Brian Dunn on far left before a MLS game.
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
September 25, 2013-New Hyde Park resident Brian Dunn has served as an assistant referee in Major League Soccer games for the past two years and refereed top-ranked college teams for nearly a decade in front of thousands of fans. But when his schedule allows on weekends, he can be seen refereeing Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) youth soccer games in front of friends and family in local parks and schools. Brian got his start refereeing these games over a decade ago.
"I am very grateful to the refs from Eastern New York and the LIJSL who have developed my ability over the years and I never want to forget where I came from," said Brian. "It’s also very nice to ref youth soccer games where it’s only about having fun."
Brian, whose "real job" is a remedial math teacher at Plaza Elementary School in Baldwin, has officiated 11 international games during the past three years in such noted venues as Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Red Bull Arena plus RFK Stadium and has officiated 27 MLS games.
2011 was a very good year for the National Referee as Brian was chosen as the New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NYMISOA) Official of the Year and Eastern New York Referee of the Year in the same year. He was selected as the top referee among the more than 2,000 registered game officials in Eastern New York.
"Brian Dunn is a superb individual with an excellent sense of respect that he brings on the field and makes it a positive aspect of his game," commented State Referee Administrator Enrico Romano. "As an official, he’s the total package and I take great pride in having a ref like Brian in our organization here in Eastern New York."
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.