Referee

Hannah Stahl Honored as the Eastern New York Young Female Referee of the Year

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

February 8, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very proud to announce that Hannah Stahl has been honored as our 2025 Young Female Referee of the Year.

The ceremony took place at Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, January 24 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

Hannah is a Walden resident who started refereeing three years ago.

“Since that time, Hannah has blossomed into one of the Hudson Valley’s most improved and youthful referees,“ commented Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association (HVSRA) President Brian Baer. “She has participated in multiple indoor and outdoor tournaments in our area. Due to her improvements on and off the field, Hannah was selected to officiate the 2025 State Cup finals, as referee for the Girls-Under-13 championship match and fourth official for the Girls-Under-14 final. We see a bright future for Hannah.”

She is a senior and student body president at Valley Central High School, plays two sports—soccer and lacrosse––and was selected to the All-Section girls soccer team for Section 9. She volunteers her time coaching 4- and 5-year-old players for the Orange County Soccer Club and plans to major in elementary education in college.

From left to right: State Referee Administrator Joe Brosi, US Youth Soccer Chairperson Tina Rincon, Hannah Stahl, State Youth Referee Administrator Cheryl Aronson

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/

Jules Mehmet Honored as the Eastern New York Young Male Referee of the Year

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

February 8, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very proud to announce that Jules Mehmet has been honored as our 2025 Young Male Referee of the Year.

The ceremony took place at Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, January 24 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

From left to right: US Youth Soccer Chairperson Tina Rincon, Jules Mehmet, ENYYSA 2nd Vice President Bill Smith

Jules is a 15-year-old Manhattan resident who started refereeing three years ago. He started off with Under-6 and Under-7 recreational games and is now a member of the New York Soccer Referees Association (NYSRA).

NYSRA First Vice President Harris Rasheed wrote that “Jules serves as an inspiring example of dedication and achievement within the US Soccer Referee community. His approach to officiating retains the perspective gained through years as a player, consistently applying lessons and values from the field to his role as a referee. His time spent with referees at all levels, notably guided by mentors such as Arthur ‘Chip’ Reed, has been integral to his rapid development and unwavering enthusiasm for the role…

A hallmark of his career is his dedication to community involvement. Since first picking up a whistle, he continues to referee, coach and volunteer for the local recreational league where his journey began. Jules ensures time for refereeing early morning youth matches each weekend, demonstrating his genuine commitment to Grassroots soccer. Beyond officiating, he is active in helping organize his team’s logistics and uniform distribution, and eagerly participates in training and educational sessions, often as the sole youth participant among adults.”

Tony Padmore Inducted Into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame

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

January 28, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Tony Padmore has been inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place at our Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, January 24 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

From left to right: ENYYSA Hall of Fame Chairperson Ken Gulmi, Tony Padmore, US Youth Soccer Chairperson Tina Rincon, ENYYSA 2nd Vice President Bill Smith

Tony grew up in Trinidad and Tobago and after emigrating to New York in 1970, he started playing soccer in a league in Prospect Park. In 1986, he began coaching his children, Rhonda and Michael, in the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) when they took up soccer. From 1986 through 1996, Tony coached intramural teams at St. Rita’s. In 1994, when the club needed a new Director, Tony stepped up and ran the club for two years while also coaching.

In 1990, Tony also started coaching at Staten Island United, doing so for the next 14 years, plus serving as club Secretary in 1998 and 1999.

While this is all very impressive, Tony is best known today as a referee, which he has done with a passion for over three decades. He was President of the Staten Island Soccer Referees Association (SISRA) from 2003 to 2005, then has been the SIYSL assignor for the past two decades. He was inducted into the SIYSL Hall of Fame back in 2012.

Ed Kobos Receives Lifetime Membership From the Mohawk Valley Soccer Referee Association

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

January 22, 2026-Congratulations to Ed Kobos, who was honored with Life Membership from the Mohawk Valley Soccer Referee Association (MVSRA) toward the end of last year. Lifetime Membership is the equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Ed founded MVSRA back in 2001 and has had a long and distinguished career of officiating plus serving soccer in the Mohawk Valley,” explained MVSRA President Christopher “Kit” Hutchinson.

Ed started officiating soccer with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) in 1986 and as a high school ref in 1988 and moved quickly up the ladder, officiating the Section 3 Class D boys championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse and the high school state finals in Oneonta.

In 1996, Ed started to become very involved with the Oneonta Soccer Referees Association (OSRA) and refereed tournament games there at the National Hall of Fame Fields as the US Soccer Hall of Fame was in Oneonta at the time. In 2001, State Referee Administrator (SRA) Jose Vargas suggested that Utica should have its own ref organization, so Ed plus Art Durando founded MVSRA.

“For the first two years, we utilized instructors from Albany and Oneonta to teach our classes,” Ed explained.

The New Hartford resifdent served as MVSRA President from its founding in 2001 to 2018, an amazing 18 years in charge! Ed continued to move up the ladder and became a Regional Referee, Instructor and Assessor all under the US Soccer banner. He refereed and assessed Regionals as well as refereeing adult matches plus the Central New York State Soccer League (CNYSSL) and Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Additionally, Ed refereed Empire State Games played in Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica plus college matches.

In 2018, he was selected to be the Referee Liaison and assignor for Utica City Football Club of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) and did so well that he added United Elite Krajisnik FC when they joined MASL-2 in 2023. Ed also serves as scorekeeper and timekeeper for MASL games at the Adirondack Bank Center.

Ed’s hip has been acting up and he is not as active as in the past but as his plaque suggests, he has KTBR (Kept The Business Running) in making sure that every game was officiated by a qualified referee for the past four decades.

Thinking about joining Ed and thousands of other soccer refs on the field? 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, log on to https://enysreferee.org/how-to-become-a-referee/. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org

Make It Your New Year’s Resolution to Become a Soccer Referee or Assistant Ref

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

December 30, 2025-The growth in programs of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has created a continuous need for more soccer referees so please consider making it your New Year’s resolution to become certified. There will be certification classes held in 2026 throughout Eastern New York.

Courtesy of the Long Island Soccer Referees Association

Our certified referees and assistant refs are expected to handle 80,000 assignments in 2026, when the World Cup will also be played in the USA, Canada and Mexico, which should increase the popularity of soccer even further.

There are many wonderful things that happen when a person starts to ref including earning money, learning to manage people, learning more about the game, staying or becoming fit, expanding yourself by leaving your comfort zone as well as meeting the greatest people on soccer fields, including your new officiating colleagues. Becoming a youth soccer ref could be one of the best decisions you ever make!

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

Courtesy of the Hudson Valley Soccer Referees Association

Introducing the Green Badge to Help Support Young Refs Even More

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

October 2, 2025-Nobody yells at Student Drivers who are properly identified and the adult drivers around them show patience instead. That’s the concept behind the new Green Badge introduced by US Soccer. Those in the referee community, including myself, have advocated for this concept. This new badge, worn by all certified referees under the age of 18, becomes a key element of US Soccer’s ongoing #RespectTheCall campaign.

The Green Badge is one way of strengthening that culture by helping protect our most vulnerable referees: Youth refs, who also make up the largest portion of our referee community.

Young referees are often the most exposed to sideline pressure and verbal abuse. By providing a clear visual cue that an official is a minor, the Green Badge reminds players, coaches and spectators to show patience, encouragement and respect. The Green Badge creates safer spaces for young refs to learn, gain confidence and stay connected to the Beautiful Game.

• The Green Badge is now required for all refs under 18 at the time of certification or recertification

• Even if a ref turns 18 mid-season, he or she will continue to wear the Green Badge until the end of that registration year

• Everybody is expected to demonstrate respectful behavior to all refs but especially to those wearing the new Green Badge

Referees are vital to the game’s success and ensuring that officials of every age feel safe and valued is essential to continuing to grow soccer in the United States. The Green Badge is more than just a symbol, it’s a pledge from the soccer community to stand behind refs to not only survive but help them thrive.

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/

Nominations Now Being Accepted For the Of the Year Awards

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

September 12, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is asking that each member, club and league turn their attention inwards to their volunteers and outstanding members in an effort to acknowledge those whose contributions have truly made a difference. We’re seeking nominations for a variety of awards to demonstrate our appreciation for the hours of devotion these valued individuals donate to our players.

Eastern New York will select a person in each category who will receive our recognition at our Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, January 24, 2026 and possibly receive additional recognition at the National level. Last year, we received a nomination in nearly every category because our members took the time to nominate somebody.

The entries are on an online form that is linked below. Please complete as comprehensively as possible.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Young Male and Young Female Referee of the Year

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Administrator of the Year

Boys Recreation Coach of the Year

Girls Recreation Coach of the Year

Boys Competitive Coach of the Year

Girls Competitive Coach of the Year

Nominations for the above awards must be received by October 15, 2025 to be considered.

As with everything else, your nominees have to be in it to win it! Last year, Owen McCormack was honored as the National TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year, which made a big difference in the life of a teenage boy, but he won partly because the Manhasset Soccer Club took the time to nominate him.

Please take the opportunity to recognize the best and brightest through this great awards program.

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/

Gurhan Dolgun is Reaching the Top as a Soccer Referee

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

August 12, 2025-Congratulations to Gurhan Dolgun who has quickly become one of the best referees in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Gurhan took up the whistle eight years ago at the age of 25 as he loves soccer and all its passion. His assessments were very good so he became a Regional Referee in 2022 and is a National Referee Candidate for 2026. He refereed the Eastern Regionals three times and US Youth Soccer’s Nationals three times as well. He was named the Most Outstanding Referee at this summer’s Nationals and refereed the Boys-Under-19 final that was streamed live on ESPN.

Additionally, Gurhan was honored as the 2002 New York Soccer Referees Association (NYSRA) Referee of the Year and 2024 Eastern New York Soccer Referee Association (ENYSRA) Referee of the Year. Plus he’s preparing for the upcoming college soccer season as well after refereeing the Ryder-Vass Cup final (Under-23) in the Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL) last month.

The Flushing resident does all this refereeing in addition to having an e-commerce business by selling on Amazon and eBay.

Would you like to join Gurhan on the soccer field? Eastern New York is seeking new referees to be in the middle and/or on the line as assistant referees in youth soccer games throughout the state. 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, log on to https://enysreferee.org/how-to-become-a-referee/. 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. 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 onto http://www.enysoccer.com/

Sophia Aurrecoechea Receives Eastern New York’s Jack Bauman Scholarship

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

July 7, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Sophia Aurrecoechea of Islip Terrace is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship.

The scholarship’s namesake is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club and Eastern New York. The Jack Bauman Scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.

Sophia wrote in her essay that “soccer has shaped who I am. As a varsity goalkeeper and travel player for the Long Island Slammers, I’ve learned leadership, resilience and dedication. This year, I committed to play for Nazareth University, where I will major in Physical Therapy. My dream is to help others the way soccer has helped me. Diagnosed with dyslexia at age eight, I’ve worked hard to overcome challenges in school while thriving on the field. I refused to let a learning difference define me. Instead, I embraced it––transforming it into a source of strength. Soccer became my outlet, where effort and heart mattered most.”

Sophia was an Honor Roll student at East Islip High School and played soccer, golf, was on the track team and was captain of the flag football team.

Additionally, she received the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in the Girl Scouts. She volunteered with Just For Kicks, the East Islip Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer Program, and was an intramural referee for the club, both for the past six years.

Besides competing for the Long Island Slammers, she played for East Islip, the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Academy plus the Eastern New York and the Regional Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams during her youth soccer career.

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/

Becoming a Ref Could Be One of the Best Decisions You Ever Make

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

June 24, 2025-The Soccer Mom rolled down her car window as she and her daughter were leaving the soccer complex.

“Thank you, ref!” she said. “I know it’s a thankless job.”

“Not really,” I countered. “99% of the people are great!”

Maybe 99% is an exaggeration but at least 95% understand that youth soccer features kids playing a game and they, their coaches and the refs make mistakes, although never on purpose. Very few treat the game like the World Cup final.

I should know as I’ve refereed in six different decades, starting as a teen when Jimmy Carter was President. And the vast majority of people have treated me great and I heartily expect that will continue.

There are many great things that happen when you referee as you meet new people, learn leadership skills, learn to manage people, learn to remain calm at all times, you are your own boss and go directly to the customer, you expand yourself by leaving your comfort zone plus you get (or stay) fit, all while earning money on the side.

Becoming a soccer referee was one of the best decisions I ever made and that could be the same for you! The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is seeking new referees to be in the middle and/or on the line as assistant referees in youth soccer games throughout the state. 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, log on to https://enysreferee.org/how-to-become-a-referee/. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org

Michael Blackton photo of Randy Vogt refereeing the South Shore Bulldogs

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 onto http://www.enysoccer.com/