By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 29, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Wayne Fortino of Massapequa Park is the new Director of our Olympic Development Program (ODP). Wayne will be taking over for Jim Volpe, the Eastern New York Hall of Famer and ODP Director for the past 11 years, who is retiring.
“I’m honored to continue the amazing work of the outgoing ODP Director, Jim Volpe. Under his guidance, Eastern New York ODP has become one of the most respected and progressive programs in the country,” Wayne stated. “Jim’s tireless effort to make ODP more accessible and build a world-class coaching staff is an incredible achievement.”ODP is the top level of play in each state youth association.
Eastern New York ODP players try out and if selected, they train on Monday nights. Nearly all the games they play are in tournaments in New York, across the USA and sometimes even overseas. We have a particularly strong program as four current players on the US Women’s National Team––Sam Coffey, Crystal Dunn, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce––all were in Eastern New York ODP as teenagers.
“There is a good lineage of our ODP players going on to the US National Team program,” Wayne said. “Great for our kids to see somebody there that they can emulate.”

Wayne grew up in southwest England and came to the United States three decades ago to coach in NOGA Soccer. He has been coaching ever since in New York with top youth teams and was once an assistant coach of the St. John’s University women.
Despite growing up a very long kick from Manchester, he’s a lifelong and passionate Manchester City fan. Wayne explained, “I was watching Peter Barnes play for England on TV, liked the way that he played and since his club team was Man City, I became their supporter.”
Wayne is CEO of Quest Sports Travel, which helps American squads (including college teams) travel international to compete, and also does consulting work for student/athletes to help them move on to college soccer.
“I would like to continue to keep the access for everyone and spread the word about ODP better, particularly in New York City,” he explained. With that goal in mind, Wayne will be speaking at the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night, June 26 at 7 pm at the Gjøa Clubhouse, 850 62nd Street in Brooklyn.
Wayne explained, “The curriculum that coach Gary Book wrote is really good,” and it explains how to take a team of 25 players, train as a squad and develop a style of play. Eastern New York ODP’s style is possession-based, keeping shape and moving forward on the attack and when defending, press but also know when to drop.
“Winning is something we all want but Development is key and that word is even in the name, Olympic Development Program,” Wayne added.
For more info about Eastern New York ODP, please contact Wayne at wfortino@enysoccer.com
With over 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/