Thanks for your time and effort last night! Your presentation turned the mundane into a positive, learning experience.
I'm recently reintroducing myself to coaching as my son is in high school (Pleasantville) and in the school's hands at this point. I played through college and coached my son's teams' (among others) throughout his youth, but of late felt like I've been missing something. Last night reinforced that I'm making the right decision getting (back) involved to help. Your passion and exuberance for coaching made me wish August were here.

Jon Prescott
Pleasantville Dads Club

"The SUNY Youth Coach Certification Program can benefit beginner and seasoned coaches for all ages and skill levels. The content, materials, and instructor were all excellent and relevant. A must attend for anyone looking to ensure a fun, safe, and child centered coaching experience."

Bill Mellen
Lancaster-Depew Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball

"I took Tim Donovan's "Sandlot" recommendation for Thursday's practice. My girls minor softball team (8-10 years old) took hitting practice for the first 50 minutes. Then spent the remainder of practice playing kickball, where they formed their own teams, made up their own rules and basically managed themselves with little adult interaction from the dugout. It was a huge success and a great idea! They weren't thinking about it, they just did it. Did they have fun ... YES! It was a nice change for them and they actually practiced their skills without being directed, like base running, stealing, etc."

Jim Kocik
Baldwinsville Little League

"The number one reason I brought in the SUNY Youth Sports Institute was to teach our staff that sports competition has to be used in a positive way; both to make the games fun and to teach life lessons. This coaching education program helped our staff understand the real benefits of coaching our residents in terms of building character, developing leaders, and the true meaning of sport."

Sonia Galarza
NYC Department of Juvenile Justice Director of Programs

"As a recreational basketball coach of 15 years, a Director of such a Program for the last 8 years, a Child Psychologist, and Professor of Psychology for over 25 years; I can say without hesitation that the SUNY Youth Sports Institute is a vital mechanism for the furthering of the link between healthy child development and team sports."

Steven Tuber
Hastings-on-Hudson Youth Basketball

"The training that the SUNY Youth Sports Institute provides helps all of my coaches be better prepared on the field and provides a positive experience for all the children they interact with. I recommend this program for all youth sports programs."

David Brown
Mid-Hudson Pop Warner Conference

"The SUNY Youth Sports Institute Coaching Certification Program will help refine your communication skills, which will enable you to relate equally to adults and youth players as a Coach. I was highly impressed with SUNY Youth Sport's methods and emphasis on technical development. It was a privilege to participate in the program and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is contemplating becoming a youth coach."

Charlie Boden
Westchester Youth Football

"Upon completion of the SUNY Youth Sports Coaches Clinic there was a noticeable difference in the approach our coaches used to manage our players. The emphasis became more about the kids just playing a game of baseball and to have fun rather than their team's win/loss record. This all culminated when we held our Sandlot Day and I was able to see, firsthand, that for the kids it was only about playing a game."

Rob Jolson
Syosset Baseball Association

"The SUNY Youth Sports Institute was used at various leagues in the Syracuse District Little League and there has been nothing but positive feedback from each league. It is a great program which is still in its infancy and is only going to get better. The trainers are very knowledgeable and effective; I have no reservation recommending the SUNY Youth Sports Institute to other youth programs."

Danny Cavallo
District 8 Little League commissioner.

"I just wanted to say that this training is needed for sure! I just saw a survey on line that proclaimed US parents as the worst fans in the world with a 60% complaint rate. Thanks so much for putting this together. Even though I have been coaching for many years at various levels, it still was so worth the time!"

Linda Burghardt
Whitney Point Field Hockey

"The class was a tremendous success. The instructor, Tom Rogan, Ph.D, was extremely informative, and provided tremendous insight into the elements of youth sports. I would highly recommend all youth sport organizations take advantage of this opportunity. It is vital that we continue to educate our parent coaches to better understand the dynamics of youth sports, to become more effective communicators and to understand the role of the youth coach as a teacher and role model. Additionally, the Commack Soccer League recently hosted it's first "Sandlot" day this past June, almost 100 U7 and U8 players participated. This was as a direct result of the curriculum from the SUNY class. We are also moving our intramural programs to a 4 vs 4 format, another concept we have taken as a result of the SUNY class. I cannot say enough of how important this certification is to re-enforce our core philosophies as a youth soccer organization."

John DeAngelis
Commack Youth Soccer

"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

"After the [Youth Sports New York] clinic Wed night, my coaches and I discussed the concept and we decided to implement some of the ideas immediately. Just some minor changes giving the kids more empowerment, getting more of their input, adding some games and more competition to make it fun, sharing their best times on base relay race. My son thought it was our best practice yet".

Brian Drain
Baldwinsville Little League

"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."

Greg Camp
Penfield Little League

"The program and Information given has the ability to change a league for the better in a matter of days. I noticed a difference in our league once the coaches got back to the fields. Our number of parent complaints regarding playing time, favoritism, child's position, ECT has been reduced by at least 75%. This program clearly made a difference in our league. The course has become a yearly mandate in our league."

Tony Sammartano
Riverhead Little League

"The SUNY Youth Sports Institute offers an excellent program that helps youth coaches improve their communication and coaching skills."

Dave Nixon
Windsor Youth Football

"Sports play an important role in youth development. Equally important is the role that New York State youth coaches are well trained so that they understand the important role that they play. The SUNY Youth Sports Institute program has been a tremendous asset in training our coaches."

John McNerney
Director, Cortland Youth Bureau

"Our entire organization benefited from the SUNY Youth Sports Institute's program. All of our coaches, assistants, administrators and staff gained a greater perspective and energy as it relates to youth sports in general."

"After speaking to a number of our coaches we are very pleased with your program. SUNY Youth Sports Institute has created a well thought out training program with excellent curriculum. Your primary areas of focus are considered by our organization to be the most important in coaching youth sports - safety, player development, parent interaction and expectations. Your instructor(s) are knowledgeable, with impressive credentials, and the course material has proven to be useful long after training has been completed."

Joe Welchoff
Commissioner, Clarence Little League Football

"Our council was in the process of deciding on which certification program we would offer our coaches when the SUNY program came to completion. It was perfect timing, so we signed up immediately. We like the idea of a "local" program, one that would address issues that New York coaches may deal with. It is also an affordable choice. Lastly, it provides the opportunity for coaches to decide if being a volunteer youth sports coach is really right for them."

Regina Reinschmidt
Recreation Director, Town of LaFayette

"I really enjoyed it. The content regarding dealing with parents and youths in a sports setting was right on. If everyone would remember that it is about the kids then we would all benefit."

"The SUNY Youth Sports Institute is a comprehensive program to help prepare coaches to properly lead, teach and protect our young athletes. I found the materials and training program to be informative, and the certification process to be extremely user friendly."

"This training was extremely valuable. The coaches who participated were immediately able to incorporate the information into their team philosophy. It is important for all youth sports coaches to acquire the type of knowledge that was covered in this session."

David McGoy
Leadership Through Sports
Staten Island, NY

"This program does a great job emphasizing the necessary focus points for a new coach dealing with youth athletes."