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Health & Fitness

EVAN DABBY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER

New Jersey Youth Soccer announced today that former Major League Soccer senior staff member Evan Dabby has been appointed Executive Director, effective immediately. Dabby will oversee all aspects of the state association’s business operations.

“We are very excited to have Evan join our organization. He is an excellent choice to replace the retiring Joe Robb. Evan brings to this position a very strong soccer and administrative background. His forward vision will assist us in maintaining and improving our programs,” said NJYS President, Roy Squillario.

Evan’s administrative challenge will be to further develop numerous programs offered by New Jersey Youth Soccer, including recreational, competitive and developmental youth soccer programs.

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“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help families in my home state grow the beautiful game at the youth level,” said Dabby. “We have an incredible and storied soccer tradition in New Jersey, developing some of our country’s brightest talent, including Tab Ramos, Claudio Reyna, Gregg Berhalter, Tim Howard, Christie Pearce, Heather O’Reilly, Tobin Heath, Carly Lloyd, and so many others. New Jersey Youth Soccer facilitates a healthy, inclusive environment for more than 150,000 young people to add life skills while playing the game they love. I look forward to working closely with the leagues, administrators, coaches and families to build on NJYS’s strong foundation.”

Dabby joins NJYS after 16 years in MLS’s league office in New York City. During his tenure at MLS, he was an integral part of the League’s operations department, which grew from overseeing 12 teams to 19 teams during his time there. Dabby helped establish and maintain League standards in game and stadium operations, game production, team travel, security, supporter relations and sports medicine. In his most recent position as Senior Director of Supporter Relations & Safety, he spearheaded MLS’ concussion-education and prevention program, as well as other player safety-related initiatives, working directly with club and medical staff, as well medical boards, players and their union.

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Dabby brings with him to NJYS a rich soccer background. Growing up in Tenafly, New Jersey, he earned All-State Honors as captain of the men’s team at Tenafly High School, which won the 1993 Bergen County championship. He subsequently played four years of soccer at Tufts University, where captained the team and earned All-New England honors. He went on to earn a graduate degree from New York University in sports management.

Evan, his wife Kira, and their two children live in Freehold, NJ where he continues to play soccer.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER

New Jersey Youth Soccer, a 501(c) (3) organization affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation, is comprised of more than 156,000 players from 5 to 19-years-old; 40,000+ coaches; and thousands of volunteers. Members collectively support the sport of soccer through training, practice, competition and the spirit of good sportsmanship. The association features recreational and travel soccer programs at multiple skill levels; Olympic Development Programs (ODP); tournaments including the National Championship series; coach and referee training and certification programs; and TOPSoccer, a program for children with special needs. The New Jersey U.S. Youth Soccer ODP provides training and competitive programs for players of the highest caliber for the purpose of increasing the success of the U.S. National Teams. To learn more, visit njyouthsoccer.com or call (609) 490-0725.

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