Jersey was revered as a hotbed for soccer in the US, and the awards dinner simply amplified that sentiment for today’s soccer ecosystem,” said Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer. “With over 1,000 in attendance, the dinner was an exciting reflection of the passion for the sport, the success on the field and the commitment to excel by New Jersey players, coaches, referees and families. My thanks to Evan Dabby and the NJYS team for inviting me to their incredible celebration, and I look forward to watching what the state will do next to drive soccer forward.”

As the event emcee, Ally Melendez treated the crowd to an exceptional evening. A New York Emmy nominated sports and lifestyle host, Melendez is currently working as the in-arena host for the New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer), Brooklyn Nets (National Basketball Association) and New York Mets (Major League Baseball).

To highlight the evening, Nelson Ramirez was inducted into the NJYS Hall of Fame. To commemorate his induction, Just One Soccer League created a video tribute that was shared with the crowd. Ramirez was also joined on stage with fellow NJYS Hall of Fame inductees in attendance such as Tab Ramos, Glenn Crooks, Raul Donoso, Flo Egan and Barry Towbin. 

Award winners were also treated to video tributes from prominent members of the soccer community.  Gregg Berhalter, New Jersey native and head coach of the US Men’s National Team; Cindy Parlow Cone, President of the US Soccer Federation; Tony Meola, NJYS and National Soccer Hall of Fame member; Tab Ramos, NJYS and National Soccer Hall of Fame member; Mark Geiger, legendary US Soccer referee and NJYS Hall of Fame member; Yael Averbuch, General Manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC; Daniel Edelman, player for the New York Red Bulls; Michelle Betos, goalkeeper for NJ/NY Gotham FC; Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer; Juan Carlos Amoros, head coach of NJ/NY Gotham FC; and Luis Robles, former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper; all offered their praises.

NJ Youth Soccer also revealed its Goal of the Year Powered By the New York Red Bulls and Save of the Year Powered By Gotham FC. Each of the winners will be invited to a home match at Red Bull Arena this season where their goal and save videos will be displayed on the video board. 

“The NJYS Awards Dinner has become a highlight on the youth soccer calendar, and it has grown to be a true destination for our soccer community,” said Evan Dabby, NJYS Executive Director. “We aim to develop a lifelong passion for the sport, and this event is a true embodiment of that value. We thank RWJBarnabas Health for their incredible support towards the celebration of New Jersey’s soccer community.”

More than 20 NJYS State Cup Champions, as well as USYS Regional and National Champions, were celebrated throughout the evening, culminating with USYS National League Elite 64 National Champions FC Copa Academy 2006 Girls. Each team was honored with a team parade and photos on stage in front of the capacity crowd, as well as being featured in their own personal Red Carpet Interview.

Juan Ramirez, Gabby Gil and Olivia Russomanno led the interview festivities on the Red Carpet. Ramirez is a member of the New York Red Bulls Freestyle Crew who entertains fans with their ball skills before every Red Bulls home game. Gil and Russomanno are products of NJ Youth Soccer and members of the Rutgers University Women’s Soccer Program.

The NJYS Olympic Development Program (ODP) was on display with USYS Interregional players in attendance. These players and parents were treated to a special Meet And Greet with Tab Ramos, where Ramos highlighted meaningful takeaways with respect to his development as a player from youth to professional levels, including his representation of our nation during two FIFA World Cups. He also described his coaching experiences with youth national teams and Major League Soccer in terms of guiding the development of players at these levels of the game. Ramos further emphasized the importance of taking accountability and responsibility for one’s own development and performance as these players strive toward reaching their full potential. With the official announcement being released the night prior, there was also a special opportunity to celebrate and recognize Dylan Pino, Sandro Cunningham and Madelynn Sadusky on their selections to the USYS ODP National Team. 

Players also had the opportunity to win giveaways from many NJYS partners and donors as part of a social media campaign during the event. Players took a shot at posting their best photos and videos from the night for a chance to go home with a free gift from RWJBarnabas Health, JAG Physical Therapy, New York Red Bulls, US Soccer and Hudl.

Important to note is the 2024 NJYS Awards Dinner Presented By RWJBarnabas Health was made possible due to the tremendous hard work and enthusiasm from a team of more than 30 NJYS staff, volunteers and student mentors. Their collective effort created an unforgettable night for all attendees.

Follow NJ Youth Soccer over the coming weeks to celebrate the award winners and scholarship recipients from the NJYS Awards Dinner Presented by RWJBarnabas Health, including more details on each of the honorees.

To find out more about New Jersey Youth Soccer or to contact us directly, please email communications@njyouthsoccer.com. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer 

The second-ever New Jersey Youth Soccer Skills Challenge was held last summer, with more than 200 players from different clubs and teams throughout the state in attendance. The participants were challenged in a skills competition that including passing, dribbling, shooting, chipping and juggling drills. The event was a huge success, and that would not have been possible without the help of Glenn Gargan.

Glenn attended the 2023 NJYS Annual General Meeting and heard both US Youth Soccer and NJ Youth Soccer representatives encourage technical skill development through alternative fun programs. This made him immediately start thinking about bringing the Skills Challenge at West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Association (WWPSA) to the state level.

Soccer has been a staple in the life of Glenn Gargan since he was a young child, with his family sharing that same passion for the game. His father was the President of Neptune Soccer Association for years, as well as his mother being one of the first girls’ soccer coaches in the region. This type of support and encouragement allowed Glenn and his brother to have highly decorated playing careers that led to them both being inducted into the Hall of Fame at their respective colleges.

Glenn’s involvement with youth soccer started by coaching his sons Jake and Max’s travel team at West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Association (WWPSA). He eventually became Director of Travel for WWPSA as well. While in that position, he developed the Travel Development Academy (or TDA Program) for young players in the club, introducing them to the technical side of the game as well as their families to the travel soccer lifestyle. Additionally, Glenn created the first multi-year Skills Challenge at WWPSA to encourage the importance of technical skill development. The program was a huge success, resulting in dramatic player improvement throughout the club.

“I would like to see New Jersey take the lead in true player development, thus bringing New Jersey back to the top of the nation for high-level players,” Glenn stated when asked about the importance of the Skills Challenge. “I feel as our players develop, the game as a whole will develop.”

After his sons aged out of the travel program, Glenn took a few years off from soccer before returning to serve as an US Soccer Federation Licensed Referee, coach at Allentown High School and President of Home Town FC. He also founded The Phil Gargan Foundation, which has a mission of empowering lives and community through soccer, on and off the field.

We asked Glenn what some of the most rewarding aspects are when it comes to working in youth soccer.

“Honestly, most rewarding for me is being able to give back to the next generations of skills, both on the soccer field and in life,” he said. “I was blessed throughout my life. Soccer has given me some of my closest friends and special life experiences.”

Among the many positive memories that the game has afforded Glenn, there is one in particular that has always stuck out.

“One of the greatest experiences is I was fortunate enough to have been trained by some great European players such as Frans Beckenbauer,” he reflected. “I am happy to now be able to share that same experience with our young players today through a summer camp I have created, coached by two veteran players from Inter Milan, Giuseppe Bergomi and Giuseppe Baresi. I am hopeful I can give today’s players something that made a difference in my game to improve their game, as well as to help those underserved here in our area and those in other parts of the world who face great challenges.”

Glenn Gargan’s profound journey in soccer is not merely a tale of personal achievements but also a testament to the transformative impact of dedication, mentorship and community engagement. His commitment to imparting both soccer skills and life lessons upon youth players reflects a passion that has continually extended far beyond the pitch.

To contact New Jersey Youth Soccer, please email communications@njyouthsoccer.com. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer

The United States Consortium of State Associations (USCSA) is excited to announce it has launched operations. Led by its Legacy Members from seven US Youth Soccer State Associations, its vision is to create a highly functioning network of state associations that will grow soccer participation by:

• Working collaboratively with US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, State Associations and other Organizational Members of US Soccer.
• Revolutionizing how State Associations interact.
• Focusing on developing processes that can expand influence.
• Grow soccer participation.
• Reducing costs and improving services by scaling business operations.

The USCSA believes that State Associations can provide an anchor in the local soccer communities by providing exceptional service, resources and inspiration that grows soccer participation by unlocking the potential within every community. Traditionally, each State Association has its own governance, policies and procedures, and resources, which limits the ability to scale and incorporate efficient solutions. We aim to expand our influence, reduce costs, and enhance services by scaling operations together. The USCSA wants to evolve the traditional model by integrating business strategies and shared resources to increase efficiency and effectiveness of its State Association members.

“I applaud the leaders involved in this initiative,” said Evan Dabby, NJ Youth Soccer Executive Director and USCSA President. “We are a group that is eager to work with others who are interested in transforming the way we interact, with the primary goal of growing soccer participation.”

The USCSA Legacy Members include:

• Evan Dabby, NJ Youth Soccer Executive Director and USCSA President
• Gordon Henderson, Ohio Soccer CEO and USCSA Vice President
• Dave Guthrie, Indiana Soccer Executive Director and USCSA Secretary
• Dan Cataldi, Iowa Soccer CEO
• Laura Halfpenny, Georgia State Soccer Association Executive Director
• Hans Hobson, Tennessee State Soccer Association CEO
• Kris Zander, Kentucky Youth Soccer Association Executive Director

To be successful, the USCSA will rely on its core values: Trust, Innovation, Compromise and Alignment. To learn more about the USCSA, visit https://consortiumofsoccerassociations.org/.

Meredith Waropay, NJ Youth Soccer

This past spring, Khiesa Granger and Sebastian Gomez interned at New Jersey Youth Soccer as they were completing their degrees in Sports Management at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Sharing a passion for soccer and a desire to work professionally in the sports industry, interning with NJ Youth Soccer provided Khiesa and Sebastian with valuable experience that will assist them in their career pursuits.

Khiesa Granger grew up playing soccer in Trinidad and Tobago for two club teams and the top ranked St. Anthony’s high school team.

“It was this culture that helped instill my strong passion for the beautiful game, and my desire to help grow the game wherever I go,” Khiesa reflected.

After moving to the United States in 2019, Khiesa attended Essex County Community College with aspirations of playing soccer. However, he tore his adductor muscle which took three years to fully rehabilitate.

Once he received his Associate Degree in Business Administration, Khiesa transferred to Rutgers and played for its Men’s Club Soccer Team, where he helped them qualify for the first national tournament in the team’s history.

“I specifically chose NJ Youth Soccer because of my desire to see soccer grow in the US and their emphasis on providing opportunities for aspiring youth soccer players,” Khiesa said regarding his decision to intern with NJ Youth Soccer.

Sebastian Gomez began playing soccer at a young age and spent most of his club career with the Dover Strikers in his hometown of Dover, New Jersey. He also played for the Dover High School Soccer Team throughout the entirety of the time he attended high school. Additionally, he is a Grade 8 USSF Referee for Morris County Youth Soccer Association (MCYSA) and EDP.

“I chose to target NJ Youth Soccer because I knew that I could learn a lot about different professionals with tons of experience, get a behind the scenes look at how youth soccer here in the state is progressing, and learn new soft and hard skills to take on to my next role,” Sebastian stated.

Khiesa and Sebastian looked back on what they learned throughout the course of their internship at NJ Youth Soccer.

“NJ Youth Soccer taught me how to prepare for large soccer events like award ceremonies, soccer tournaments and meetings,” Khiesa remarked. “It also taught me how to implement different soccer policies and programs like the ‘Let’s Play’ soccer initiative.”

“During my time at NJYS, I learned that there are tons of pieces that need to go together in order for an event to be successful,” Sebastian commented. “For example, the State Cup Finals were months of preparation, from various meetings, outlines, bracket creation, setup, breakdown and small details in between.”

When asked about a standout experience during the internship, Khiesa answered, “My favorite experience from the internship was seeing how the youth soccer system operates in New Jersey behind the scenes.”

When asked the same question, Sebastian responded, “My favorite experience from this internship was the Awards Dinner, being able to help out with planning it, setting up, and being behind the scenes was awesome. On the day of the dinner, to see all the recipients and families dressed up, excited to be recognized, that put a smile on my face.”

Since completing their internships with NJ Youth Soccer, Sebastian and Khiesa continue to set goals for themselves. Khiesa aspires to start a soccer coaching academy as well as work in administration for a soccer organization. Sebastian hopes to obtain a full-time role in the sports industry now that he has graduated. This summer, he worked with the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Following the completion of their internships, both individuals provided advice for fellow students interested in an internship with NJ Youth Soccer.

“Be a sponge and absorb as much information as possible from the elite hierarchy of the organization,” Khiesa noted. “Savor each moment as it will be over in the blink of an eye.”

“Come eager to learn and help out,” Sebastian added. “There are many ways to get involved. Just listen, observe and stay on top of your tasks assigned. Do not be afraid to ask questions, and pick the team’s brain.”

To learn more about internship opportunities with NJ Youth Soccer, please contact us at communications@njyouthsoccer.com.