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Referee

Join the 3,000+ Refs in Eastern New York

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

May 19, 2026-The physician’s assistant asked me a pointed question I sometimes receive after I say that I’m a soccer referee.

“How are the parents?” he asked.

I replied, “Most parents are great but I will find an overly enthusiastic parent every once in a while.”

The overwhelming majority of players, coaches and parents are wonderful. I met some of my closest friends on soccer fields and how different, and less fulfilling, my life would be if I did not take up the whistle when I was 16 years old.

I was volunteering as a teenage coach in a summer intramural league, a league so informal that each head coach refereed half the match. I quickly realized that I was a much better ref than coach so my coaching career soon ended and I became a referee. 

My story is one of many as the reasons for refereeing are as diverse as the 3,000+ refs in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Many referees are happy to become certified after their playing career ends or the team they are coaching ages out of youth soccer.

Randy Vogt refereeing the South Shore Bulldogs. Photo by Michael Blackton.

As a referee, you become (or stay) fit, learn to manage people, you are your own boss and go directly to the customer, all while earning money.

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!

You never know the difference you could make until you begin. 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/

Sportsmanship Makes a Huge Difference on Youth Soccer Fields

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

May 6, 2026-It’s very simple, only one team can win a soccer game but both squads should be having fun. Especially on the youth level.

Lately, a few people have forgotten this, or that the children and teenagers are there to play a game and have fun, the coaches are there to coach, the refs are there to officiate and the spectators are there to cheer. Unsavory incidents receive headlines while there are many wonderful expressions of sportsmanship that do not garner the same attention. In the games I have officiated, I’ve seen:

• Kids helping up opposing players who have fallen to the ground

• Kids asking opposing players, “Are you all right?”, after fouling them

• Teams routinely kicking the ball out of play when a player is injured and the other squad throws the ball to the other team when play resumes.

• Coaches not fielding 11 players, just the same number of players as the other team until everybody shows up.

• Teams switching player positions, playing the ball back to their keeper upon getting possession, trying to score only on headers, etc., when playing against overmatched opponents so that the score does not get out of hand.

• Opposing players and coaches shaking hands after games. There are approximately 25 million handshakes after Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) matches annually.

In a 2025 Project Play survey of youth soccer players in the New York City metro area, 48% of kids said playing with their friends, 46% replied having fun and 45% said learning or improving skills were their reasons for playing youth soccer. Only 23% cited winning as the reason.

Our Zero Tolerance Policy has very stringent penalties but we would prefer that everybody behaves appropriately. As we continue the Spring Season, let’s not lose sight of why we are involved.

A number of refs have reported that games go much smoother when they see opposing coaches greeting one another before the match. Photo courtesy of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League.

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/

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

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

March 4, 2026-There are many wonderful things that happen when a person starts to ref youth soccer games 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.

The growth in programs of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has created a continuous need for more soccer referees. 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.

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/

Geoff Davis Inducted Into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame

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

February 9, 2026-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that longtime volunteer Geoff Davis 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.

Geoff grew up in the Bronx, came to Oneonta State as a student in 1965 and never left the area. He taught physical education at Oneonta State for 40 years.

Like many other families, his introduction to organized soccer came when his kids, Alexis and Zachary, started playing.

In 1989, he took up the whistle as a soccer referee and is still officiating today. He’s refereed youth games, adults and high school games but stopped officiating college games over a decade ago. Geoff is President of the Oneonta Soccer Referees Association plus Secretary/Treasurer of the Delaware-Ostego High School Officials. Additionally, he’s a referee instructor and assessor.

In the early 1990’s, Geoff served as President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Oneonta Soccer Club, then became Registrar and Treasurer of the Mid-State New York Soccer League. Geoff always made the lengthy trip south to attend ENYYSA meetings.

After serving as Mid-State’s Registrar for 25 years, Geoff left that role a few years ago for a new one as the league’s Referee Retention Coordinator.

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/

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.”

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/

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.

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/

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 

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/

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!

Courtesy of the Massapequa Soccer Club

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

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/