Mass Youth Soccer Quarterly - December 2022

FINAL SCORE

Mass Youth Soccer

Mass Youth Soccer Annual Awards

Volunteer of the Year

Boys Recreational Coach of the Year

Administrator of the Year

Girls Recreational Coach of the Year

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year 10

Mass Youth Soccer Leadership Workships

Young Male Referee of the Year

Young Female Referee of the Year

Student-Athlete Scholarship Award

Student-Athlete Scholarship Award

DEI at Arlington Soccer Club

Danvers Youth Soccer Saluting Soldiers Festival

A Tribute to Dave Coutts

The passing of Dave Coutts, president of Coastal Youth Soccer and longtime schedule-master at the annual vMassachusetts Tournament of Champions, leaves both a massive pair of shoes to fill and an enormous on-field vlegacy across the state.

Yet Bob Trudeau will miss his conversations with Dave Coutts most of all.

“One of the things Dave loved more than anything else was a great debate,” recalls Trudeau, immediate past president of the Mass. Youth Soccer Association. “He was fiercely loyal to his home organization, Plymouth Youth Soccer, and just as loyal to Coastal Youth Soccer. If there were something being discussed that he felt wasn’t in their best interest, in the best interest of those kids and parents, he would certainly let you know. And he would defend his opinions — those conversations could go on for hours!

“But you know what? He was a great debater and I will treasure those conversations. I carry many of the scars from his barbs, but he was always respectful. He never raised his voice or pounded tables.

But when Dave would call me, when I saw that number flash on my cell phone, I’d tell my wife, I might be tied up for a while.”

Sitting MYSA Executive Director Michael Borislow points out that while Dave Coutts was initiated into the Mass Youth Soccer Hall of Fame, in 1998, that honor doesn’t begin to explain the wide ranging impact and legacy of this unique leader of men and women, this gifted conversationalist who never played soccer himself, this fellow who may have loved bird-watching above all things, who took the most difficult job at the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions and made it his own.

“Mass. Youth soccer will sure miss Dave Coutts and all the incredible hard work and dedication he gave us,” Borislow said. Yet he has left another incredible legacy through his children’s dedication to the sport. Jen, his daughter, we hope will continue fulfilling a similar role at the MTOC tournament. Two of his sons, Doug and Greg are referee mentors, coaches and board members of their towns. All four of Dave's kids were referees and all were refs at MTOC. Four of his grandkids are refs (Amelia, Anthony, Ryan and Alanda) and Declan is only waiting to be old enough to start refereeing. All have played soccer and continue to be avid fans.

David W. Coutts passed away peacefully on Oct. 14. He was born on June 1943, the only child of William and Gertrude (Ogg) Coutts, in Jamaica Plain. Young Dave was a boy scout and an avid member of the Boston Children’s Museum, where he first cultivated a lifelong love of bird watching. He attended Boston Technical High School where he lettered in track and was co-captain of the football team. He received a scholarship to play football at Northeastern University, where he played on the undefeated 1963 squad. He also sprinted on the track team.

After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he and the former Judy A. Foote were married before moving to Akron, Ohio, where Dave had secured a job at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. When the couple returned to New England in 1975, he accepted a position with Polaroid Corporation in New Bedford, MA. The family settled in Plymouth and never left.

“Dave was like many of us back in the 1970s, during the soccer boom — he didn’t know much about soccer,” Trudeau said. “He didn’t play it certainly. He was a great athlete but I don’t believe he played soccer growing up. A lot of us didn’t. I got involved when my kids got involved. Dave was the same way and he just kept right on coaching.

“And you know what? Once he was in a position of leadership, he could have had his pick of any D1 or D2 team to coach. But he would always take the lowest level team, to work with kids who needed skill work and a better understanding of a how to play this game. He did this for years after this kids passed through the program. I have a lot of respect for his doing that. It speaks to his character.”

Coutts’ role in the game grew from coach to president of the Plymouth Youth Soccer League, then to president of the Coastal League, one of 10 town-based associations in Massachusetts. His position there thrust him into the MYSA sphere, where he quickly came to be associated with state Tournament of Champions (MTOC). For many years Coutts served as director of this sprawling, statewide tournament, “though that was just one small part of his responsibilities,” Borislow reports. “He also served as league president for Coastal, for many years. Longer than any other president served in that role, I believe.”

As other MYSA folks took their turns in the MTOC leadership role, Coutts turned his attentions to tournament scheduling. Those familiar with this particular event understand what a monumental undertaking that is. For those who don’t: Imagine hundreds of teams massed around a single tent, with a dozen voices at any one time reporting scores, asking questions, anxiously waiting on standings and desperately trying to figure where and when their next match would be played — and against whom.

“Somehow Dave worked all the magic,” Borislow said. “The tournament itself is chaotic enough, but he was intimately involved with planning the tournament, as well, which is entirely volunteer run. Some years, the Friday before the tournament, kids were still in school because of snow days. You had teams qualifying only the week before. Then he was responsible to hundreds of kids, coaches and parents for all the score collections and postings.

“Not just anyone could handle that job. And it wasn’t easy at Coastal either, corralling all those town programs to play nice together in the sand box, while always being friendly and he always finding ways to pull people together. Dave’s skill set and persona were unique. He was a diplomat in a style that only he could be a diplomat.”

Trudeau agrees. “I know the piece of it he really loved about scheduling was all the teams huddling around the stand while he and Jen were there adding up points and writing up the names of four teams that advanced to the semifinals the next day,” Trudeau said. “It was a big job. It was mayhem: 180 teams, dozens of games every hour. He and his daughter did everything and it was one of his favorite things. He lived for that.

“In fact, I know one of the debates we had, one that was going on among leagues that run the Tournament of Champions, was whether to modernize the scheduling operation or not. Dave was fiercely protective of his system, which was basically just a bunch of excel spread sheets. We thought what with all the technology and apps now available, we might want to upgrade. It’s such a big, complicated job. Dave wanted nothing to do with that.”

Dave Coutts loved soccer, and he will be missed by hundreds of people inside the state’s youth soccer circles. But the game, nor little else, ever defined him. For many years he served as Scoutmaster for Plymouth Troup 9, the “Ramblers”. In that organization, he was famous for organizing trips to battlefields and historical sites all over the US and Canada. During this time, he received one of the Scouts’ highest honors, The Order of the Arrow, as well as the Silver Beaver Award. All three of his boys became Eagle Scouts. He also loved bird watching and all things Scottish. He found bagpipe music relaxing and would state that nobody made better shortbread than his mother. Dave was also an avid mountain climber, scaling much of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range during Polaroid hiking trips. He successfully completed a marathon. He was a passionate golfer and a committed member of his church.

“We had to adjust the schedule on Leagues Committee meetings, because Dave had to teach Sunday school,” Trudeau recalls. “He was just an all-around great guy. I’m really going to miss him.”

Dave Coutts was laid to rest, following a service at the Church of Pilgrimage in Plymouth, on Oct. 19. An interactive tribute book can be viewed here. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that mourners consider donating to the "David Coutts Fund", set up by his children: https://www.gofundme.com/f/david-coutts-fund

Tribute Written by: Hal Phillipa, Hal Phillips is the author of "Generation Zero: Founding Fathers, Hidden Histories & The Making of Soccer in America" and a proud MYSA alum...

Mass Youth Soccer Annual Awards

US Youth Soccer National Award Winner

Volunteer of the Year Jason Targoff

Jason Targoff has been a volunteer coach with Cambridge Youth Soccer since 2006 and has been President of the organization since 2014.

Under Jason’s tenure as President, the organization has doubled in size, with over 1700 players in fall 2022, and a population that truly represents the city of Cambridge. Jason has led the transformation of the CYS program through the creation of a vibrant city league, in which all CYS players participate, even those who also play on a select team with the CYS teams in the NECSL. The vision has been that City League soccer (aka “rec” soccer) should be high quality, competitive and fun, and not second-tier compared to any travel leagues. The growth in numbers at CYS is tied entirely to the development of low barrier-to-entry, competitive City League soccer.

CYS as an organization emphasizes the importance of player development through play and fun as part of all CYS activities, which depends on strong coaching across all levels. Jason has been working closely with the CYS coaching director and Mass Youth Soccer to help the CYS cadre of volunteer coaches, almost 200 strong, develop effective coaching techniques through a custom CYS coach training program.

Jason grew up in New York and played many sports as a youth and through high school. He and his wife Marcella have lived in North Cambridge since 2000. They have a 22 year old daughter and an 18 year old son, both of whom are former CYS players and graduates of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Professionally, Jason is a managing engineer at a small mechanical engineering firm in Waltham.

US Youth Soccer National Award Winner

Boys Recreational Coach of the Year Stephen de Garavilla

Stephen de Garavilla has been teaching, inspiring and motivating soccer players as a longtime coach in the Wakefield Youth Soccer Association. His coaching career began 35 years ago when he took on coaching his son and daughters kindergarten team. In the decades that followed, he has coached at many different age and skill levels in the WSA boys’ travel program and had one year coaching his youngest daughter's travel team. He also coached boys from around the Middlesex League as a head coach in the MYSA District Select Program. Stephen holds his E, F and G coaching licenses. Stephen served on the Wakefield Soccer Association board for a number of years as the rep to the Middlesex Youth Soccer League. He was instrumental in founding the town’s kindergarten and first grade intramural program. As part of this, he worked to institute the small-sided game format and to instill a love of the game in the youngest players while encouraging families to share their time, expertise and a fresh perspective to help keep the association vibrant, growing and successful. A lifelong student of the game, Stephen is always searching for the secrets to training soccer players. He is a continuous learner taking online courses, utilizing webinars, podcasts, books, watching many games along with other opportunities to remain current and relevant. He has mentored coaches and has inspired former players to begin their own coaching careers. Stephen is a strong believer in coaching individual skill development, possession style of play, letting the players demonstrate creativity, helping them develop field awareness, vision and their soccer IQ. He encourages his players to work hard at practice, to improve, enjoy themselves as they compete both at training and games and express themselves each week at their games. Throughout his coaching career, he has been striving to help his players develop both as soccer players and confident individuals.

Off the pitch, Stephen is a retired family dentist who practiced for 38 years in Melrose, MA. Prior to that he served in the Navy as a dentist at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina following his graduation from BU Dental School. He and his wife, Patty, are the proud parents of 3 grown children and 8 amazing grandchildren. Stephen, fondly known as Grampy, introduced each grandchild to the game of soccer and has been a strong presence supporting and coaching them. He derives great joy and satisfaction coaching soccer and making new friends along the way

Administrator of the Year

Sandy Frongillo

Sandy got involved in soccer and specifically Franklin Youth Soccer Association in 1995 mostly due to her wonderful husband, Rich Frongillo. As a result of his master's thesis (which focused on volunteerism and used FYSA as the subject), FYSA wanted to improve communication and she volunteered to be the FYSA Newsletter editor. She then joined the 14 member FYSA Board of Directors in 1998 as the Registration Director. In 1999, the Board reduced their size to only 7 members and decided to create a Club Administrator position to offload some duties from the volunteer directors and rent a space to be the central office and home of FYSA. Sandy became FYSA’s first Club Administrator and Registrar in May of 2000 and continue through today, handling all the soccer registrations of thousands of players through the years. At the time that she was hired, she was pregnant with her 4th child, so her children have literally grown up at the FYSA office and each have played and refereed through FYSA, into High School and beyond. She spent many years as a Soccer Mom with a few stints coaching as well, attaining her E coaching license. She has had the good fortune of collaborating with many Franklin Youth Soccer Directors, Board members, and Volunteers over the last 22 years. She has connected with thousands of families through soccer, and done her best to be “the face” of Franklin Youth Soccer and represent FYSA with integrity, honesty, and kindness to all coaches, players, and families.

Over the 22 years as Administrator, she has also been the CORI admin., worked with NE Revs as a liaison for their Youth Partnership program and organized NE Revs ticket sales for FYSA. She has been the Marketing creator and started the FYSA store stocking it with merchandise and soccer equipment for families. She maintains the FYSA database, and the scholarship programs both for financial scholarships for current families and also High School scholarships for graduating seniors. She has sought out opportunities for FYSA to help and partner in the community. Such as coordinating FYSA Soccer Events/ Tournaments with Dean College, organizing donations of used equipment to ship overseas through SOMOS and other church/mission trips, sought out grants and created “FYSA Goodie Bag” raffle prizes for local school auctions. Sandy is choosing to step back this year as the primary Administrator but will continue with the organization behind-thescenes and as a support for the new Administrators.

Girls Recreational Coach of the Year Guy Tassinari

Guy Tassinari grew up in Peabody, MA and started playing youth soccer at 9 years old (1986...Ugh). He played 4 years on the Peabody High School Varsity Soccer team, played on a few different soccer clubs on the North Shore, played Division I soccer for the Northeastern University Mens Soccer Team and played for a couple semi-pro soccer teams.

In 2013, when his daughters were old enough to start playing, he became a North Reading Youth Soccer coach. Despite being a small town, where registration numbers are low and there can be a large disparity in skill level, Guy would always try to bring the best out of each individual player and put them in position to succeed. His teams would always play indoor sessions in the winter to keep up with their touches, get more comfortable in tight spaces, force quick decisions and work together. His goal as a coach is to create a trusting environment where he can be honest with his players, be clear about what is and isn't working, and what is needed from them to grow as an individual player and to support their team.

In the end, soccer can be really complicated or really simple and for him it boils down to three things that he tells his oldest daughter, Reilly, before every game : First Step. First Touch. Have Fun.

Laura Doble

Laura grew up playing youth soccer in Peabody, coached by Silvio Albano and asst. coach Dick Murray on the original Peabody Hotshots. The Hotshots won the ECYSA championship a couple of times culminating in a win at the Mass state championship in 1982. She went on to play high school soccer as a Crusader at Bishop Fenwick High School. With a continued enthusiasm for the sport, Laura coached all 3 of her kids in the North Reading youth soccer program. She started with her oldest son’s team in 2008 and added her younger son’s team when he entered the program in 2011. More recently, Laura coached her daughter’s team from 2014-2022, for a combined total of 14 years as a No. Reading soccer coach.

Laura took advantage of the MYSA coaching courses and earned her G and F license. From those courses, she implemented practice structures that included small group activities and stayed away from the “three L’s”. No lines, laps or lectures! Together the Fusion coaches designed practices that were designed to be unique, challenging and fun. Most likely they included angles and triangles. Always believing in the development of players over winning or losing, she focused on teaching skills to learn fundamentals early on. The trio reinforced the fundamentals and built upon them year after year. As part of a small community with every 8th grader enrolled on one team, they were attentive to the individual needs of each player. She took pride in knowing that as co-coaches, they had created an environment where the girls could grow and learn. As youth soccer coaches their primary goal was to foster a safe environment for the girls to make decisions without fear, to make mistakes and learn from them, allowing them to be confident in their on field decisions. They emphasized respect for each other as teammates and a belief that the collective skill of the players would always be greater than those of the individuals. Laura is happy that the girls kept their love of soccer through all they accomplished while playing for the Fusion team.

Ryan Osterlind

Ryan Osterlind has been an Essex County Youth Soccer Association coach in the North Reading Youth Soccer system for twelve years and obtained his Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association Level F License early on. He has two daughters that he has coached through NRYS intramural and travel soccer.

As a coach, he has worked to help develop each individual player’s skill level, tactics and knowledge of the game of soccer. A typical practice would always include these three core elements and would usually finish with a scrimmage or drill of the players' choice, keeping soccer fun. After all, this sport is a game and they are just kids.

The North Reading Fusion team was formed in 2016 and coached by Guy Tassinari, Laura Doble and Ryan Osterlind. The team's name, “Fusion” was chosen to represent the unity needed to succeed as a team. The team qualified the for ECYSA tournament several times and in 2022, the North Reading Fusion, girls, grade 8 team won the ECYSA MTOC 1 division championship and proceeded on to the quarter finals round in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions.

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year Carmine Petrosino

Carmine Petrosino is one of the volunteer coaches for the North Reading Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program. Carmine has always enjoyed playing soccer from a young age through to his 30's. This included playing at North Reading High School soccer and numerous men’s league and indoor teams.

Both of his parents were born and raised in Candida, Italy (a small town of about 1,000 people) and immigrated to the United States. Many of his relatives remained in Italy and his family would visit them every summer during his youth. Because of this, he played many hours of soccer with his Italian cousins and friends. He learned to play soccer on cobblestone streets with players who were much better than him.

As he got older and had children, his love to play soccer turned into a love to coach soccer. He has had no formal training as a coach, but has been a coach in North Reading Youth Soccer since 2009 and a coach for TOPSoccer since 2018. He is currently a co-coach of the North Reading HIVE (girls grade 8 travel soccer team). Because of the many wonderful people at North Reading Youth Soccer and TOPSoccer, he has the opportunity to coach and considers it a blessing.

He hopes to continue to support North reading Youth Soccer and TOPSoccer in the future.

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year

Madeline LaMarche

Madeline is from Reading, Massachusetts. She has been playing soccer since the age of 5 and has participated in club, indoor, and town leagues on a variety of teams. She is a senior at Pingree School and has played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in her high school years. In addition to athletics, Madeline loves the beach, music, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with friends. Madeline has pursued her passions in and outside of the classroom, including becoming editor-in-chief of her school's newspaper, volunteering her time as a Writing Center student tutor, and helping to lead the TOPSoccer program in North Reading.

Madeline joined the TOPS program in her freshman year of high school at Pingree through her close relationship with the program's leader, Pam McIntyre, and the McIntyre family. She learned quickly what it meant to become a Buddy: dedication, organization, passion, and leadership. As a new buddy, Madeline had many experiences with different players, but eventually found her stride with Mikey for her first few seasons in the program. During her junior year, Madeline made a presentation at her school, further introducing TOPS to her community. Through this outreach, she was able to recruit 30 students from her school to volunteer for TOPS.

Because of the influx in numbers in North Reading's program, Madeline became Declan's Buddy, and has been for the last few seasons. Madeline has found her place in the TOPS program by recruiting, organizing, and leading those around her, and always enjoys her time playing soccer with Declan.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT

Young Female Referee of the Year Janelle Murphy

Janelle was involved with soccer by the Brockton Youth Soccer Association at the age of six years old. Her father coached her officially on a team for six years. He continues to teach and coach her and her sister today. Janelle’s involvement with soccer has shaped her character in every way. She is able to take challenges, obstacles, and uncomfortable situations to make her stronger. She bounces back from falling down both literally and metaphorically because of the lessons she has learned through experience. This determination translates into everyday circumstances where she is more capable to handle anything that comes her way.

The steps she has taken to improve upon her knowledge of the game are playing competitively for as long as she can remember, continuing to officiate the game, watching soccer, sharing and receiving knowledge from her family, and friends, and studying not only the laws of the game, but the game itself. Janelle is in the process of creating a program in Brockton where youth will have the opportunity to have soccer referee classes. She has been a club soccer player for 5 years and has played the game for 12 years. She has contributed to the Brockton Youth Soccer Association as a player and a referee. She refereed, and played in the South Shore Soccer league, the United States Soccer Federation, refereed the Independent School League and the Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Officials Organization for high school soccer refe reeing.

Janelle has demonstrated many examples of leadership within the community. She is an active church goer and is always either on the pitch, on a musical stage, or helping my community. Her impact has shown courage and determination within Brockton and the area and shows young females and youth in general that anything is possible with hard work and confidence will come. No matter what comes your way there is always a reason behind it and take what you have learned and apply it to your next step, as you are stronger than you think you are. A light is always shining, and everyone has their own path.

Young Male Referee of the Year Felipe Cerioni

Felipe is from Lancaster, Massachusetts. He began playing soccer at the age of five, and has continued to play since in some form or another. In addition to this, he follows soccer avidly. Currently, he attends Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is dual majoring in mathematics and economics.

He started officiating in 2016 in his local town league, and has since expanded to other leagues. He referees in many club leagues and has done multiple tournaments around the state. He strives to improve as a referee constantly, in every facet of refereeing.

While watching soccer games, Felipe will occasionally focus on what the referees are doing and how they do it, hoping to learn and become more comfortable with various game situations. He wants to continue refereeing and becoming a better overall official.

Student-Athlete Scholarship Award

Trevor Convent

Trevor Convent is from Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He has been involved with the Bridgewater Youth Soccer program over the past 12 years. Trevor played on many different travel teams, volunteered as a youth referee, and served as a volunteer instructor in the TOPS Program. Trevor was a four year varsity player for Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School, playing center back and earning the role of Captain in his senior year. Trevor was a participant in many different club soccer programs including GPS, FC Stars, LFC, and finishing the past several years with the New England Navigators.

In addition to soccer Trevor was a three year member of the Bridgewater Raynham Varsity Swim team. Often tasked with swimming the butterfly at events. Trevor was named captain of the swim team his senior year. Trevor was also a four year member of the Ultimate Frisbee Team earning captain in his Senior year. Trevor also served as Vice President of the National Honor society, was a member of the student council, and participated in education sessions about the dangers of distracted driving.

The coaches, teammates, and friendships have helped shape Trevor. Trevor is now pursuing a degree in Bioengineering at the University of New Hampshire and is still playing soccer for the UNH Club Team as a Center Back.

Student-Athlete Scholarship Award

Anna Flaherty

Anna Flaherty is from Lynn, Massachusetts. Anna started playing soccer at the young age of four through Lynn Youth Soccer and played all the way through high school. Throughout her years of playing she also played for Lynn Classical High School, Club Soccer and District 5 in the District Select Program. For the last fourteen years soccer has been a large part of Anna's life. Throughout this time playing soccer Anna has been able to make memories and lifelong friends.

With the game of soccer, you may sometimes experience the "negative" aspects of the game... injuries. Although Anna has dealt with her fair share of injuries she did not let them get her down. She always tried to take the setbacks and spin them the best way she could. Through her injuries, she was able to find another passion in life. The human body, and more importantly how to heal the human body. Physical Therapy is not only the place she went to heal her injuries, but now will be her future career path. Anna now attends the University of New England where she has started her collegiate soccer career and studies Applied Exercise Science.

DEI at Arlington Soccer

Mass Youth Soccer spoke with Travis Baggett, Arlington Soccer Club (ASC) Vice President on the club's DEI goals and associated action steps.

To fully understand ASC's work, we asked Travis to give us an overview of the club's DEI commitment and work plan. Drawing on his personal experiences growing up and playing soccer. Travis noted that DEI initiative were not all that visible. In 2020, during the pandemic he began to reflect on the sport he loves while trying to figure out how the broader conversation about race, racism, injustice and equity fit into soccer, ASC and the Arlington Community.

Travis collaborated with ASC's Board to incorportate DEI into the club's 'who we are and what we do' conversation in order to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. The board collectively supported the idea and the need to create a more equitable environment to support all youth players and families.

DEI-related issues within ASC

In order to address the question “What do we know about the state of DEI in the program now?”

ASC conducted an internal analysis of 2019 participant registration data to examine the state of DEI-related issues within the club. From this data, ASC found that they were not reaching the most diverse schools and by extension not eaching families and players in these areas. The data also showed that girls were underrepresented relative to the number of girls in Arlington and female coaches were even more underrepresented, making up only 20% of coaches. The analysis suggested that the club had some work to do.

In the summer of 2021, ASC convened a DEI Committee to begin identifying priority areas for future DEI efforts

Who to lean on for Expertise and Feedback

Over the subsequent year, the committee sought input from town DEI officials, local DEI stakeholders, and regional and state soccer officials. One key individual Travis talked highly of was Caroline Foscato, Executive Director and founder of South End Soccer. South End Soccer, now part of Soccer Unity Project, is a non-profit providing urban youth the opportunity to play soccer. The introduction led to a collaborative dialogue and the exchange of ideas which helped infrom ASC's DEI's goals and action items. It is important to note that ASC's work plan did not happen overnight, it took ASC over a year to formulate. This is something that they have never done before and there was a lot to work through. Organizationally, ASC wanted to make sure that they took a thoughtful approach while also balancing it with the sense of urgency, to begin implementing changes and creating opportunities. ASC has received an immense amount of support and positive feedback from the community. Support also came from Mass Youth Soccer at the state level and BAYS at the league level.

For a full overview of Arlington Soccer Club's initial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals and association action steps, click on the following link:

www.arlingtonsoccerclub.org/40002-2/

Memorable Moments

While learning more about the work that was being done we asked Travis about key successes and memorable moments thus far. He called out Goal #3 in the club's DEI Workplan: To develop and deliver adaptive soccer programming for participants with intellectual, emotional, and/or physical differences. In the spring Arlington Soccer Club piloted a free TOPSoccer program for 5 to 18-year old players with intellectual, emotional, and/or physical disabilities. As the ASC TOPSoccer Coordinator, Travis was feeling a bit nervous going into the first practice. It wasn't until he looked around at all the TOPSoccer players and

buddies smiling and having fun that he felt some clarity. He noted that it was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. The success of this pilot program prompted the ASC Board of Directors to vote unanimously in favor of making TOPSoccer a routine part of ASC’s Fall and Spring programming. ASC is now a Mass Youth Soccer TOPSoccer community and will continue to collaborate with state soccer officials and member communities to enhance access to soccer for people of all ability levels in Arlington and across Massachusetts. Travis is proud that they now have a program that there was a clear need for.

Advice for other Clubs/Organizations.

DEI is a very broad umbrella that encompasses a wide range of inportant issues. Although you may want to do as much as possible, sometimes you have to start by making a few deliberate steps that are focused. It is important to realize that your initial steps are not the definitive DEI plan, but merely the start. To begin, choose specific focus areas, set concrete goals and then expand as you go. For example, an ASC DEI committee member collaborated with BAYS officials to change the pregame check-in process by players by number rather than names in order to reduce stigma around mispronunciation or preferred name.

When creating a DEI work plan, it is important to approach this process in an open and non-defensive way. Start every conversation showing your willingness to learn with the attitude of humility.

What the State Soccer Community Should Know

We are sometimes reluctant to do this type of work because we are afraid getting it wrong or that we are not the right person to do it. Although you may not be an expert in DEI, you have to be willing to try and do the right thing with the possibility of making mistakes. The consequences of not acting would be far greater than the consequences of trying to do something right and getting some things wrong along the way. It is important to realize that it is okay that you are not an expert, it is never going to be perfect. The most important thing is that you begin the process, collaborate with DEI stakeholders and continue to learn and enhance your efforts.

Danvers Youth Soccer Saluting Soldiers Festival

We asked Jeffrey Chambers, Director-at-Large a few questions about the Danvers Youth Soccer Saluting Soldiers Festival...

Can you give a brief background on the Danvers Soccer Saluting Soldiers Festival?

The original idea for the Festival was the result of discussions following the annual Danvers Invitational Tournament held each May. People commented on how much fun it was for the younger kids even though the DIT focuses on older competitive groups. A group spent about a year putting together a plan to host an event that focused on younger players having fun, could be held on one site and be done to benefit a local community organization. Once the selection of Veterans Day weekend was established, the partnership with Operation Troop Support was a natural connection. OTS provides an Honor Guard for opening ceremonies each day, joined by our referees and members of the high school band and choral groups.

The first event was held in 2006 and has been held every year except for 2020 due to the pandemic. We have been fortunate to receive support from our referee community, our awards and apparel vendor Blanch and Son, and LazerLines has provided field lining at no charge since the beginning. The Town of Danvers has always made sure the fields were in great shape, helped move goals from other fields and provided dumpsters or trucks at no charge. We also receive amazing support from Essex County Youth Soccer Association helping to promote the event, reaching out to referees, towns and coaches and providing equipment in the form of tents, tables, chairs and other needed items. Volunteers from the DYS Board, coaches and parents, high school students and using all-volunteer referees, along with our vendor support have allowed DYS to donate almost $150,000 to OTS over the years. The donation is used to pay for holiday mailing/ shipping expenses of the OTS program.

I see that all net proceeds will be donated to Operation Troop Support, can you explain what this organization is/does?

Operation Troop Support was founded in 2003 to provide care packages and family support to active duty service personnel stationed overseas and in US military hospitals around the world. More info about OTS is here: https://www. operationtroopsupport.org/

What items are collected for troops during this tournament?

Items collected are primarily personal care items along with books and stable snacks/candies. One of the most important things collected are the greeting cards that the players fill out at the fields to be sent.

Why is it important to Danvers Youth Soccer to hold this tournament each year?

The event is important in a very practical sense in that OTS needs the funding for mailing costs. There are no discounts provided by USPS or other carriers despite the invaluable service they provide to deployed service personnel. It also gives DYS a chance to give back to the community, teach kids about the meaning of Veterans Day, and provide the players a chance to be the focus of an event while offering the opportunity to meet and play against other towns and opponents that they wouldn’t normally see.

What are some memorable moments from the Danvers Youth Soccer Saluting Soldiers Festival?

There are lots of memorable moments, many dealing with New England weather, setting up tents in 50 mph gusts, rescheduling to avoid unsafe wind chills, proving hydration and sunblock on 70 degree days. Hearing the cheers for opponents when the medals (dog tags) are handed out. Seeing the kids waiting patiently in line to write holidays cards to the troops. Having entire teams show up with bags full of donated items. Seeing them play with great sportsmanship and joy just for the sake of playing, with no championships or trophies at stake.