SYA Sports

June 5, 2009
SYA VOLLEYBALL COMMISSIONER, DAVE LACEY, AWARDED LORD FAIRFAX

SYA's Volleyball Commissioner, Dave Lacey, has been recognized by the Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors as the 2009 Lord Fairfax Honoree from the Sully District. This award is given to two volunteer leaders from each district. The honorees are selected for their outstanding volunteer service in their home districts. This prestigious award was presented to Dave on June 1, 2009.

Please join us in congratulating Dave on a well deserved honor and thanking him for his dedication to SYA and the County. Congratulations Dave!

SYA Board of Directors

May 14, 2009
Registration Now Open for Fall Sports

Online registration is now open for fall sports. Fall sports include: football, cheerleading, Babe Ruth baseball, LL baseball, Travel baseball, field hockey, lacrosse clinic, softball, soccer, track & field and travel soccer tryouts. Please click on the registration box to register.

May 1, 2009
Fields of Dreams Fundraising - Attractions Dining & Value Guide!

"If you build it, they will come." Help make our Fields of Dreams a reality by supporting this spring's SYA fundraiser, The Attractions Dining and Value Guide. For only $20, the Attractions Book contains over $4100 worth of valuable savings from local merchants such as:

Dick's Sporting Goods

The Sport's Authority

Michael's Arts & Crafts

Texas Roadhouse

Otani Japanese Steak House

Russia House Restaurant

Buffalo Wing Factory

Eggspectation

Moe's Southwest Grille

Foster's Grille

McDonalds

Vocelli Pizza

Milwaukee Frozen Yogurt

General's Ridge Golf Course

Prince William Golf Course,

and many more......

Please support the SYA fundraiser and purchase an Attractions Book, so we can build our Fields of Dreams! To place an order please click on the Attractions Book above. Orders will take approximately one week to receive and you will be notified via email when your book is available for pickup at the SYA Office.

"If you believe the impossible, the incredible can happen."

April 30, 2009
PETS AND BALL FIELDS!

Parents, please remember to be respectful of your neighbor when considering whether to take your pets to a ball game or not. While they may be cute, friendly and most people love them, remember that most schools do not allow pets on their fields and the Park Authority has specific rules about how close to a playing field a pet can be. Fairfax County also has leash laws that we encourage you to abide by. And mostly, please ensure that if bringing your pet to a field is allowed, that you respect your neighbor and clean up behind them.

On the fields that SYA owns at our Fields of Dreams Park on Bull Run Post Office Road, we allow pets with the following restrictions. They must be leashed, cannot be closer than 15' to the playing surface and you must clean up behind them.

Thank you very much for your consideration and cooperation!

March 25, 2009
Basketball Hall of Fame Coach, Morgan Wootten, Keynote Speaker at SYA Awards Banquet

The 2008 Volunteer Award banquet was highlighted by a memorable speech by legendary Hall of Fame Coach, Morgan Wootten. In his talk, Coach Wootten discussed the values and life lessons our children learn through their involvement in youth sports, as well as the vital role volunteer coaches play in positively impacting our children. Coach Wootten went on to discuss the twelve essential qualities of leadership: 1. Good values attract good people; 2. Use the most powerful four letter word in the world, "L-O-V-E; 3. Consider yourself a Teacher; 4. Don't allow emotion to be your enemy; 5. It takes 10 hands to make a basket; 6. Little things make the big things happen; 7. Make each day your masterpiece; 8. The carrot is mightier than the stick; 9. Make greatness attainable by all; 10. Seek significant change - but remember not all change is progress; 11. Don't look at the scoreboard; rather be more concerned with being the best that you can be; 12. Adversity is your asset; it is not whether you get knocked down, but rather if you get back up again.

These qualities are the cornerstone of Coach Wootten's summer basketball camp where he annually touches the lives of thousands of kids each summer. Click here to learn more about Coach Wootten. Click here to learn about Coach Wootten's basketball camp.

March 25, 2009
SYA Honors 2008 Outstanding Volunteers

On February 7, 2009 the SYA 2008 Volunteer appreciation banquet was held at the Fair Oaks Marriott Hotel. This event honors the outstanding volunteers from each sport for their contributions to SYA. Certificates of appreciation and a gift were presented to each honoree from the sports represented. In addition, the Presidential Award winner was announced by Gary Flather, SYA President. This honor is given to the Most Outstanding Volunteer of the year for their tremendous dedication and long-term service to SYA. Congratulations to Jill Sokol, Softball Commissioner, the 2009 Presidential Award Winner! To view additional pictures please click on the Volunteer Banquet pictures 2008 menu on the left.

March 23, 2009
SYA Player Action Photos
This past winter, SYA engaged the services of an action photographer from Action Pix. This photographer will be randomly shooting player photos at many games throughout the year. We hope that he will be able to photograph a wide variety of games, ages and leagues. Of course, not every game/player will be photographed. For those teams that are photographed during the course of the season, parents will be provided with the information to view the pictures, and order any pictures, if desired. The coaches will be sent a link to Action Pix's website with a password that will be shared with the parents. Note that pictures will only be posted on their website and available for a limited amount of time. Action Pix will donate 10% of sales back to SYA for any purchases made. We hope you like the photos!

March 2, 2009
Registration Open Now For Summer Sports
Online registration is now available for summer sports. Summer sports include: basketball, travel basketball, rugby and track and field. Please register early to ensure placement on a team. For specific questions, visit the sport website. To register, click here.

February 26, 2009
SYA Football Wins ESPN Community Service Award

SYA Football was honored to be selected, by Team ESPN, along with the NFL and Dick's Sporting Goods, as a non-profit organization that has made a positive impact in the local community and as such was the recipient of the "Fans Helping Fans" community service award. This award was presented to SYA Football at one of the MNF Chalk Talk Luncheon Series hosted at Ruth's Chris Steak House. The event was attended by Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner along with a number of NFL players and officials. The event also included a presentation of a plaque along with a donation to the SYA football program. Representing SYA at this prestigious event was Damian Caracciolo, SYA Football Commissioner, Jon Leo, Fundraising Chairperson and liason with Dick's Sporting Goods, Matt Huling, Equipment Coordinator and Jeff Wise, Concessions Coordinator. Congratulations to all of our many volunteers and thanks to Dick's Sporting Goods for their support.

January 14, 2009
SYA East 9-10 Little League All Star Team Honored by Fairfax County

On January 12, 2009 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized the members of the SYA East 9-10 Year Old Little League All-Star Team for outstanding athletic ability and accomplishments during the 2008 season. Their teamwork resulted in victory in the District 10 Championship, the Virginia State Championship and advancement to the Regional Tournament of State Champions held in West Virginia. To see the video of the event, go to: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable/channel16/vod.htm. The presentation takes place in the first 10 minutes of the meeting (video), following the Pledge of Allegiance.

December 15, 2008
Chipotle Fundraiser - Thanks For A Successful Event!
The SYA Board of Directors would like to thank the Centreville Chipotle Restaurant and our SYA members for the terrific turnout at the SYA Fields of Dreams/SYA fundraiser last week. Over 600 of you braved the rain, wind and lines to contribute to the success of this event. And our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the new Centreville Chipotle who served delicious burritos and donated all of the proceeds to SYA Fields of Dreams. Thank you All!

December 1, 2008
Russ Horn Of SYA Soccer Named VYSA Volunteer of the Year!

UPDATE: Russ Horn has been named USYS Region 1 Volunteer of the Year and is a Finalist in USYS Volunteer of the Year!

Russ Horn has been with the club since its founding, when a small group of parents got together to form a soccer club. His children are long since grown and gone, yet he is still arguably the most tireless, dedicated volunteer in SYA Soccer. He may not be on the fields every day; but he is behind the scenes in every facet of the club. He has been soccer commissioner, club rep to all three travel leagues, travel commissioner for boys and girls, the R&D chair for SYA, served on R&D, the Executive committee, and the Structure committee for NCSL, has been a formulative figure in SYA’s rules and policies, can probably line fields in the dark by himself without strings or tapes, has done field maintenance, and he has coached and officiated. All that, and we're sure we are still forgetting things!

Russ Horn is fair, knowledgeable, and concerned with the good of the game and the welfare of all of the players above all else. He exemplifies the very best of the spirit of volunteerism. We are delighted to share news of this honor with you and hope you and your teams will all join me in congratulating Russ Horn at the earliest opportunity.