A Day of Learning, Collaboration and Growth
New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) and the New York Red Bulls recently collaborated to host the 2025 Youth Soccer Summit at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, which was followed by the NJYS Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the home of the Major League Soccer club.
The day combined these two events into one, creating a unique experience for the youth soccer community. The format of the Youth Soccer Summit allowed attendees to network while gaining valuable information on important youth soccer topics and connecting with leaders in the soccer industry. Over 150 people attended the event, including club leaders, league leaders, official partners and special guests, along with members of the NJYS Board of Directors and the State Association professional staff. All attendees dedicated their day to enhancing and developing the future of youth soccer in New Jersey.
“The theme for the Youth Soccer Summit was to connect and empower the youth soccer community, and I believe we were successful in staying true to that goal,” said Evan Dabby, Chief Executive Officer of NJ Youth Soccer. “The level of engagement during and between sessions was tremendous.”
The Youth Soccer Summit featured keynote speakers Tab Ramos, NJYS Hall of Famer and U.S. Men’s National Team legend, and Yael Averbuch-West, General Manager for Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). In the event’s opening address, Ramos stressed how far New Jersey soccer has come in the past 140 years since the first game of soccer was played in the area. He also spoke about his coaching career, expressing that he developed a love for the game he never had through coaching. The National Soccer Hall of Famer closed his address by advising attending youth soccer leaders to “learn the game, and then to learn to teach the game.”
Averbuch-West discussed her youth soccer upbringing in Montclair, New Jersey, and she emphasized how mentors played an important role in her career. She also commented on the current state of youth soccer communities in the area, stating that they must be “world-class,” and that with her role as General Manager of Gotham FC, she wants to add value to these communities.
Along with Ramos and Averbuch-West, the event included many other special guests, including Bruce Revman of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York/New Jersey Host Committee; Alex Bard, Senior Director of Safe Places to Play at the U.S. Soccer Foundation; Gloria Casteneda of MLSGO; David Applegate of the U.S Soccer Federation; and Abe Geiger of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
A number of NJYS official partners were also present, including Hudl, Sport Lines, Score Sports, Wilson Trophy and MLSGO. Wilson Trophy held a raffle for an Erling Haaland signed cleat, and Crystal Springs Resort offered attendees a chance to win a voucher for a FootGolf match on one of their courses. The New York Red Bulls and Gotham FC also provided complimentary tickets to future home matches for all attendees, showcasing their commitment and respect for local soccer communities.
Following the opening address, the first educational sessions commenced, where league leaders led a presentation entitled “The Evolution and Future of Youth Soccer Clubs,” and NJYS Director of Coaching Rick Meana and Coach Auke Wiersma led a session called “Player Pathways at all Levels – Putting the Player First.” Also being held during that first block was a presentation by Beau Morki titled “Talking Tactics: Age Group Development Plans.” At the next session, NJYS CEO Evan Dabby and NJYS Director of Technical Operations James Galanis led a presentation entitled “Player Pathway Alignment,” while the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York/New Jersey Host Committee led a session called the “World Cup Legacy Project.” Lastly, William Shapiro led the presentation titled “Creating a Game Model for Your Club” during that block. The Youth Soccer Summit concluded after the following session, where Steve Jones led the presentation on “Leadership Best Practices for Club Boards,” held alongside a session called “Recreation Leagues and MLSGO” with Evan Dabby and Gloria Casteneda. During that final block, NJYS ODP Youth Coaching Director Lou Mignone also led the presentation entitled “Balancing Development and Winning in 7v7 and 9v9.”
NJYS Also Held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at Sports Illustrated Stadium
The 2025 NJYS Annual General Meeting began shortly after the conclusion of the Youth Soccer Summit, and elections were held in accordance with the NJYS Bylaws for open positions on the Board of Directors. The following individuals were named to two-year terms:
ELECTION RESULTS
President: Bill Smith
2nd Vice President: Andrew Bondarowicz
Registrar: Robert “Casey” Becht
Secretary: Jen Marcella
Member-At-Large: Dana Lopes
Member-At-Large: Chuck Myers
Member-At-Large: Jonathan Yee
Photo: NJYS CEO Evan Dabby, outgoing NJYS President Jess Yeager and newly elected NJYS President Bill Smith.
The 2025 NJYS Annual General Meeting and Youth Soccer Summit was regarded as a great success and a rewarding experience for those in attendance. The Youth Soccer Summit especially served as a landmark in NJ Youth Soccer’s relationship with the New York Red Bulls, further showcasing the commitment of the two organizations to growing the game at all levels in the State of New Jersey and beyond.
“The Youth Soccer Summit has been an important part of the Red Bulls annual calendar, creating an opportunity to connect with youth clubs and provide an environment where club leaders can learn and network,” said Dave Jervis, Senior Director of Youth Programs for the New York Red Bulls. “Partnering with NJYS helped elevate the experience and increase the number of organizations attending the summit. We’re looking forward to the continued collaboration.”
To find out more information 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