In Episode 81, Evan Dabby, Executive Director of NJ Youth Soccer and former MLS executive, talks with Phil about his innovative work with New Jersey Youth Soccer, including the Growing the Girls Game and Innovate to Grow initiatives, how we can make high-level youth sports more accessible to more under resourced kids, the importance of collaboration, what we can do about referee abuse, and a common quality shared by some of the best players in US history who hailed from NJ. Specifically, Evan discusses:

• His story, how he developed his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he ended up leading a state youth soccer association (1:33)
• His personal why and how he is living it out every day (3:34)
• The mission, vision, and values of NJYS and what is going well with the association (7:39)
• Some of the things he hopes to improve upon during his tenure at NJYS (14:31)
• The NJYS Growing the Girls Game (G3) Initiative, and what impact he hopes it will have on the girls’ game in NJ and across the US (16:52)
• The Innovate to Grow Initiative and how it is working to include underrepresented communities in youth soccer in NJ (18:08)
• How we can make high-level youth sports more accessible to under resourced populations (20:32)
• The importance of collaboration and how NJYS is collaborating with other states on some really cool projects (23:39)
• Referee abuse, what it tells us about ourselves, our youth, and the state of youth soccer, and what we can do about it (32:41)
• How he is using lessons learned from soccer in his leadership of NJYS (42:22)
• How he has used lessons learned directly from sports in his marriage and parenting (45:19)
• His recommendations for us (50:28)

Resources and Links from this Episode

• Uncut Video of the Episode
• New Jersey Youth Soccer Website
• Growing the Girls Game Initiative
• Innovate to Grow Initiative
• HSEL Facebook Group
• Coaching the Bigger Game information
• Warrior Way information
• Phil Darke’s email address
• Ted Lasso (TV show on Apple TV+)