There are two U.S. Soccer entry-level (Grade 8) referee courses in Eastern New York in April and May.

They are:

* April 11, 12, 18 and 19 (Mid-Hudson District). Town of Poughkeepsie. Contact Bonnie Cordaro at bcordaro@us.ibm.com.

* April 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 and May 2 (New York City District) -- Borough of Manhattan CC. Contact Richard Pinto at brookref@gmail.com.

There are two U.S. Soccer entry-level (Grade 8) referee courses in Eastern New York in April and May.

They are:

* April 11, 12, 18 and 19 (Mid-Hudson District). Town of Poughkeepsie. Contact Bonnie Cordaro at bcordaro@us.ibm.com.

* April 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 and May 2 (New York City District) -- Borough of Manhattan CC. Contact Richard Pinto at brookref@gmail.com.

In July FIFA issued its annual changes to the Laws of the Game. Referees will be informed of these chnages as part of their annual recertification exercises and will be enforcing them with competition beginning with this fall's league games. The Eastern New York referee committee wanted to alert coaches and players to these changes to prevent any misunderstandings as fall play begins.

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With a dozen championship games played at the U.S. Youth Soccer nationals, just having one referee representing your state is honor enough. But what are the odds of a state having not one, not two, but three game officials working the middle of the most important matches of the tournament?

1,000-1? 10,000-1? 1,000,000-1? Well, Eastern New York pulled off a rare triple at this year's tournament outside of Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

Consider this impressive lineup, a feat that will be difficult to duplicate or surpass at future youth nationals:

* Ryan Dos Reis, 21, of New Rochelle worked the Boys Under-19 final.

* J.C. Rivero, 26, of Elmsford was in the middle of the Boys U-18 championship game.

* And Dario Urrutia, 24, of Woodhaven, Queens did the whistling in the Boys U-17 title match.

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The Eastern New York Referee Program is looking for a few good men and women to work the middle of soccer games -- youth and amateur.

In fact, ENY would love to see some of the Soccer Moms become game officials. Rich Ceonzo, the ENY director of instruction, felt that is an untapped resource for the sport.

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