By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
October 28, 2022-There are many referees in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) who are soccer lifers, but nobody can compare to a ref in the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) whose officiating has gone through the sands of time.
Lawrence “Pete" Sand started refereeing in 1958, when he was 24 years old, and he is still going strong after thousands of games at the age of 88. The Half Moon resident has refereed youth, adults, high school, college and in the professional American Soccer League, as well as in Scotland back in 1983. In the fall, he often refs high school games six days a week.
“I like being out with young players nowadays since I’m old. And I like how soccer skills have improved since when I first started refereeing in 1958,” Pete explained.
Pete has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of both the CDYSL and CD-Ref, the Capital District’s soccer ref association. Other awards include the 1981 Section 2 Golden Thread Award as the outstanding high school referee and the 2002 New York State College Referee of the Year.
Eastern New York Hall of Famer Roy Pfeil has known Pete for decades and explained, “Pete was a good soccer player first, then became a good referee, and eventually became a good youth coach of his own children. He always seemed to have an understanding that soccer was only a game and not a ‘life or death’ matter. As he became older, he developed hearing issues and instead of giving up on the sport that he loved, he continued to officiate.”
As a youngster, Pete played soccer for the Albany Sports Club, then was MVP and All-American at Ithaca College before he started refereeing and coaching. Additionally, he was one of the co-founders of the CDYSL in 1978.
Interested in following Pete’s footsteps and earning money as a soccer referee? For more information on upcoming courses near you, please contact State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) Piero Olcese at wsropresident@gmail.com
With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and 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 10 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 Children With Special Needs. 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/