By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
October 20, 2020-The
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Ed Short is our Volunteer of the Year. Ed was nominated by three from Lansingburgh Youth Soccer in the
Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) and has served on the Lansinburgh Board of Directors for the past 15 years.
Marie Cole, a fellow Board Member in the club, wrote “his love for the game started on a travel team as a youngster in the Under-12 age group…Coach Ed started as a coach for his two nieces, one of them is now in college and the other coaches girl’s high school varsity soccer at Hoosic Valley Central School. I’m sure they must have been influenced by their Uncle Ed…He will always hold a special place in the hearts of his players. He’s a wonderful coach and always has what he needs in his trusty equipment bag. Tape, extra socks, candy, granola bars, tiger balm, etc. If you needed the kitchen sink at a soccer game, it would be in there!“
Stacy Ward wrote that “Lansingburgh is a poverty-stricken community comprised of predominately single parent households. It’s a financial hardship for many parents to endure registration, tournament, travel and uniform fees so their child can participate. In some cases, the time commitment is too much for these families. Ed has removed that barrier to participation by covering the associated fees, arranged travel accommodations and additional meals for many of the athletes, in most cases anonymously to eliminate any embarrassment or shame a player or parent may feel. While providing financial support is certainly worth accolades, Ed has had a much larger impact on this community. He sends countless hours off the field mentoring players, he arranges events and activities for the players to participate in and provides unwavering support.”
One of his players, Mackenzie Adams, wrote, “Ed has been and continues to be an extremely positive influence in my life. As a coach, he provided me with structured practice of skills, team-building and courage to take on new positions on the field as well as commitment, handling pressure and accountability to a team. In life, Ed has been a constant role model and a source of social/emotional support for me…He was always there for me or any of the other girls on the team if we needed to be cheered up. He treated us like his own daughters. In my eyes, Coach Ed has always been a part of my family because of all the time and effort he has put in supporting me as a person and a soccer player.”
With approximately 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 nine 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 United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.