US Youth Soccer & NH Soccer couldn’t be prouder to congratulate our 2023 award winner Kevin Skarupa from Merrimack Youth Soccer for all he has achieved this past year! Kevin was selected as 2023 Competitive Boys Coach of the Year in the East region.

Kevin’s dedication, hard work, and passion for youth sports have truly paid off. Join us in celebrating their remarkable accomplishments and let’s show Kevin some love.

US Youth Soccer’s Regional Award Winners Honored

FRISCO, Texas (November 20, 2023) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) announced today the regional recipients of its annual awards. Nineteen different State Associations from across the country were represented with a regional award winner, showcasing the true scope of USYS.

Following a voting process that started at the state-wide level, the following candidates will now be considered for the national honor in each respective category.

EAST REGION
• Administrator of the Year – Terry Reed (Delaware)
• Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – Kevin Skarupa (New Hampshire)
• Boys Recreation Coach of the Year – Nate Testman (West Virginia)
• Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Kyle Courteau (Massachusetts)
• Girls Recreation Coach of the Year – Lloyd McIntyre (West Virginia)
• TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year – Matt Rosenthal (New Jersey)
• TOPSoccer Coach of the Year – Timothy Schwabenbaurer (Eastern New York)
• Volunteer of the Year – Dana Santilli (Massachusetts)
• Young Female Referee of the Year – Kayla Romine (Virginia)
• Young Male Referee of the Year – John Allen (West Virginia)

MIDWEST REGION
• Administrator of the Year – Brittany Monroe (Kentucky)
• Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – Trent Heil (Michigan)
• Boys Recreation Coach of the Year – Joseph Schmidt (Ohio)
• Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Simon Davis (Ohio)
• Girls Recreation Coach of the Year – Christina Fidkowski (Michigan)
• TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year – Rayna Young (Wisconsin)
• TOPSoccer Coach of the Year – Brooklyn Turner (Wisconsin)
• Volunteer of the Year – Tracy Black (Kentucky)
• Young Female Referee of the Year – Alexis Pickerel (Michigan)
• Young Male Referee of the Year – Jack Ryan (Wisconsin)

SOUTH REGION
• Administrator of the Year – Rob Martella (North Texas)
• Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – Cesar Salinas (Tennessee)
• Boys Recreation Coach of the Year – Jeremy Lansing (Tennessee)
• Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Gentry Johnson (Mississippi)
• Girls Recreation Coach of the Year – Edith Verastegui (North Texas)
• TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year – Ashlyn Oglesby (North Texas)
• TOPSoccer Coach of the Year – Elizabeth Warlick (Tennessee)
• Volunteer of the Year – Rufus Woodard (Tennessee)
• Young Female Referee of the Year – Janna McNulty (Louisiana)
• Young Male Referee of the Year – Edson Lopez (North Texas)

WEST REGION
• Administrator of the Year – Trent Hultman (Wyoming)
• Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – David Ferguson (Wyoming)
• Boys Recreation Coach of the Year – Thomas Adu (Wyoming)
• Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Brian Hokanson (Wyoming)
• Girls Recreation Coach of the Year – Vic Bonilla (New Mexico)
• TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year – Emma Coughenour (Wyoming)
• TOPSoccer Coach of the Year – Stacey Umbach (Wyoming)
• Volunteer of the Year – Jim Handy (Washington)
• Young Female Referee of the Year – Ingrid Yan (Washington)
• Young Male Referee of the Year – Jacob Dirks (Arizona)

National winners will be announced later this month, and each recipient will be honored at the 2024 US Youth Soccer awards event, “The Ball.” Set to be held on January 12, 2024, The Ball will
be held in Anaheim, Calif., in conjunction with the USYS Workshop at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

About US Youth Soccer
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.

NH ODP Tryouts – What is ODP / Why ODP?

Register Today for Tryouts here: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/8193432D1?reg_role=player

Ages eligible for tryout: Birth Years 2013-2007 (U12-U17 for 23-23 Season)

Boys Tryouts: June 14th* 

Girls Tryouts: June 15th*

Location: NHSA Soccer Complex in Pembroke, NH

 *Deferred Tryouts offered to those registering and unable to attend

What is ODP?

NH ODP is a supplemental program to your soccer team.

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a national identification and development program that identifies youth soccer players throughout the country, to represent their state association, region, and the US National Youth Teams in international soccer competitions.

ODP teams are formed at the state and regional levels, made up of the best players in various age groups. At the state association level, a pool of players are identified in each eligible age group and brought together as a group to develop their skills through training and competition. This Training Pool takes place in New Hampshire from November to February. From the state pools a State team is selected to represent New Hampshire to play against other State Teams in regional events. From State Teams players are identified for regional and national pools and teams.

Why ODP?

In 2021, Greta Caulton from our 2005 Girls NH Team was selected out of hundreds of players to be on the East Region ODP team. Greta attended the ODP Interregional Event in November where she played for the East Region and competed amongst the top ‘05 Girls across the country! Based on her play in the tournament, the ODP coaching staff selected Greta to the 23-player roster to represent the ODP National Team for her age group. Greta traveled down to Tampa, FL in January to meet her teammates from around the country and showcase her abilities in front of the national staff, top academies, and college coaches. Her coach…US Soccer Legend, Brandi Chastain. Greta has committed to play at the University of New Hampshire. She is just one of many success stories within NH ODP and its alumni every year.

More Information can be found here: https://soccernh.com/odp/the-program/

Please direct any inquiries to: odpadmin@soccernh.org

NEW HAMPSHIRE ODP NIGHT

We are excited to have players and families of New Hampshire Olympic Development Program (ODP) join us on November 1 at Wildcat Stadium. We hope families from all age groups and genders can attend on Tuesday night to support New Hampshire Wildcats playing their final regular season match vs. UMass Lowell. The New Hampshire Wildcats are currently 11-3 and in first place in the America East.  ODP Director, Brad Campion, is the assistant coach of the Wildcats and U12 Boys Head Coach, Panos Galatas, is the program’s Director of Operations. Come out and watch the highest level soccer in the state of New Hampshire!

ODP Families, check your emails for more information coming from Ed Royer, ODP Administrative Director, odpadmin@soccernh.org

WHERE: WILDCAT STADIUM, DURHAM NH

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov 1st at 6 PM

WHAT: UNH VS UMass Lowell

ENTRY IS FREE

PARTICIPANTS YOUR NIGHT INCLUDES:

• Tailgating on Bremner or Tucker Fields starting at 4 pm
• Watch warm-ups from the sidelines
• Tunnel entrance for UNH players as they walk out from the locker room
• Youth players are chosen by you to participate in the “International Walk-On” with UNH players for the national anthem
• Ability to use field during half-time for 10-12 minutes of small-sided games
• Announcement over PA system
• Meet UNH players for pictures and autographs following the game

SCHEDULE:

4:00pm: Families arrive and park in Boulder Lot- 145 Main Street, Durham, NH

4:00pm-5:00pm: Families tailgate in parking lot. Youth players (8^th grade and younger) are allowed to use Bremner Field, if it is reserved for us, or Tucker Field.

5:00pm-5:45pm: Families and youth players can watch warm-ups and interact with the UNH players

5:45pm: Youth players line up for ‘Hype Tunnel” and to participate in the International Walk-Out and National Anthem.

6:00pm: Families and youth players return to the stands to watch the first-half

6:40pm: Youth players head down to the side of the field/gate to get on.

6:45pm (Half-time): Half-time scrimmages. Your organization graphic displayed on scoreboard, announcements made about the youth club, etc.

6:55pm-8:00pm: Youth players return to stands for second half. Staff and families to clear the field quickly

Post-Game: UNH players sign posters, take a group photograph, Next game graphic on the scoreboard