NEWS FROM THE INSTITUTE

New Hartford, N. Y. - New Hartford Youth Football president, Rick Marchitelli, has scheduled a coaching certification class with the SUNY Youth Sports Institute (YSNY) for Wednesday, July 28th.  Many coaches from the North Utica Pop Warner program will also be attending. The course is scheduled to begin around 5:30pm at Mohawk Valley Community College in Room IT-225 and will last two and a half hours. At the end of the class a short certification test can be completed on site or electronically at www.youthsportsny.org. 

SUNY Youth Sports Institute Instructor Dan Sullivan will lead the course on Wednesday evening.  Sullivan has been an instructor in multiple trainings throughout New York State and helped coordinate the New Hartford certification course with league president, Rick Marchitelli.  Marchitelli said he set up the certification course in an effort to "help get a better understanding between coaches and the youths that they are coaching."  Marchitelli also said, "Coaches need to remember that kids aren't little adults; they are still kids and certain techniques and strategies need to be implemented with that in mind." 

The SUNY Youth Sports Institute expects to add approximately fifteen coaches to its growing list of certified members this Wednesday.  If you are interested in becoming a SUNY Youth Sports Certified Coach you can register online for this course at the cost of $20 or find future training dates at http://www.youthsportsny.org/eregistration.html.

Watertown, N. Y. - Watertown Youth Football and Cheer president Kimberly Hill has coordinated a youth coaching certification course with the SUNY Youth Sports Institute (YSNY) for Wednesday, July 28th.  YSNY instructor and SUNY Canton head athletic trainer, Christine Scuderi, will be the instructor present on Wednesday evening.  The course will take place at the Eagles Nest VFW located at 19260 U.S. Route 11, in Watertown, NY and is scheduled to begin at 6:00pm.  The session will last approximately two and a half hours and at the end of the course a short certification test can be completed on site or electronically at www.youthsportsny.org.

The upcoming course will be open to all of the Watertown area Pop Warner programs and is mandatory for all Watertown Cyclone coaches.  Watertown Cyclone president Kimberly Hill feels the course will help their league because "it will help give both their new and experienced coaches a better understanding on how to deal with youth sports."  Hill also mentioned that she scheduled the course in hopes to "learn some helpful training ideas and keep the kids in their league motivated to play sports."

The SUNY Youth Sports Institute expects to add over fifteen coaches to its growing list of certified members this Wednesday.  If you are interested in becoming a SUNY Youth Sports Certified Coach you can register online for this course at the cost of $20 or find future training dates at http://www.youthsportsny.org/eregistration.html.

Tarrytown, N. Y. - The Tarrytown Wolfpack Youth Football President, Chris Hutter, scheduled a mandatory coach's training session with the SUNY Youth Sports Institute (YSNY) on Monday, July 12th.  The Tarrytown Recreation Center, which is located at 238 West Main Street in Tarrytown, NY, provided a comfortable environment for the event which ran for about two and a half hours.  At the conclusion of the meeting, all of the coaches took a short certification test.

Dave Furfaro was the SUNY Instructor who instructed 16 Tarrytown coaches at Monday night's course.  Before Monday night's course over 140 Westchester Youth Football League coaches had received instruction and certification for the upcoming season. 

Due to Tarrytown Youth Football's affiliation with the Westchester Youth Football League, all coaches must have a YSNY Coaching Certification in order to be on the sidelines this fall.  There will be one more round-up course for all uncertified Westchester Youth Football League coaches in Pleasantville on August 25. If you are interested in attending that course or would like to become a YSNY Certified Coach for another program you can register online at http://www.youthsportsny.org/eregistration.html.

Date: 7/15/2010
For Immediate Release

Owego, N. Y. - The Owego Youth Football program has set up a training date with the SUNY Youth Sports Institute and is inviting other local youth programs to join them.  Vestal Youth Football, Apalachin Youth Football, the Owego Boys and Girls Club, and Owego Youth Soccer are among the other programs expected to attend the course.  The coach's training session will take place July 17th at the First Presbyterian Union Church starting at 9am.  The church can be found on 90 North Avenue in Owego, NY.  The training is expected to last approximately two and a half hours and at the completion of the course a certification test may be completed on site or online at www.youthsportsny.org.  The test takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.  

The SUNY Youth Sports Institute already certified 30 Owego Little League coaches last February.  The trainer at that course, Gary Vail, will also be instructing Saturday's course.  Vail is one of the SUNY Youth Sports Institute's most intriguing instructors due to a successful coaching and athletic director career at the high school level.  Most recently, Vail instructed a course in June with various sport coaches in Whitney Point.  

If you are interested in becoming a SUNY Youth Sports Certified Coach you can register online for this course at the cost of $20 or find future training dates at http://www.youthsportsny.org/eregistration.html.

On May 29, the Carman Little League in Rotterdam, NY held a Sandlot Day that attracted around 30 kids of various ages.  Jed Ingersoll, president of the league, was introduced to the idea through a New York Times article citing the SUNY Youth Sports Institute and its idea for taking one day out of the season to give the game completely to the kids.  The league firmly believes in the need for adults to back off every once in a while so the players can build a sense of ownership and, subsequently, a passion for the game.  "Today there is so much parent involvement.  Kids are constantly told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. We wanted to give the kids a chance to figure things out for themselves" said Ingersoll. 

To kick off this event, the Carman little leaguers picked captains, chose up sides, and took the field, some in their team uniforms but most in street clothes.  One parent, watching from the bleachers, was surprised at how capable the kids were of picking their own teams without any hard feelings.  The parents also enjoyed watching their kids play with new teammates and mixed ages.  Ingersoll was pleased to see that "the older kids gave the little kids confidence by playing with them and allowing them to play all positions.  They didn't always stick them in the outfield."  After nearly three hours of playing, they had to wrap it up, though the participants insisted that the league put another one together in August.  The day was a great success and the Carman Little League intends to make Sandlot Day a regular part of each season to come.    

Date: 7/14/2010
For Immediate Release

Monticello, N. Y. - In February, 2010, Vincent Gilmore and Dennis Martin launched the Monticello YMCA Youth Basketball League.  Initially, participation in the league was minimal, with only 15 children registered, but by April their league participation had multiplied to 85 children.  Due to the rapid growth, Gilmore and Martin plan on having the league in session year round with a short break between each season.  The predominantly instructional league has two age divisions, 8-11 year olds and 12-17 year olds.  Currently, each division has approximately half a dozen teams.  July 10th marked the beginning of the league's summer session in which Gilmore and Martin expect to see continued growth due to added interest from the local community. 

Gilmore attributes much of the league's success to the SUNY Youth Sports Institute's coaching certification class that he and Martin attended last January. Gilmore felt "the class was very informative and he learned a lot about working with youth sports despite being a recreation major in college."  Because of this, Gilmore and Martin have made the SUNY Youth Sports Institute coaching certification mandatory in order to "ensure all of their coaches and volunteers involved with the league are knowledgeable when it comes to coaching youth basketball."  Gilmore feels the public perception of their league has improved since mandating the course and their "increased credibility" has helped generate more community sponsors. 

The Monticello YMCA Youth Basketball League currently has 28 SUNY Youth Sports Institute certified coaches and volunteers.  For more information on the Monticello YMCA Youth Basketball League visit http://www.middletownymca.org/sullivancountyymca/index.shtml.   To learn more about the SUNY Youth Sports Institute visit http://www.youthsportsny.org. 

For Immediate Release

Rochester, N. Y. - The SUNY Youth Sports Institute and Monroe Community College have teamed up to provide a great summer sports camp experience for children age 6 to 18.  Monroe Community College, one of the many SUNY Youth Sports Institute training site affiliates, made the decision to train all of their counselors and staff involved with the MCC summer sports camp.  The camp programs cover multiple sports and are in session for five consecutive weeks, running from June 28th through July 30th.  

Monroe Community College program director of Health and Physical Education, Dr. Elizabeth Kelly, was responsible for coordinating the training with the SUNY Youth Sports Institute.  Kelly said "even though their staff is primarily filled with professional coaches, the course provided them with a great review of coaching techniques and training drills.  More importantly the course has helped to teach the veteran coaches how to coach younger children than they may be used to working with.  For the young counselors who are new to coaching, the course provided great training and helped everyone on staff to have a common philosophy."  Currently the Monroe Community College summer camps are in their third week and Kelly feels confident that each camper has left the Monroe Community College summer camps with a "great experience."

To find more information on the Monroe Community College summer sport camps visit http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/kids/.  If you would like to learn more about the SUNY Youth Sport Institute visit http://www.youthsportsny.org/. 

For Immediate Release

Yonkers, N. Y. - The North Yonkers Knights Youth Football League is back in action after a seven year layoff due to exceptional local leadership.  The league, which was established in 1963, has scheduled a mandatory coach's training session with the Youth Sports Institute for Wednesday, July 21st.  The training is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm at Gorton High School, which is located at 100 Shonnard Place in Yonkers, NY. The course will be taught by SUNY Youth Sports instructor Dave Furfaro, of Westchester Community College, and will last approximately two and a half hours.  At the conclusion of the course a short certification test, that takes approximately half an hour to finish, can be completed on site or online at www.youthsportsny.org.
 
Jerry Thompson, President of the North Yonkers Knights, is currently a SUNY Youth Sports Institute certified coach and was in charge of coordinating the upcoming training.  Thompson said, "The league now requires all coaches and assistants on the sidelines during games to be certified through the SUNY Youth Sports Institute.  This is an excellent step in the right direction because the course will help our coaches with everyday coaching skills including, dealing with parents, developing practice plans, and keeping the kids interested in football."   

Recently Dave Furfaro has conducted two training sessions with the Westchester Youth Football program which attracted over 120 coaches and he expects to add at least twenty more in Yonkers.  If you are interested in becoming a SUNY Youth Sports Certified Coach you can register online for this course at the cost of $20 or find future training dates at http://www.youthsportsny.org/eregistration.html.  The proceeds of this course will be distributed to Westchester community college.

Full Release

June 13, 2010

by Mark Hyman
March 26, 2010

Just wanted to give you an update that Penfield Little League is thrilled with the training and certification! Everyone is doing a great job and in fact we are getting media attention because of it--local TV interviewed us on Opening Day and we have media coming out tomorrow night to talk about our certification and what we learned about nutrition and young athletes---this was the best program we ever enrolled in! Thanks for your help.

Best--Greg, Penfield Little League

-Train 200 Pop Warner Youth Football Coaches

Morrisville, NY. With nearly 100 teams under his direction, Lyle Malbouf, President of Tri-Valley Pop Warner teamed with Morrisville State College Head Coach Terry Dow to provide one of the most dynamic youth coach's trainings of 2009.

The day began for volunteer coaches and professional instructors with a continental breakfast at 7:30AM near the new Morrisville State multi-purpose athletic facility and football field. Following registration the conference crowd filled the auditorium and was welcomed to campus by Ray Cross, President of Morrisville State College.  Lyle Malbouf spoke about the need for consistency in conduct across this vast Pop Warner League. The opening remarks ended with Coach Dow introducing the day's schedule of events and speakers.

Youth coaches from a vast territory of Central New York attended this full day of mandatory instruction in coaching theory, skills and drills, high level football made age-appropriate, health and safety and practice planning.  The first presenter, Tim Donovan, from the SUNY youth Sports Institute began training with seven modules in coaching non-school youth sports. After lunch, Coach Dow's schedule of breakout sessions held spectator interest and generated a lot of Q&A throughout the day.  

Guest lecturers included coaches who are well known in both CNY and across the nation in college football.  On the offensive side Dan Hunt from Colgate University was speaking on the Spread Offense, coach Dow on the I Attack, and Morrisville QB coach Lisi on the Passing Game. On the defensive side of the ball, Dan Conley LB coach from Syracuse University covered Odd Man D, while coaches Jay Davis and Joe Adour of Morrisville addressed Even Man Fronts and D-Back Coverage Schemes.

This outstanding day of camaraderie and learning ended with critical sessions on health and safety, followed by Morrisville head trainer Todd Kleinhaus on practice planning.

College players hold 3rd annual combined clinic for Little League players while coaches get instruction in YSNY coaching certification at Dutchess Stadium



Wappingers Falls, NY - One of the most successful Youth Sports NY events, the annual Hudson Valley Players and Coaches Clinic at Dutchess Stadium, was held on May 10 with fantastic results. Six SUNY collegiate baseball programs, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster Community Colleges along with Monroe College, volunteered their time to run a clinic for various Little League teams with over 130 children participating. The young ball players were first entertained by a home run derby before breaking into groups for stations and individual instruction from the college athletes. Meanwhile, Tim Donovan, the SUNY Youth Sports Institute Executive Director, lead the Youth Sports NY Coaching Education and Certification Program for the Little League coaches that attended.

What makes this clinic so successful is the fact that it not only helps the coaches, but the children as well. At this single event, the coaches become better coaches and the kids become better players, thereby improving the overall quality of the Little Leagues that attend. Of the Hudson Valley Coaches and Players Clinic, Tim Donovan had this to say:

"The 30 college ballplayers, from five SUNY college teams and one private school, Monroe College, who donated their time for this clinic are solid role models for Little League players. Without fanfare or compensation, these season long college competitors have come to this event for a third year for one simple reason- to make a lasting impression on these children. The Youth Sports Institute is very grateful for their continued support of this program"

- Tim Donovan, SUNY Youth Sports Institute Executive Director

Non-school youth athletics could not survive without volunteers. Every year recreation and youth sports directors are faced with the challenge of filling volunteer positions with knowledgeable, effective personnel. Many have voiced concerns about overtaxing their volunteers' valuable time with mandatory training/certification in adolescent development, youth coaching, safety and health, sport psychology, etc. A recent study conducted by the SUNY Youth Sports Institute (Spring 2010) suggests these concerns are unfounded.

While forty percent (40.5%) of the study's participants explained that their choice of not mandating some form of coaching certification is based upon a fear of losing coaches, less than three percent (2.5%) actually had a coach leave due to a mandatory training requirement. The results of the study suggest that the primary reason coaches vacate their volunteer roles is that their children "graduate" from the program.

For a copy of the abstract please contact the SUNY Youth Sports Institute here.

April 14, 2010

DIX HILLS, NY - The Dix Hills Soccer Club and the SUNY Youth Sports Institute launched a new training partnership on April 4th when more than 40 youth soccer coaches were trained in the Institute's instructional training program, Youth Sports NY.

The President of the Dix Hills Soccer Club, Bob Rocco, identified the Youth Sports NY training for his coaches because there is a need to keep the "fun" in the game. He says, "Youth Sports NY's focus is on giving the players the freedom to enjoy the sport they are playing.   Youth Sports NY provides coaches with the tools to motivate their players while not draining their emotional tanks."

Of all the different elements the training provides, Rocco felt the Youth Sports NY training left his coaches with a better understanding of how to encourage "fun," and to understand that they are not just teaching soccer, but by promoting play coaches instill memories that will last a lifetime. 

Overall, Rocco was extremely pleased with Youth Sports NY and the SUNY Youth Sports Institute and would spread the word of Youth Sports NY to the rest of Dix Hills and Suffolk County.

"As youth sports continue to grow on Long Island, the coaches of the Dix Hills Soccer Club spent constructive time with a representative of the SUNY Youth Sports Institute.  Together they discussed the different issues and obstacles that youth coaches and players face and different ways to keep the kids interested, safe and happy playing the sport of soccer. Over 40 travel and intramural coaches attended the class and all received numerous tips and ideas on how to keep their players motivated with positive and helpful feedback.  I highly recommend this class to all youth sports programs."

- Bob Rocco, Dix Hills Soccer Club President

If you or your organization would like to have your coaches trained like the Dix Hills Soccer Club, then please contact us, the SUNY Youth Sports Institute, by phone, 877-828-8811 or email, info@youthsportsny.org. Also, the see if there is already a training scheduled in your area please contact the Continuing Education Department of the nearest SUNY Community College go to www.youthsportsny.org.

Mandates SUNY Youth Sports Training for all Travel Team Coaches

Commack, N. Y. - The Commack Youth Soccer Program will be holding a mandatory coaches training on Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The training session will be held at Burr Intermediate School Auditorium located on Burr Road in Commack, NY. Following the training, a certification quiz can be taken on-site or completed electronically.

 

The SUNY's youth coaching program, Youth Sports NY, has trained 4,500 youth coaches across the state in the past 24 months including a number of trainings on Long Island. Recently, over 60 coaches received instruction in the Amityville and Dix Hills Youth Soccer programs. In Syosset, 100 coaches were trained for their youth baseball program.

Non-little league youth baseball program mandates 100 coaches and managers

Syosset, N. Y. - In two trainings, the SUNY Youth Sports Institute trained one-hundred and one youth coaches in the Syosset Youth Baseball Association. The two training sessions occurred on Friday, April 9, and Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at H.B. Thompson Middle School in Syosset, NY. Vincent Manchise, a member of the New York State Umpires Association, was the instructor for the two trainings. 

The Syosset Youth Baseball Association is a Sandlot Day 2010 participant.

District 8 Little League trains 65 in first offering of SUNY Certification

Baldwinsville, N. Y. - The SUNY Youth Sports Institute trained sixty-five youth coaches in the Baldwinsville Little League on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. The training session was held at C.W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, NY. The Baldwinsville Little League paid for all Baldwinsville personnel. 

One-Hundred (100) Little League coaches trained by Monroe Community College Coaches

Fairport, N. Y. - The SUNY Youth Sports Institute held a training session for all youth coaches in the Fairport Little League on Monday, April 12, 2010. Overall, the Institute trained one-hundred youth coaches at the event. The training session was held at Perinton Community College located in Fairport, NY. The Fairport Little League paid for all Fairport personnel.