New Jersey Youth Soccer’s Director of Coaching is Celebrated at the 2026 NJYS Awards
New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) honored leaders and championship youth soccer teams from across the state at the 2026 NJYS Awards Celebration presented by RWJBarnabas Health, held at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford.
Youth Soccer Leadership: One of the evening’s most meaningful moments came during the Hall of Fame ceremony, as Rick Meana, NJYS Director of Coaching, was recognized as a New Jersey Hall of Fame Everyday Hero.
The Everyday Hero recognition is New Jersey’s way to say “Thank you” to those in the state who go above and beyond to make a difference in other people’s lives.
The honor recognizes Meana’s long-standing impact on youth soccer in New Jersey and his role in shaping coaching education and player development.
Nearly 30 Years of Leadership
Rick Meana joined New Jersey Youth Soccer in 1998. Since then, he has played a central role in how the game is taught and understood at the youth level.
As Director of Coaching, Meana has helped educate thousands of coaches while guiding the overall development philosophy of NJYS. His influence has extended well beyond the touchline.
When asked how youth soccer in New Jersey has changed since 1998, Meana pointed first to opportunity.
“There are simply more ways for players to play today. More leagues. More youth soccer clubs. More programs. All of this together provides pathways and opportunities,” said Meana. “Players now have access to a wider range of development options than ever before.”
The Rise of the Individual Player
Since Meana began his work with NJYS, coaching education has evolved significantly.
The focus has shifted away from systems and tactics alone. Today, the emphasis is on the individual player.
Modern coaching education prioritizes clarity, understanding, and decision-making.
The philosophical approach has changed as well.
“Youth soccer today is about the individual player,” said Meana.
“The player is now the protagonist,” added Meana. Players are encouraged to think, solve problems, and take ownership of their development. Coaches guide the process rather than control it.
Another major shift has been parent education. Helping families understand long-term development and realistic expectations has become an essential part of youth soccer.
“Parents can be misguided by getting their kids involved in competitive sports too early, believing it will help them succeed in the long run,” said Meana. “When you have 6 year olds playing in a league where results matter more than enjoyment and passion — where the child’s needs are not really being met — when parents expectations differ from that of the child, then you have burn out which is something we want to avoid.”
“It is simple. League play where results matter at too young an age is damaging. We want to keep players in the game … discovering the passion of the game,” Meana.
The Modern Soccer Game is a Young Player Landscape
Why Early Youth Soccer Experiences Matter:
According to U.S. Soccer participation trends, players under the age of 12 now account for roughly 70 percent of all soccer players in the United States.
The data highlights how heavily the sport relies on its youngest participants — and how significant the drop-off can be once players move beyond those early years.
For Meana, that reality makes early coaching and player development especially important.
How players experience the game at young ages often determines whether they stay in the sport long-term. Meana believes this places more responsibility on those coaches working with our youngest youth soccer players.
A Hall of Fame Honor – Everyday Heroes
In accepting the Hall of Fame honor, Meana expressed gratitude to the New Jersey Youth Soccer community, the coaches he has worked alongside, and his family for their continued support.
He began by honoring the late Al Sinclair, who first hired him at NJYS. Meana credited Sinclair with believing in him, trusting his vision, and giving him the opportunity to pursue his goals.
Standing among past and present Everyday Heroes, Meana was clear about where he believes the true recognition belongs.
The everyday hero, he said, is the youth soccer coach who volunteers their time.
That belief began in his childhood in Baltimore, playing at St. Anthony’s Grade School. His earliest coaches were college players, former professionals, and parents who volunteered simply because they loved the game.
“They shaped my love for coaching,” Meana said, “and the person I became.”
““When you call me a hero, I don’t feel like a hero. I have always just been doing my job. The real heroes don’t get paid,” Meana added.
Quoting Aristotle, Meana reminded everyone that “He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” He described himself not as a leader, but as someone who learned by following others.
For the past 28 years, he said, that approach has guided his work as Director of Coaching for New Jersey Youth Soccer.
When he first joined NJYS, Meana recalled being asked to focus heavily on the recreational side of the game. Alongside Nelson Ramirez, he helped create the Celebration of Soccer program, bringing the game into inner cities and centering the experience around players and volunteers.
It was simple. It was joyful. And it mattered.
Speaking to young professional coaches across the country entering the game today, Meana closed with advice shaped by decades of experience.
The players are not yours, he said. You are there for them.
Their needs come first — fun, development, belonging, and freedom.
“I have had the privilege of working with Rick for more than a decade. I can’t imagine a person more committed to the soccer development of youth players. When he steps onto the field his passion and energy is unmatched,” said Evan Dabby, Chief Executive Officer of NJ Youth Soccer.
All of New Jersey extends a huge round of applause to NJYS Director of Coaching Rick Meana, who is now forever etched into the New Jersey Hall of Fame as an Everyday Hero.
Read: Evan Dabby Is Growing U.S. Soccer Through Collaboration and Making a Difference: NJ Youth Soccer’s Evan Dabby
Awards image: Alecko Eskandarian, Denise Reddy with Rick Meana at the NJ Youth Soccer Hall of Fame awards presentation courtesy of New Jersey Youth Soccer.
ABOUT THE NJHOF: Because everyone needs a hero, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) honors citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society, the State of New Jersey, and the world beyond. Since 2008, the NJHOF has hosted 17 ceremonies for more than 260 notable individuals and groups in recognition of their induction into the Hall of Fame. The NJHOF endeavors to present school children with significant and impactful role models to show that they can, and should, strive for excellence.
The New Jersey Hall of Fame opened its flagship location at American Dream in June of 2024 and features 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art interactive exhibits for guests to create memories and leave inspired. For more information, go to www.njhalloffame.org.
