Boys Recreational Coach of the Year: Sascha Thein

This coach is from Space Coast United SC, where she has coached for the past nine years. She has shown great versatility by coaching various age groups. Emphasizing sportsmanship and player development, she has contributed to the game that we all love in such a positive manner. 

Girls Recreational Coach of the Year: Jennifer Gloer

This coach has developed players on and off the field with a strong focus on character and sportsmanship. She is committed to player development and retention at West Florida Flames, where she strives to instill passion for the game in each and every player! She further serves the community as a full-time public-school teacher. 

Boys Competitive Coach of the Year: Miguel Gallardo

This coach has a vast knowledge of the game and represents the  South Orlando Soccer Club. He builds players both technically and skillfully, motivating them to be their best. He keeps expectations high as a goalkeeper coach, director of coaching, and the coach of three teams! He creates an environment where players lift each other up and congratulate each other on successes and victories. 

Girls Competitive Coach of the Year: Tanner Vaughn

This coach is an exemplary coach, who focuses on training the whole player. He is an active member of our community who is invested in players beyond his own teams. He encourages growth, passion, and a positive attitude in each and every player. Hard work and dedication define his teams.

Recreational Club of the Year: Charlotte County Soccer Federation

This club’s goal is to provide a fun and respectful environment where a growth mindset is cultivated in players, coaches, and board members. Their core values are integrity, dedication, and teamwork, which have fostered the success of their recreational program. With camps, clinics, and various training sessions, this club creates many opportunities for young athletes to participate in the game we all love. This club is determined to be the Gold Standard for youth sports in the area.

Administrator of the Year: Mike Levine

There are hundreds of soccer administrators throughout this state that make the game possible for thousands of kids. This year’s winner is essential to the success of Jacksonville Football Club (JFC). He facilitates both competitive and recreational play. He also supports the Fletcher High School soccer program and Beaches Soccer League.

Volunteer of the Year: Jeffrey Cohen

Jeffrey has contributed to the recreational program at Greater Boca YSA for over twenty-five years. Jeffrey is now a member of the Board of Directors, serving as Treasurer while still coaching in the recreational division. But, like so many other dedicated volunteers, anytime there is a need, Jeffery is willing and ready to step up!

Young Male & Young Female Referee of the Year: Jake Joyce & Rebecca Greenberg

FYSA is fortunate to have so many dedicated referees. Like our teams, Florida referees are also leaders in the Southern Region. Annually we recognize two up-and-comers who serve the soccer community by officiating. Both Jake and Rebecca went through the vetting process to be inidividually invited to be officials as one of the state wide FYSA finals weekends this spring. From there, both went on to represent Florida referees as part of the selected group that were sent to officiate the 2022 USYS Southern Regionals. We hope to see even more of them for years to come as part of the "third team" at FYSA & USYS events.

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year: Alex & Tanner Hart

TOPSoccer Buddies engage players one-on-one, modeling desired behavior and ensuring player safety. Buddies assist, guide, direct and teach the game of soccer and its skills while creating a fun learning experience. This year’s award for TOPSoccer Buddy of the year actually goes to two individuals. Both are long-time TOPSoccer Buddies and are known for their dependability and dedication. They’re known locally as “super buddies” who can truly do it all for TOPSoccer.

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year: Lin Hurley

Lin started coaching with the Saber/TOPSoccer program in 2000 when the program first began. She creates excitement and enthusiasm for children who might never experience a team sport. Over the past 21 years, she has watched these players grow up and form meaningful friendships with fellow athletes.  Lin is also a Founder and Director of the After School Exceptional Child program at the YMCA.

TOPSoccer Volunteer of the Year: Kieley Whittaker

This individual has contributed to South Orlando Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer program with both her leadership and vision. This extraordinary volunteer has worked with both Nike and United World Printing to help foster an understanding of the importance of the TOPSoccer program. Many members of South Orlando Soccer Club were SO impressed with how she led the TOPSoccer program that they nominated her to be on Channel 13’s Everyday Hero.

TOPSoccer Club of the Year: South Orlando Soccer Club

South Orlando Soccer Club (SOSC) employs a philosophy of soccer for all and believe in developing not just great soccer players, but great people. The SOSC TOPSoccer program is unique because it is lead and operated by a student/athlete and all volunteer buddies are also student athletes.  The SOSC TOPSoccer program is successful because it is well organized,  every athlete has a volunteer buddy, and the activities can be adjusted to level of the athlete.

FYSA Photo of the Year

More about the Photo:   Ryan Rogers was a player in Palm Beach Gardens since he was 5 years old. Tragically, Ryan was killed in November 2021 at the age of 14. He was a U15 player at the time of his passing. His brother, Justin, played in the spring of 2022 in the U15 boys division. His team won the tournament championship trophy, which unbeknownst to the team & family, had been renamed the Ryan Rogers Cup. This is a picture of Justin Rogers holding the inaugural Ryan Rogers cup in front of the banner in his brother's honor.

Click here to see the photo

FYSA Veo Goal of the Year: Nyela Calnek

This video is from a Sunshine Conference Academy match. Nyela is a member of the SABR- Team Boca 2004 Girls White team. With incredible finishes like this one it is no surprise that this team had tremendous on-field success this season. The team was crowned USYS National League Sunshine Conference Academy U19 Girls Champions, FYSA State Cup U18 Girls Champions, and USYS Southern Region U18 Girls Champions. Nyela was also named to the 2005 Girls ODP National Training Camp player pool this past winter.

Click here to watch the Goal

FYSA Save of the Year: Ryan Hernandez

This video is from the Florida State Cup final game.  Ryan is a member of the Strikers Miami FC 2004 Elite Team. With key saves like this one it was no wonder this team was in the top 2 in their group for National League P.R.O. and made it to the Semi Finals at Southern Regionals. During this match the team had a 1-0 lead with ten minutes remaining. Ryan's team fouled inside the box, causing a penalty. With Ryan saving this penalty, the team was able to hold on to the lead and be crowned State Cup Champions. 

Click here to watch the save

Region C Friend of Soccer: Jim DiNobile

This award recognizes an individual from the soccer community who has made a lifelong impact on our great game. This year’s winner could not be more deserving or, frankly, have more accolades. No one can claim to know soccer in Region C without knowing Jim DiNobile.

Jim has dedicated over 50 years to the soccer community as a player, coach, manager and mentor. The thousands of lives he has shaped in the game will forever cement his legacy in Florida Youth Soccer. This award is only a small recognition of his tremendous contributions.

2022 FYSA Hall of Fame Inductee: Sandra 'Sandy' Parker

In Sandy’s 17 years with youth soccer, she served as a team manager, a registrar, a Tournament Administrator, sat on multiple committees, and served in several administrative positions within the world of youth soccer. In 1992, Sandy was elected to a board position with FYSA and contributed as a member until 2015.

Sandy also served at the National level with US Youth as the Florida Region 3 Representative during Regional and National events, as the FYSA State Cup Chair, and the FYSA Presidents Cup Chair from 2006-2015.

In addition to her service as a Board member for FYSA, she served as Clearwater Chargers Administrator for the Thanksgiving and Labor Day Tournament, Club Registrar (2004-2012) and Club Board Member (1998-2007).

During Sandy’s time as VP of Competition, she played a huge role in providing the springboard for a period of unprecedented success within FYSA’s competitive programs. She established the Florida State Premier League and reached record highs in Florida State Cup participation.

Sandy earned her spot in the prestigious FYSA Hall of Fame after years of commitment and dedication to youth soccer. These days Sandy has retired and moved to Kansas where she is passing on her love of soccer to her two granddaughters.