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Sue Ryan Shares Key Insights at the Grassroots to Pro Panel

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

August 7, 2026-Sue Ryan, Girls South Olympic Development Program (ODP) Director of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), was a panelist at the “From Grassroots to Pro Panel” that Gotham FC held last month with Eastern New York at CitiField in conjunction with their Queens Classic game against the Washington Spirit, which welcomed a large crowd of over 40,000.

The moderator of the panel was Soccer Forward Foundation Executive Director Lex Chalat and the other panelists were Yael Averbuch West (Gotham FC President of Soccer Operations), Pierre Soubrier (Gotham FC Director of Path to Pro) and Yanique Newman (Unique Ballers Founder).

Sue stated that “development and winning are not mutually exclusive. By developing players and making each one better, you win games.” She exhorted the audience that “if you picked 18 players, then play all of them during the game. What crushes your team culture is kids who are always on the bench and their parents become angry about that.”

Sue is a former member of United Soccer Coaches’ board of directors, chair of the Advocacy Council and academy staff instructor. She was honored with the association’s Women’s Soccer Award of Excellence in 2011, its Letter of Commendation in 2016 and its Charlotte Moran Long-Term Service Award For Youth Soccer earlier this year. Sue’s other honors include US Youth Soccer Youth Coach of the Year, Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame and Distinguished Educator, SUNY Cortland Alumni. 

As Eastern New York ODP coach, Sue suggested Phallon Tullis-Joyce transition from field player to goalkeeper and two decades later, she is now keeper for Manchester United and the US Women’s National Team.  

Sue Ryan speaking during the Grassroots to Pro Panel

Sue explained that the players who continue to improve rather than plateau are the ones who “experience great joy in playing. It’s important for the player to have joy with the ball. The kids who move on to the next level play street soccer with their family and friends. Continuing to improve is much more than structured practice with a coach.”

The Stony Brook resident concluded her remarks by saying, “You have to let your children steer the course. Kids ultimately need to make their own decisions about which team to play on, such as the community team with their friends rather than the higher-level team. Would they rather go to that party they were invited to rather than another practice?”

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Tim Bradbury Selected to Coach the 2011 Boys ODP National Team

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

July 28, 2026-Congratulations to our very own Tim Bradbury, who has been selected to coach the 2011 Boys ODP (Olympic Development Program) National Team. Tim will be scouting players next winter, then training the team for the IberCup in Portugal in spring 2027.

“It’s a short process as I’ll be scouting the players in Florida that the Regional coaches selected, then gathering together the team in Florida for four days of training,” Tim explained. “The challenge will be getting them all on the same page to play in a coherent manner in such a short period of time.”

Tim has served as the Director of Coaching of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) since 2011. He is the leader of an Educator team of 16+ coaches who provide US Soccer license courses from Grassroots to the “B” to Club Technical Leadership. Those who read his monthly coaching articles or come to his coaching courses know that he is a strong advocate of players making decisions on the field without interference from coaches or parents.

Tim is one of 20 US Soccer educator developers across the country and these are the coaches who teach people how to teach coaching courses. Anybody who teaches the Club Technical Leader 1 course has been taught by Tim.

Additionally, Tim just passed the course in Atlanta to become a FIFA educator developer so he can now teach FIFA courses as well.

The Stoke-On Trent, England native is a London University graduate who captained the British Colleges soccer team for four years and played semi-pro soccer while pursuing a master’s degree in sociology and education. Tim, a center midfielder, played for various youth clubs such as Trentham Romans, Staffordshire County Team, North of England Under-18 and Borough Road plus semi-pro soccer with Hounslow FC.

He left England in 1989 after he was offered a full-time education with Long Island Soccer Camp, which became the cornerstone of his soccer education. Shortly thereafter, Tim was hired to lead the York College men’s soccer squad where he was a two-time City University of New York (CUNY) Coach of the Year and his Cardinals won the very first CUNY men’s championship game, a 2-1 victory over John Jay College on October 27, 1990.

After four successful years at York, Tim went on to become the technical director of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Select Program in 1996, head coach of the Eastern New York ODP Girls Program from 2003 to ’05, head coach of the Long Island Rough Riders Super Y-League teams from 2003 to 2006 and was a member of the US Soccer Grass Roots Design Group from 2014 to 2016. While some coaches specialize in coaching one gender, Tim has been equally successful coaching both boys and girls.

The Smithtown resident holds the US Soccer “A” License, a United Soccer Coaches Master Coach Diploma and a US Youth National Coaching License. Tim coached former US Women’s National Team player Crystal Dunn on the Rockville Centre Power, Rockville Centre Tornadoes and Eastern New York ODP.

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Crystal Dunn to Be Honored For Her Lengthy International Playing Career

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

July 30, 2026-Crystal Dunn will be recognized for her extraordinary career with the US Women’s National Team during a pregame ceremony before the United States faces Spain on October 10 at Audi Field in Washington, DC. The game will feature the two best women’s national teams in the world as Spain is #1 with the USA right behind at #2 in the latest rankings as Spain are the defending Women’s World Cup champions and the USA are the Olympic gold medalists. 

The ceremony will celebrate Crystal’s retirement from international soccer and honor one of the most versatile players in US women’s soccer history. US Soccer also announced that the first 2,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a commemorative Crystal Dunn bobblehead.

Crystal surrounded by some of her adoring fans in her hometown of Rockville Centre, Long Island.

The honor is another milestone in a journey that began on the fields of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Crystal played for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) growing up as well as the Rockville Centre and Albertson youth soccer clubs. She led South Side High School to three state championships and went on to star at the University of North Carolina, where she won the 2012 NCAA championship and the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top collegiate player.

Her professional career included starring roles with the Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns, Gotham FC, Chelsea (England) and Paris Saint-Germain (France). She was the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner for top scorer in 2015 after being left off the USA roster for that year’s Women’s World Cup, a disappointment she spoke about to local youth soccer players in encouraging them to persevere. 

Crystal went on to earn 160 caps for the United States from 2013 through 2025, helping the red, white and blue win the 2019 Women’s World Cup, an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2020 and Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Equally comfortable as a defender, midfielder or forward, Crystal became known for her versatility, relentless work ethic and leadership on and off the field. 

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Shawn Tarquinio Is All-In as a Soccer Ref

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

July 30, 2026-Shawn Tarquinio never does anything halfway. He was a top player growing up in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), then became an “A” licensed coach with US Soccer. His coaching resume includes leading club teams, the St. Peter’s College women and he is well-regarded in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as he was an Olympic Development Program (ODP) coach and administrator for many years.

Shawn, whose “real job” is being a Salesman at United Fabrics based in Pennsauken, New Jersey, decided to become a referee two years ago.

“I wanted to stay connected to the game and earn some extra money so I became a ref as it was time for a new challenge,” Shawn explained. “I figured refereeing was a good way to continue to grow the game by seeing what’s happening up close on soccer fields. My experience could help young coaches and players.”

The 55-year-old East Islip resident has stayed busy on weekends as a referee and assistant ref on Suffolk County soccer fields.

Eastern New York Hall of Famer Jim Volpe has known Shawn since he was a boy, coaching him on the Oceanside Aztecs and said, “Shawn is all-in. He was with ODP and he wanted to become a referee so he resigned to concentrate on being a ref. No matter what he does, he’s always looking to improve and wants to be the best ref he can be.”

Thinking about being close to all the action and becoming a ref just like Shawn did? Eastern New York is seeking new referees to be in the middle and/or on the line as assistant referees in youth soccer games. The minimum age is 14 years old to become certified. You manage your availability so officiating works with all the rest that you do!

For more information, click here. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

ODP Tryouts Kick Off This Summer All Over Eastern New York

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

May 28, 2026-Youth soccer players dreaming of becoming the next Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton, Joe Scally and Phallon Tullis-Joyce will have their opportunity when Olympic Development Program (ODP) tryouts start this summer.

Those four current members of the US National Teams developed their skills with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association ODP when they were kids. ODP is the highest level of play in every state association and because our geographic region is quite large, we feature both North and South ODP teams.

Tryouts start with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 age groups, both boys and girls, at seven venues across Eastern New York. The full tryout schedule is here. 

For more info, please phone the Eastern New York office at 516-766-0849.

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

High School Seniors Can Apply For the ODP College Scholarship

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

May 12, 2026-The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the highest level of play in each state association. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has a particularly strong ODP and current US National Team players Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton, Joe Scally and Phallon Tullis-Joyce all developed their skills with Eastern New York ODP.

What has been added since those US National Teamers played ODP is the Eastern New York ODP College Scholarship Program. One boy and one girl will receive a scholarship. The criteria are:

  • Must be a high school senior.
  • Must be a current Eastern New York ODP player or have played Eastern New York ODP.
  • Must have a B average or higher.
  • Must plan on attending a school of higher education after high school graduation.
  • Must submit a 200-word essay on why you deserve this scholarship. (Essay must include name, address, phone number and e-mail address)

The application is linked here.

The entry deadline is June 30. Eastern New York would particularly like to thank the Cortlandt Soccer Club for funding the scholarships.

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Remembering the Remarkable Frank Kcira

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

April 16, 2026-The local soccer community is mourning the passing of Franush Kcira (fra-NUUSH CEE-ra), who passed away on April 10 at the age of 70 of cancer.

Nicknamed Frank, he was of Albanian descent and came to New York as a teenager from North Macedonia. Frank played in what became the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), and then professionally including with the New York Arrows of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).

Eastern New York Hall of Famer Ken Gulmi said, “Frank was a super guy. He was a midfielder who blew out his knee and reinvented himself as a goalkeeper so he could stay on the field.”

Frank started coaching his four sons in the Clarkstown Soccer Club, then coached other Clarkstown teams after his kids graduated from youth soccer. The New City resident coached in Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 1999 to 2006. With longtime MLS goalkeeper Tim Melia on the team, he coached Eastern New York ODP to the 2002 ODP National Finals in Plano, Texas.

Frank is in the back row on the far left with his Eastern New York ODP team of boys born in 1984 as the squad toured Greece and Italy in the summer of 1999.  This photo is from Formia, Italy, before defeating the local men’s team. 

His youngest son, Robert Baggio Kcira, was named after Frank’s idol, Italian superstar Roberto Baggio. Robert played ODP and went on to play pro soccer with SC Wiener Neustadt of the Austrian Bundesliga, the top tier in that country, as well as Miami FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL).

Frank coached for three decades in the Clarkstown Soccer Club and had a tremendous impact on the program.

“Frank was a great guy and nobody ever had anything bad to say about him,” explained Dimitri Giatrakis, another Eastern New York Hall of Famer who was very fond of Frank. “He embodied the very essence of kindness, fairness, love and devotion as a husband, father, coach and friend.”

We have lost a very good man. May he rest in peace!

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Eastern New York Places Four Players on the ODP National Team

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

April 21, 2026-The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the highest level of play in every state association. The Eastern New York

 Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has a particularly strong ODP and three current members of the US Women’s National Team––Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce––all developed their skills playing in our program.

On the boys side, four of our players––goalkeeper Austin Sheehan, midfielders Sean Mahoney and Nicholas Gentile and forward Angelo O’Connor––were recently selected to the ODP National Team. This is the second consecutive year that Austin, Sean and Nick have received this high honor while it is Angelo’s first time on this prestigious roster. 

While they credit ODP for enhancing their skills development in competing against kids with a similar lofty skill set, what also helped is all four played high school varsity soccer as underclassmen. Playing against teammates and opponents much older and bigger than them on a daily basis in the fall made them adapt and enhanced their skills even further. 

During Spring Break earlier this month, Austin, Sean and the rest of the 2008 ODP National Team played in the Eture Showcase in Valencia, Spain while Nick and the 2010 ODP National Team plus Angelo and the 2011 ODP National Team played in the IberCup in Lisbon, Portugal.

Eastern New York’s immense talent will be on display when we host the 6th Annual ODP Sub Regional on April 25 and 26 at Afrim’s Sports Park in Colonie.

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Sean Mahoney Selected to the ODP National Team For the Second Consecutive Year

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

April 16, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Sean Mahoney has been selected to the Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Team for the second year in a row.

His best experience with ODP so far has been travelling to Italy last year (photo above) with the ODP National Team to play in the 44th Annual Maggoni Righi Torneo Internazionale di Calcio, where they played pro academy teams such as Juventus and US Catanzaro 1921.

Sean has played for Eastern New York ODP from Under-12 through Under-18, the East Region three times and was the East Region team’s captain this past year.

From his midfield position, Sean helped lead New York Hota Bavarian 2008 Blue to the State Cup and Regional championship last year as well as the semifinals of Nationals.

He was a three-year varsity starter at Oceanside High School and captained the Sailors last fall to the Conference AAA championship and was named Class AAA Player of the Year, All-County, All-State, All-Region while leading Class AAA with 17 assists. 

The Oceanside resident hopes to continue scoring golazos (like this one for Hota during the 2025 Regional Final) for SUNY Cortland this fall.

ODP is the highest level of play in every state association. Eastern New York has a particularly strong ODP and three current members of the US Women’s National Team––Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce––all developed their skills playing in our program.

Our players’ immense talent will be on display when Eastern New York hosts the 6th Annual ODP Sub Regional on April 25 and 26 at Afrim’s Sports Park in Colonie.

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Nicholas Gentile Selected to the ODP National Team For the Second Consecutive Year

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

April 9, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Nicholas Gentile has been selected to the Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Team.

Nick’s composure on the ball and high work rate allow him to dominate midfield play for ODP, club team East Coast Surf 2010 and school team St. Anthony’s High School, where he has a GPA over 100. The St. James resident has played for Eastern New York ODP for three years and the ODP National Team for two years.

Nick Gentile is on the left playing for St. Anthony’s High School. Photo courtesy of the Gentile family.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed and moreover, appreciate my experience with the entire ODP staff and team members, realizing that much of my growth as a player has come from my time with this program,” Nick stated.

ODP is the highest level of play in every state association. Eastern New York has a particularly strong ODP and three current members of the US Women’s National Team––Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce––all developed their skills playing in our program.

Our players’ immense talent will be on display when Eastern New York hosts the 6th Annual ODP Sub Regional on April 25 and 26 at Afrim’s Sports Park in Colonie.

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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/