Eastern New York
Youth Soccer Association ENYYSA is very pleased to announce that Galway
Soccer Club President Darren Schaperjahn has been selected as our Boys
Competitive Coach of the Year. Our honoree coaches the Galway Leprechauns in the
small town of Galway, population 200. The Leprechauns played last spring in the
Capital District Youth Soccer League’s (CDYSL) Boys-Under-12, Division 2
North.
Team mother Eileen Lawson stated, “Darren has donated his time,
energy and sometimes his own money for children to play soccer. He is the type
of coach that can see a spark in a child and help them turn that spark into a
burning passion for soccer. He has taught the Leprechauns that they might be
from a small town but they can be very competitive with upper division
teams.”
Some youth cannot afford soccer supplies so Darren will find
gently-used uniforms and equipment for the kids,” she continued. “Over the
years, I know that there have been families who could not afford the $45
registration fee for their child to play soccer. Mysteriously, the money would
appear for the child to play.”
As club President, Darren recruits kids for the club’s
recreational program, staffs a table at school open house nights and even
purchases supplies, lines fields and puts up nets, all on a volunteer basis.
Darren is now being considered for Region 1 honors as well.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256
girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the nonprofit Eastern New York Youth
Soccer Association stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian
border. Members are affiliated with 12 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 Special Children. 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.
