Greetings From the Garden State
The Heart of Jersey Pride. A podcast about the people and places that shape New Jersey! Powered by the New Jersey Lottery. Hosted by Mike Ham
Greetings From the Garden State
Every Kick Counts: How FootGolf and Top Soccer Are Changing Lives in New Jersey
We head to Freehold, NJ, to visit the headquarters of New Jersey Youth Soccer for a conversation about Every Kick Counts—a unique FootGolf fundraiser supporting Top Soccer programs for athletes with disabilities.
First, NJYS CEO Evan Dabby and Vinny Nasuda, President of Toms River FC, share how Top Soccer provides free, community-based soccer opportunities for players of all ages and abilities, supported by passionate volunteers and partners like RWJ Barnabas Health. Vinny details Toms River’s thriving program, which includes drills, giant soccer balls, pizza, and a dedicated crew of “buddies” who return year after year to make game day special.
Next, event founder Zack Dabby explains how his friendship with fellow athlete Jack inspired the first Every Kick Counts, bringing together over 50 participants and raising nearly $10,000. Zack talks about the challenges of launching an event from scratch, the importance of community support, and his vision to expand the program statewide and beyond. Jack and his mom Michelle join in to share what inclusion, teamwork, and lasting friendships mean to special needs families.
Finally, legendary U.S. soccer player and coach Tab Ramos reflects on his own journey through New Jersey soccer, why giving back matters, and how events like Every Kick Counts unite communities through the universal language of sports.
Whether you’re a soccer fan, a parent, or someone who loves seeing sports used for good, this episode will leave you inspired by the teamwork, passion, and heart that power New Jersey’s youth sports community.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- What Top Soccer is and how it supports athletes with disabilities across New Jersey
- The story behind Every Kick Counts and how FootGolf is making a difference
- How community volunteers create lasting impact in youth sports
- Why inclusivity and friendship matter both on and off the field
- Insights from Tab Ramos on the growth and future of New Jersey soccer
Resources & Links:
Speaker A [0:00 - 0:00]: Foreign.
Speaker B [0:13 - 0:22]: Welcome back to another episode of Greetings from the Garden State, powered by the New Jersey Lottery. I'm your host, Mike Ham. We are here in Freehold, New Jersey, today at the New Jersey Youth Soccer headquarters. Right, that's where we're at.
Speaker C [0:22 - 0:23]: That's where we got.
Speaker B [0:23 - 0:27]: That's awesome. So we got Evan Dabby and Vinnie Nasuda.
Speaker D [0:27 - 0:27]: You got it.
Speaker B [0:28 - 0:42]: You got it. I should have asked before. I forgot. I just looked at it. But let's just real quick for people, because, Evan, you've been on the show before, but I just feel like it would be good to kind of introduce and just give kind of like what your role is in all of this. And we'll kind of get into the nitty gritty of the conversation after that. And then, Vinnie, we'll get to you next.
Speaker C [0:42 - 0:45]: Yeah, I feel like I get a pin or jacket. Like, I'm almost a near regular.
Speaker B [0:45 - 0:51]: There's really. You have probably been on the show at this point, I guess, three times, technically.
Speaker C [0:51 - 0:52]: Sweet. I'm almost a coach.
Speaker B [0:52 - 1:01]: That's like the most that anyone has ever been. A lot of people have asked to come on multiple times, and I usually say no, but somehow I always just say yes to. You just have, like, that kind of face.
Speaker C [1:02 - 1:26]: Let's keep moving. So my role is the CEO of New Jersey Youth Soccer. And we've been fortunate to have a couple appearances here at our awards dinner at Every Kid Counts. We'll talk about. And, you know, I think for. For today, we'll get a chance to talk about that program and what we're doing along with our partner clubs with top soccer and program for. For players of all ages and abilities.
Speaker B [1:26 - 1:29]: Yeah, that's awesome. And, Vinnie, let's. Let's do you, too.
Speaker D [1:29 - 1:34]: Absolutely. So I'm a newbie first time. And you're going to have to give me a pin or a jacket because I definitely know I don't have one.
Speaker B [1:34 - 1:35]: Sure.
Speaker D [1:35 - 1:37]: So hopefully you can. You can pass one alongside.
Speaker B [1:37 - 1:40]: We'll see how you. Maybe the second time it's your first time. We'll see how it goes.
Speaker D [1:40 - 1:56]: I am the president of Tom's River Football Club, and we are partnered with New Jersey Youth Soccer and we do run a tops program down in Toms River. I've been with the. With the Club now for 14 years. I've been the president for six. And we're just totally excited to work with New Jersey Youth Soccer in the top program.
Speaker E [1:56 - 1:56]: Yeah.
Speaker B [1:57 - 2:15]: So we're here to essentially talk about every kick counts, which is an event that is sanctioned. I Guess by top Soccer and kind of put on by top Soccer. Can we explain what top soccer is so that people know? Because, you know, if you're not involved in soccer all the time, I feel like you may not. So, like, I don't, but it would be good to know.
Speaker C [2:15 - 2:44]: So Top soccer is an acronym, the outreach program for soccer. It's a community based program for players with disabilities. And there's about 20 plus programs throughout the state, almost a thousand players, sponsored by rwj, Barnabas Health, you know, the registration. So we're helping provide that entry and opportunity for players across the state. Vinny mentioned his program, and ultimately it's empowering, facilitating what they do locally because it can't be replicated.
Speaker E [2:44 - 2:44]: Yeah.
Speaker B [2:44 - 2:52]: Can we talk about too? I mean, obviously, like New Jersey youth soccer covers youth soccer across the state. Top Soccer as well. What's the presence like across New Jersey?
Speaker C [2:53 - 3:35]: Sure. So for New Jersey soccer, we're approximately 130,000 players across the state, north to south, east, west, shore, central, et cetera, and then 400 clubs, more than 10 leagues. So it's a pretty expansive network. And like I said, we're just one piece of the puzzle trying to align, unite, empower. And I think Vinny's a great one. As we talk about it, he's one of the biggest clubs. They have competitive programs. He mentioned top Soccer. And as we said, for top soccer, there's nearly a thousand players, one of the largest in the country when we look at the state association. So those programs in the different communities are doing really fabulous work.
Speaker E [3:35 - 3:35]: Yeah.
Speaker B [3:35 - 3:38]: Could you tell us a little bit about the Toms River Top soccer program?
Speaker D [3:38 - 4:11]: Absolutely. We have about 60 players that are registered in and out. It's not every week that all 60 are there, but we have 60 players that are registered. And then we have anywhere between, you know, 20 to 30 buddies that are there that are going to come and help and they're going to work with that player. Our program runs every Saturday. We do give them some weeks off in the summer, but it does run from the fall, the winter and the spring. And it's about two to three hours every Saturday. We have two representatives that pretty much are the directors and they run it and they come. Most of the times we try to run it inside.
Speaker E [4:11 - 4:11]: Yeah.
Speaker D [4:11 - 4:41]: Unless it's too hot. We do have an indoor facility and they come and they're all provided a ball. Registration is free of charge. It is. It's awesome. They're all provided a ball, and then their player will work with a buddy and there's drills that we come up with. And our directors are pretty. They've been around for a while. They've done it for many years. And. And they kick the ball around at the end of doing all the technical stuff and the fun stuff. There's this giant ball that we have, and we throw it out into the middle and the kids run around and they kick this ball.
Speaker E [4:41 - 4:41]: Yeah.
Speaker D [4:41 - 4:51]: And it's. It's just a blast. And it's fun for the kids, it's fun for the players. It's just. It's a good environment. And then we have donuts, we have pizza afterwards. And that's something our.
Speaker B [4:51 - 4:53]: That's where I would come in. Yeah.
Speaker D [4:53 - 4:57]: ABCO donuts and Charlie's Pizza, which we provide for the kids.
Speaker B [4:57 - 4:58]: Awesome.
Speaker D [4:58 - 4:59]: For the buddies.
Speaker E [4:59 - 4:59]: Yeah.
Speaker B [4:59 - 5:03]: And you talk about buddies and, you know, directors and all that kind of stuff. Volunteers.
Speaker D [5:03 - 5:04]: 100% volunteers.
Speaker E [5:04 - 5:05]: Yeah.
Speaker D [5:05 - 5:06]: There are actually a lot of high school kids.
Speaker B [5:06 - 5:08]: Okay. And how many do you got? Oh, wow.
Speaker D [5:08 - 5:23]: Generally 20 to 30 kids that come out. Not every week, but they are involved with the program. And these kids come back every year. So a lot of kids go away. They're seniors. They go away. When they come back on break their first year back, they come back on a Friday night and Saturday morning they're back at top soccer.
Speaker F [5:23 - 5:23]: It's.
Speaker D [5:23 - 5:30]: They love it. They don't even ask. They just show up. They don't ask for anything. They hand out the donuts, they give pizza out, they play with the kids.
Speaker E [5:30 - 5:30]: Yeah.
Speaker D [5:30 - 5:42]: It's just. It's our community. It's something that everybody really loves to be a part of. And if I can't make it every week, like, I bring my little guy. I have a 14 year old who comes with me and kicks around when we can. We all try to pop in every once in a while.
Speaker E [5:42 - 5:42]: Yeah.
Speaker B [5:42 - 6:09]: Can you both speak to. I'm going off script on this one, but can you both speak to sort of just like what? That's what. It's gonna be a hard question to ask. What. That's like. It's very, like, vague. But to have that kind of, like, commitment from kids that are coming back every single year to volunteer and be part of that program, you know, from the Tom, Riverside, from New Jersey, soccer, like, all that kind of stuff. Can we talk about that? And like what. Like how awesome it is to see that kind of community in action all the time.
Speaker C [6:10 - 6:59]: I'll start at a high level and I think it'll be a much more practical, tangible experience for Vinnie. But because we're we're operate the state, we'll do a program here, we'll do a program there. And we done these top soccer jamborees and you get a sense of it. You see the community, you see the relationships. I know we'll talk about relationship plenty through this podcast, but you start to see that genuine relationship and we'll participate and then we'll go on our way and you kind of miss it. You see and feel something. It's hard to explain, but I'm sure you can imagine that connection and relationships. There's relationships that are in genuine relationships being developed. So for us, that's the feel that I think of when we. We do an event. You get a glimpse of it and you can feel it, but I don't live it. And that's probably where Vinnie can really touch pace better.
Speaker D [7:00 - 7:50]: So just to see the joy on everybody's face when they come into the facility, like they come in, they're happy to be there. And everybody has a routine on a Saturday morning. Right. So we try not to disrupt that routine. We can't. We try not to cancel a session, we try not to move this session because everybody has something going on and we want to make sure that's a constant in everybody's life. And just to. We've done the top chamber, which was awesome. That was a great, great event. But for us, it's every week. Every week we see the joy on the parents and the kids faces and it's nice to have like the high school involvement. These are kids that probably typically wouldn't get involved in a program like this, but they have an opportunity where they can, they can really encompass players and the sport and they get to teach the sport something they already love and they get to teach it to somebody who maybe doesn't get a chance or an opportunity to learn it.
Speaker E [7:50 - 7:50]: Yeah.
Speaker D [7:50 - 7:58]: And like to see that and to see everybody come together, it's. I said it before, but it is amazing. Yeah, it's really cool to see it. It all come together.
Speaker B [7:58 - 8:13]: It is cool. I just also want to just clarify, like we're talking about every kid counts. You do stuff every Saturday. There's a difference between like event days and then just kind of like your every week thing that you do. Right. There's like a, a clear difference, make a difference, like a market difference between the two things.
Speaker C [8:13 - 8:41]: Absolutely. Every kick counts was an annual event and. And something that Zach will talk about in detail and. And that jamboree we mentioned, we try to think about what we can do to complement and bring Something think we have a special guest here to talk about kind of, you know, it's just one of those examples. But you know, again, the Top soccer program and Jack will talk about Challenger. There's the week, week to week programs that create that consistency in those relationships.
Speaker E [8:41 - 8:41]: Yeah.
Speaker B [8:41 - 8:54]: Can we talk about also, like how New Jersey Youth soccer supports your program and then how an event like every kick counts or some of the other events that we've talked about, like helps promote Top Soccer as a whole?
Speaker D [8:54 - 9:32]: Absolutely. I mean, look, we're here, it's. We're a phone call away. So when he called with his son Zach and was like, hey, would you be, would you want to participate in this? 100%. Absolutely. The program is free of charge for the kids. There's no cost. Right. There's no cost to anybody. It's something that is just, it's provided and it's there and they're here. If we need support, we need anything, we can always call them. If we needed buddies, we would give them a call. If we needed a facility or if we needed advertising, whatever it is, it's New Jersey soccer has been a great partner and many different platforms, but especially for Top Soccer. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker C [9:32 - 10:02]: And I'll just, I think also pulling in resources. Obviously the local resources are incredible, but you know, I think of RWJ Barnabas Health and their commitment to Top Soccer across the state. We know that we're just. When you have that alignment, you know that we share, that focus on inclusiveness, about the health benefits, about supporting communities, community based program. So that's where we can complement what they're doing. Just bring more to the table to empower them locally.
Speaker E [10:02 - 10:03]: Yeah.
Speaker B [10:03 - 10:11]: Can we also just talk about just like high level because we're going to get to Zach here in a minute. Why this particular fundraiser was important to New Jersey Youth Soccer.
Speaker C [10:11 - 10:55]: Yeah, I think every year we try to put something special out there in a number of respects, whether it's our state cups or our ODP regional tournaments. And within Top Soccer there was this opportunity and Zach brought it to fruition to create this new event. And, and it was, it was new. And I don't want to steal his thunder, but the response was, was very positive. A new event that I think resonated with the players, the families. So we always try to do something to compliment and I think this was something that I, I think we had a really cool reaction to. And, and, and, and I think I'm excited to see where he takes it.
Speaker B [10:55 - 11:52]: Yeah, no, me too. And this, it's Very exciting. I. I went great. We're going to learn all about it here in the next segment. But Vinnie, Evan, as always, thank you so much for joining us on this part of this pod particular episode of Greetings from the Garden State. We'll be right back. The Mayo Performing Arts center is the heart of arts and Entertainment in Morristown, New Jersey. MPAC presents over 200 events annually and is home to an innovative children's arts education program. To see impact's upcoming schedule of world class concerts, stand up comedy, family shows, and more, head to mayoarts.org or just click the link in our show notes. All right, we're back for this second segment of this episode of Greetings for the Garden State powered by the New Jersey lottery. I'm Mike Ham. We're here in Freehold today at the New Jersey youth soccer headquarters. Now, stepping up to the mic, another Dabby. Just like. Well, that's all we do now on Greetings from the Gardens Theater. Evan. Evan. Dabby. Zach. Dabby. So, Zach, welcome to the show.
Speaker A [11:52 - 11:52]: Thank you.
Speaker B [11:52 - 12:09]: Absolutely. Can we. I think what would be good to start is if you can give me, like, a big picture, what is every kick counts? Because I feel like we need to at least explain to people that are unfamiliar with it what it is, what it's all about and what it serves, who it serves.
Speaker A [12:10 - 12:26]: Every kick counts is a foot. Foot golf program for kids with special needs where they're paired up with buddies and just they play out the foot golf course. We had drinks and snacks after. So it was just a fun evening. Everybody, someone something to enjoy.
Speaker B [12:26 - 12:28]: Yeah. What is foot golf?
Speaker A [12:29 - 12:36]: Foot golf is. It's just like normal golf, but instead of hanging with the club, you kick a ball across the course and you try and get in the hole and.
Speaker B [12:36 - 12:36]: It'S like on a real.
Speaker A [12:37 - 12:38]: Yeah. On a real golf course.
Speaker E [12:38 - 12:38]: Yeah.
Speaker B [12:38 - 12:45]: Is it like, designed specifically for foot golf or is it like a regular golf course? Like, people would play golf there?
Speaker A [12:45 - 12:45]: Yeah.
Speaker B [12:45 - 12:47]: And now we're playing, like, football there.
Speaker A [12:47 - 12:53]: It was at a golf course and they have extra, like, larger holes for foot golf.
Speaker B [12:53 - 12:53]: Cool.
Speaker A [12:53 - 12:55]: So they're kind of on the same course.
Speaker E [12:55 - 12:56]: Yeah.
Speaker B [12:56 - 13:08]: I feel like it's like it's almost people that are bad at golf, which are most people and people that are, like, not in shape enough to play soccer, like, you know, on a full field type thing. This is a nice little marriage of the two.
Speaker A [13:08 - 13:08]: Yeah.
Speaker B [13:09 - 13:15]: Can we talk about what the motivation was behind starting every kick counts and. And how this all got started?
Speaker A [13:16 - 14:27]: So a couple years ago, I started Challenger Sports, which is a program for kids with special needs where they're paired up with buddies who volunteer, and they play soccer, basketball, and baseball throughout the. And that's where I met Jack. So for the last four years, we played. It's been really enjoyable. But this summer, I wanted to do a little bit more. I wanted to give everybody the opportunity. So even outside of Challenger, me and Jack, we've had. We've gone to the movies, we biked, we hang out as families. So it's more than just like a Challenger Sports, like, hang out. It's a friendship and a really strong bond that I think everybody should have because it's really rewarding. And also it's good for players with disabilities to get that opportunity to go out and play because there's not as many opportunities, but also for the buddies because kids don't get as involved. Don't have as many opportunities to get involved with this community. And it's a really special, so special opportunity.
Speaker E [14:27 - 14:28]: Yeah.
Speaker A [14:28 - 14:32]: So, yeah, I think it's beneficial, really beneficial for both parties.
Speaker B [14:32 - 14:46]: I think it's cool because it's like. I mean, you could have very easily, like, Jack's your buddy, and just, like, you guys hang out, and that's awesome. Like, it's. It's great to have good friends like that, but then to take it, like, another step further and give other people, like, almost that same opportunity is really cool as well.
Speaker A [14:46 - 14:46]: Yeah.
Speaker E [14:46 - 14:47]: Yeah.
Speaker B [14:47 - 14:52]: Can we talk about the event itself? Because it happened already. That was the first one.
Speaker A [14:52 - 14:53]: Yeah.
Speaker B [14:53 - 15:12]: Right. Huge success. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. Can we talk about it and, like, what the. You, like, finally finished with it, all the planning, all the prep, all the whatever, all the conversations, which all kind of events have, like, that. And to finally be, like, done. Were you, like, was there a sense of relief that it was. That it was over, but, you know, you did a good thing.
Speaker A [15:12 - 15:14]: Yeah, definitely. It was. It's a lot of work.
Speaker E [15:14 - 15:15]: Yeah.
Speaker A [15:15 - 15:24]: So we started from scratch. The first year is always the hardest year, so definitely when it was finished, it was. Weight lifted off my chest, but it was definitely all worth it.
Speaker E [15:24 - 15:24]: Yeah.
Speaker A [15:26 - 15:56]: For the first time, it's important to keep your expectations realistic. But with that said, I'm very happy with how it ended up. We had over 50 participants, and we raised more than almost $10,000 for programs for kids with special needs. So I think we can do even more next year. For the first year, it's all about getting the foundation down and getting the event up and running. Next year, I think we can focus more on getting more People involved and raising more money.
Speaker E [15:56 - 15:56]: Yeah.
Speaker B [15:56 - 16:24]: Can we talk also about, obviously, like, the event itself, like you said, running an event for the first time, whether it's like, you know, every kick counts or a concert or whatever, like, there's so many different challenges, and you don't really know, like, what the challenges are until you actually get faced with them. And it's crazy how many actually pop up, like, within the 48 hours leading up to the event. But can we talk about, like, what the biggest challenge was of. Of putting this thing together?
Speaker A [16:25 - 16:39]: I think the biggest challenge, obviously, starting something from the beginning, it's. It's really tough. And when you. When you had no experience, it's just. So in the beginning, I.
Speaker B [16:39 - 16:39]: It's a big lift.
Speaker A [16:39 - 16:40]: Yeah.
Speaker E [16:40 - 16:40]: Yeah.
Speaker A [16:40 - 16:54]: In the beginning, I'd finish, like, a task or, like, an email, and then I'd get. Be ready to do something else, and I have no idea where to turn. So it's really just getting my hand held throughout the whole thing.
Speaker E [16:54 - 16:54]: Yeah.
Speaker A [16:54 - 17:02]: So. But as we went through it, it definitely got easier. I learned more and was able to be more independent and feel like it was my project.
Speaker E [17:02 - 17:03]: Yeah.
Speaker B [17:03 - 17:15]: And that. And that's important, too, because it is, like, ultimately like your brainchild. Right. But. But it's all things like this. To have, like, a support system around you has to be really important. We talk about that a little bit.
Speaker A [17:16 - 17:20]: But, yeah, my dad, he is a very big help. It's his job.
Speaker B [17:21 - 17:22]: I did that one for you.
Speaker A [17:24 - 17:30]: It's his job. He does this a lot. So he was definitely a lot better at going into it.
Speaker B [17:30 - 17:30]: Sure.
Speaker A [17:30 - 17:35]: A little bit more experience. But next year, I think I'm catching up, so you better watch out.
Speaker B [17:35 - 17:48]: You'll catch him in no time, honestly. Can we talk also about, like, so you're in high school. If people are listening and they haven't figured that out yet. You're in high school right now. Right. What. What year?
Speaker A [17:48 - 17:49]: I'm going to be a junior this year.
Speaker B [17:49 - 18:19]: Okay. Going to be a junior. So basically, between the summer of your sophomore and junior year, you put this together and ran an event with 50 participants, raised over $10,000. All these things, checked all these boxes. Can we talk about if there's other kids that are around your age that are. That have a similar kind of vision for something like this? Or not. Not, maybe not like footgolf, but, like, something to do, like, good in the world, basically. What advice would you have for them to do that?
Speaker A [18:20 - 18:52]: If you're trying to start your own thing, it's really important to to know you get. You gotta learn. You gotta learn how to do it first. It's not gonna get up and running really quickly. It's a process. So don't. Don't get discouraged when you're not knowing. You don't know how to do anything. Like, as I said, I. No idea where to start, no idea where to go. It was tough, but you gotta keep at it and keep learning. Get that experience, that comfort, because that's the only way you're gonna feel better about it.
Speaker E [18:52 - 18:52]: Yeah.
Speaker B [18:53 - 19:32]: And then you had the first event. It's in the books. You can look back at it. Obviously, it's a huge accomplishment to do something like that out of the gate. But then obviously, the ultimate goal is to turn this into something that's even bigger and bigger and bigger and continue to grow it. You know, like, if 10,000 was the goal this year and you hit it, it. You know, the. The number maybe is 20 next year or whatever the case may be. And obviously, like, the bigger it gets, the more people it can help. There's. There's so many reasons why obviously you want it to get bigger. How do you. What do you see the future of this event being, like, what. What's kind of your vision for it or even things that, like, kind of surround it as, like, a support system for kind of like a big event like that?
Speaker A [19:33 - 20:13]: Obviously, the. The goal is to get more people involved, more money raised, but I think a bigger goal for next year would be we have the foundation for everything. We have all the sponsors, all the, like, the connections. So there's a bunch of top soccer programs across the country. So now that we already have this foundation, we have everything we need. If there's people open and programs open to helping expand, every kick counts. It would be like just another way for every Accounts to grow.
Speaker E [20:14 - 20:15]: Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B [20:15 - 20:33]: Like different chapters all across the country or all that. That's awesome. Well, I'm very impressed with you. To put something like this together and, you know, and knowing, like, all the stuff that went into it, I mean, it's very impressive. And congratulations on the first one, and I can't wait to see what the second one's like.
Speaker A [20:33 - 20:33]: Thank you.
Speaker B [20:33 - 20:49]: Yeah, for sure. That was Zach Dabby, the organizer. Organizer is that. We'll give you, like, a title. Yeah. The organizer of every kick counts. The first one was. Was this year, 2025. Looking forward to bigger things in the future. So. Thank you for joining us on this episode.
Speaker A [20:49 - 20:49]: Thank you.
Speaker B [20:49 - 21:02]: Absolutely. All right, we'll be right back. All right, We're Back for segment three of this episode of Greetings with the Guarded State, powered by the New Jersey lottery, of course. We're here with Jack and Michelle. Guys, welcome to the show.
Speaker G [21:02 - 21:03]: Thank you.
Speaker B [21:04 - 21:29]: Obviously, you know, Zach before talked very highly of his friendship with you, which I thought was awesome. And I'm sure you feel the same way, right? Right. Yeah, absolutely. Can we talk a little bit about the first year of every kick counts? What it was, what it was like, what the experience was like and. And how you guys thought it went? He did a good job, I would imagine. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's awesome. Can we talk about, like, maybe your experience there? Sure.
Speaker H [21:29 - 21:57]: So my experience was that my first year of every kit counts was amazing. I got to play with my friends, and they all played with me. Zach was my buddy. For every kick counts. It was really, really awesome. My favorite part of every kick counts of this year was kicking the ball really, really high. So that was my favorite part of my whole life in soccer. So kick the ball really, really hard. And it is what it is.
Speaker B [21:58 - 22:01]: That's right. You had a good experience, too, I'm sure.
Speaker G [22:01 - 22:02]: It was amazing.
Speaker B [22:02 - 22:02]: Yes.
Speaker G [22:03 - 22:24]: Over the years, we've had opportunities to participate in special needs events, so we feel really blessed that we were to be able to be a part of the very first one for every kick Counts. And it's really such a nice opportunity for everyone, included special needs families and typical. We call them typical, neurotypical families alike.
Speaker B [22:24 - 22:24]: Yeah.
Speaker G [22:25 - 22:42]: I think, as Jack stated, he had a fun time, you know, and at the end of the day, that's what's really fantastic. But it's just being part of something, being part of a team and having a great day and inclusivity, you know, and building on that relationship that he and Zach have. Have built.
Speaker B [22:43 - 22:45]: How high did you kick that ball?
Speaker H [22:46 - 22:47]: I don't know.
Speaker B [22:47 - 22:51]: Like, as high as you possibly could. It was that maybe.
Speaker H [22:51 - 22:56]: I don't know what number it was. Maybe it was like four or five or six.
Speaker B [22:57 - 22:57]: I don't know. It's.
Speaker G [22:57 - 22:58]: He had a good time.
Speaker B [22:58 - 23:01]: Yeah, it sounds awesome. I wish that.
Speaker G [23:01 - 23:07]: Yeah. We've never done it before, like football. It was really fun an idea because we've never heard of football foot golf before.
Speaker B [23:07 - 23:07]: Yeah.
Speaker G [23:07 - 23:19]: And so, you know, he's done special needs surf. He's done a couple other events like Challenger and then this. So it was like something he never would have probably been doing otherwise. So it was a good time.
Speaker E [23:19 - 23:19]: Yeah.
Speaker B [23:19 - 23:33]: Can we talk about maybe, like, the benefits when. When you guys participate in events like this, like the stuff that you just mentioned. And obviously every kick counts. The benefits that you see when. When Jack is participating in these, like what it's. What it's like for him.
Speaker G [23:33 - 23:44]: Sure. What's really nice about it, I mean, we've started. Oh, gosh. Jack has probably started doing events like this when he was three or four. That was probably when we started doing like, surfing and stuff like that.
Speaker B [23:45 - 23:47]: Are you a good surfer? I'm sorry? Are you a good surfer?
Speaker H [23:47 - 23:48]: I. I was, yeah.
Speaker E [23:48 - 23:49]: Yeah.
Speaker G [23:49 - 23:51]: Well, he stood up on the board for the first time this year.
Speaker B [23:51 - 23:53]: Really? Yeah. That's dope.
Speaker H [23:53 - 23:55]: I've done this. I was very happy for that.
Speaker E [23:55 - 23:55]: Yeah.
Speaker G [23:57 - 24:06]: The events are really nice. Like I mentioned before, it brings families together and I think being a special needs family sometimes can be a bit isolating.
Speaker B [24:06 - 24:07]: Sure.
Speaker G [24:07 - 25:15]: And I think, you know, unless you're living it, you don't realize. So when there's opportunities like this, it gives Jack a chance to, like I said, be a part of something. Be a part of a team that maybe he wouldn't have been able to have been a part of otherwise and experience all the things that go along with being on a team, like the camaraderie of it and, you know, learning a new skill and things along those lines. And it just, it draws you in. It gives us a chance to dabble. I mean, I have a second son who's not autistic, so we do teeter in both worlds, but it's an interesting balance. So for Jack, it gives him the opportunity to meet new people, socialize, and then also a lot of Jack's special friends don't have the ability to socialize or have communication skills as strong as someone like Zach. So without even realizing it, Zach's friendship gives so much to Jack with just not even doing anything other than being his friend, you know, learning, you know, conversation skills, maybe, like I said, learning new tasks, things like that. So it's been a really positive experience.
Speaker E [25:15 - 25:16]: Yeah.
Speaker B [25:16 - 25:19]: Can you tell me a little bit about how you met Zach?
Speaker D [25:20 - 25:20]: Sure.
Speaker H [25:20 - 26:19]: I first met Zach when I started doing Challenger Sports in 2021. We've met up, we worked together in groups. Zach was my buddy of Challenger Sports for a number of years, and then this year he was my coach. So I was very happy. I get to be good friends with him. Zach and I have gone to a lot of fun events. We did, like, as he said before movies, bike riding in Dorbra King Koltzneck, and in my neighborhood. I got to see his soccer game one time at my middle school. I hope I Get to go there again. He also came to one of my plays in middle school. It was called Shrek the Musical, and I had four roles, so keep going. And I also came to his concert in May. It was his rock and roll performance, so it was really, really awesome.
Speaker B [26:19 - 26:20]: Cool.
Speaker H [26:21 - 26:29]: Then this year, we met up together in summer school, which is nice and happy. We get to be good friends with him.
Speaker B [26:29 - 26:37]: Yeah, it's cool. And you talk about good friends and all the stuff that you guys have done together. And the families have gotten close, too. Can we talk about that and what that experience has been like?
Speaker G [26:37 - 27:10]: No, it's been nothing less than magical. It's really been quite lovely. I always say when. I never would have chosen this journey, the autism journey for our family, but we're here, and I always say we meet the nicest people that we probably would have never met otherwise, and that includes the Dabbies and Zach. And when Zach and Jack got paired up together, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Or should I say Zack Pot? You know, because they really.
Speaker B [27:10 - 27:13]: I think we're gonna name the episode that. Yeah, Zackpot.
Speaker G [27:13 - 27:52]: Zackpot. We were very lucky. But I feel like. Like, it's what you want. The best. Challenger sports. You pair them up with a buddy. The hope is that they get more than just meeting up on that Sunday morning for an hour and a half and playing a game. And I feel like Jack and Zach really just hit it off, and they were able to build a friendship, a relationship outside of that. And, I mean, isn't that an incredible thing? I mean, what a gift, you know? So I feel like, you know, challenger and meeting the Dabbies have been a really positive experience for us. It's been wonderful.
Speaker E [27:52 - 27:53]: Yeah.
Speaker B [27:53 - 28:22]: Yeah, I know. We've kind of, like, talked about this, kind of, like, danced around it, but. But specifically between Challenger events or at events, like, every kick counts. Like, what do they mean to kind of to. To you, Zach? They're obviously fun or. Excuse me. Sorry, Jack. I'm sorry, Jack. That's okay. I knew I was gonna do that at some point today. It just took me 30 minutes. But can we talk about the events themselves and what they mean to you and, like, how fun they are?
Speaker G [28:23 - 28:23]: Sure.
Speaker H [28:24 - 28:39]: About this fun event? We sometimes we play together in sports. We do, like, fun activities. Really? We also gone to his family's event.
Speaker B [28:39 - 28:39]: Really?
Speaker H [28:40 - 29:02]: It was really, really good. And Zach and I have sometimes played basketball together and soccer, and we throw baseball together, and it was really, really good. I mean, the best way is to get. Be good, have good friendship is to be together. And we always love being together, as always.
Speaker B [29:02 - 29:03]: That's awesome.
Speaker G [29:04 - 30:03]: Yeah. Building on that, I think it's been a very positive relationship. I feel like in the special needs community, sometimes the families are very overwhelmed by not only the diagnosis, but perhaps maybe some of the deficits that go along with that. And I would encourage special needs families, along with typical families, to get involved, to find things like every kit counts, to find things like here in New Jersey, we have something called poac. Parents of autistic children get involved in these types of communities. Challenges, you know, put yourself out there, because sometimes with your children, it's stretching them, you know, and encouraging them to get involved, and you'll surprise yourself. It'll be such a positive experience. It's been nothing but wonderful for us, and it's the inclusiveness of it, you know? And one thing I'll say is, as Jack has aged, opportunities become less.
Speaker B [30:03 - 30:03]: Sure.
Speaker G [30:03 - 30:47]: You know, just like with everything, everything's really cute when they're little, you know, and then when they become tweens and teens, you know, a lot of stuff just falls off to the side. And the autism community here in New Jersey alone is immense. And so much disappears as they get older and older. So what's nice about things like Challenger and everykit counts is they incorporate this group, the older kids, you know, And I feel like with experiences like this, it. It's just so rewarding, you know, it allows him to, like I said, be a part of something that he might not have been otherwise.
Speaker B [30:47 - 30:47]: Sure.
Speaker E [30:47 - 30:48]: Yeah.
Speaker B [30:48 - 30:57]: I love that. And I really appreciate the two of you coming out and sharing some time with us and sharing what your experiences have been and. And all that. I like. Thank you so much for. For doing that.
Speaker A [30:57 - 30:59]: Thank you for your time.
Speaker B [30:59 - 31:28]: Absolutely. So that was Jack and Michelle. We'll be right back with our. Our fourth and final segment of this episode of Greetings with regards to Powered by the New Jersey Lottery. Back in a sec. All right, we're back for our fourth and final segment of this episode of Greetings from the Guard State, powered by the New Jersey Lottery. We're here at the New Jersey Youth Soccer headquarters down in Freehold. Evan, back on the show. Tab Ramos. Welcome. Good to have you.
Speaker F [31:28 - 31:29]: Thank you for having me on.
Speaker B [31:29 - 32:05]: Absolutely. So we've come run across each other a few times. We said at the New Jersey Youth Soccer Awards bank or dinner at the Veritage Beer collab, the control all Tab beer, which I've certainly bought several four packs of that. But all those things, they all kind of have one core thread between them, which is New Jersey Youth Soccer, because the proceeds from the beer went to New Jersey Youth Soccer. The, you know, obviously the dinner itself, you know, was. Was for New Jersey Youth Soccer. Couldn't you talk about why it's important to you to. To volunteer your time for New Jersey Youth Soccer and what that means to you?
Speaker F [32:06 - 33:11]: Well, I mean, first of all, thank you for having me on and like to thank Evan for. For having me involved in all these things. I. I feel. And I'm very happy to be involved in anything that has to do with New Jersey Soccer, because I've seen. This is one of. This is one of the great things about getting old is that you. You get to see a lot as. As it happens, New Jersey soccer was definitely in a much different place, you know, 30, 40 years ago when I was growing up and coming up through it, and it's come along in great strides. But I do realize that the only reason that I was able to play was because someone else helped me and someone else put in the time. And I always feel that the more I can get involved, the better. And to be completely honest, I don't just do it for everyone else. I also do it for myself. I truly enjoy being involved in all of these things and being involved in helping other kids. Kids potentially having experiences that I was able to live because someone else helped me.
Speaker E [33:11 - 33:11]: Yeah.
Speaker B [33:11 - 33:36]: Can we talk? When you first heard footgolf, did you, like, immediately know what that was? I mean, I guess, like, it's in the name, so you kind of do know, and they're asking you. So, like, you know why they're asking you. But I think that also kind of almost speaks to, like, the evolution of, like, how. How the game has continued to grow and how it's become more and more accessible. Accessible for. For different types of people. Can we talk about, like, your experience with. With every kick counts?
Speaker F [33:37 - 34:14]: Well, if it would have been basket golf, I don't think I would have got the call. Right, so foot golf. Sure, I got the call. Yeah, I had heard about it, actually. My son and I had. My son had taken me out to play one time before, and I really enjoy it. I mean, I think it has. It's very relatable to actual golf because actually kicking a soccer ball is very much like. Like hitting a golf ball, you know, with a. Bending it one way or the other, making the ball sit or skip backwards or. There's a lot relatable. And it's also a very. It's a game in which you you can have a good connection with people. And. And so I really enjoy it.
Speaker B [34:15 - 34:34]: I'm trying to think, Evan, of, like, a comparison. Like, if you were to play golf with. Fill in former professional golf golfer and then also play foot golf with Tab. Like, if. Like, what's the. Who is the comparison person? Like, who is the. Who is the golfer that is. Like, I just played foot golf with Tad Ramos.
Speaker C [34:34 - 34:38]: I'd crush Tiger woods in golf. So that's what. In foot golf. I know I'd crush him in foot golf.
Speaker B [34:38 - 34:43]: Well, I mean, obviously, so it's ab. You know, he crushed most people, I feel, like, in foot golf. Right.
Speaker F [34:43 - 34:45]: I. I would think, but maybe.
Speaker B [34:45 - 34:47]: Maybe, maybe. Okay.
Speaker C [34:47 - 34:49]: We've seen him on the ball like magic.
Speaker B [34:49 - 34:49]: Right?
Speaker C [34:49 - 34:50]: That's what we know.
Speaker B [34:50 - 35:04]: So. All right. We. We're good. So you completed the whole course. You got a chance to meet a bunch of players. Can you talk to me about that experience of. Of every kick counts? Like, what that was like.
Speaker G [35:05 - 35:05]: Like.
Speaker F [35:05 - 35:35]: No. Well, I mean, I. I think it's just. It was a great experience overall, I think, for the children who were there to have an opportunity to. To. To play and to have fun and to laugh and to. You know, I got to see all of it. I think it was, you know, it's certainly a great idea to. That Zach put together here for all of us to be able to enjoy and to. And to continue to give back this way. I certainly feel like the event has a lot of room to grow, and hopefully Zach can grow it over many years and.
Speaker B [35:35 - 35:35]: And.
Speaker F [35:35 - 36:00]: And continue to have me involved, because I'd love to do it and help him grow this. But, you know, above and beyond anything else, I think it was. It was the joy that I saw in the children that were there and the fun that they had. You know, I've had. I've had an opportunity over the year, over the years, through soccer, to travel to over 50 countries worldwide. And because of that, you know, you can notice that we're all different in some sort of way.
Speaker E [36:00 - 36:01]: Yeah.
Speaker F [36:01 - 36:13]: You know, so. So this was no different. This was soccer uniting people in one place in is through football. But I always feel like soccer has a way of uniting the world, and this was. This was another way.
Speaker B [36:13 - 37:27]: Yeah, we literally. So, like, the timeline's gonna get a little goofy here, but we always do a segment with WDHA Rock Station up in New Jersey or up in North Jersey that does Jersey magazine with. With Jim Monahan, who's like the longtime morning show host of wdha, and we have a segment. Greetings as a segment with wdha. So we're very thankful for that. And we were talking about this episode that we're recording now, which is coming. The preview of. It's going to come out on Sunday at like 6am on WDHA. And then obviously this episode will drop Tuesday, you know, after we record. And we were talking about sports because Jim and I are both baseball guys and, you know, obviously you guys are soccer guys. And just like, the, the way that sports is able to just kind of like it almost, for lack of a better term, like, levels the playing field in a sense of like, it kind of just brings people together, you know, like, no matter what, you can love sports. You know, you can just, you can engage with it to your varying levels. And I feel like soccer is a way, a very spec specific sport that allows that depending on your skill level and all that. Like, you know, I have buddies that should not be playing soccer that play it every Saturday, like Montclair State. Like, they just go and they run around and I'm like, God bless. Like, that sounds great, but that's, that's what you were just saying. Like, like, sports, Soccer in particular just has that way of, of uniting people to a degree.
Speaker F [37:27 - 37:37]: There's certainly a certain feel about soccer. So you're, you're a baseball person. The feel that you get when you hear. Hear the sound of the ball hitting the bat.
Speaker E [37:37 - 37:38]: Yeah.
Speaker F [37:38 - 37:39]: Only you know that, right? I don't know.
Speaker B [37:39 - 37:40]: Like, it hits me.
Speaker F [37:40 - 37:46]: I don't know. I know how difficult it is to get in a baseball cage and try to hit a ball that's going 65 miles an hour.
Speaker B [37:46 - 37:46]: Yeah.
Speaker F [37:46 - 37:49]: Just half of what, you know what a real pitch is.
Speaker B [37:49 - 37:49]: Right.
Speaker F [37:49 - 37:50]: And it's impossible to see. Right.
Speaker E [37:50 - 37:51]: For me.
Speaker F [37:52 - 38:03]: But I think that sound that you hear with the bat on the ball, the wooden bat on the ball, the feel that that gives you when you know, that's the feel that soccer people get when they hit a soccer ball.
Speaker E [38:03 - 38:03]: Yeah.
Speaker F [38:03 - 38:11]: And I think, I think, you know, fortunately for soccer people, it is the biggest sport in the world, and it's the sport that unites everyone with that feeling.
Speaker E [38:11 - 38:12]: Yeah.
Speaker B [38:12 - 38:48]: It's really, it's crazy this year pretty much since you and I met and when we did the awards, the awards dinner, I've talked more about soccer this year than I have, and I just turned 35 last weekend. So in my entire 35 years of life outside of, like when I was eight, playing with the purple gorillas and Paquanic like that was, this has been the most soccer that I'VE ever talked about and I've learned a lot about the game and how important it is to people and I think that's really amazing to see. And speaking of amazing to see, you were aware that this was Zach's first every kick counts event, Right. This was the first time that he had put on this event.
Speaker F [38:49 - 38:54]: I was not sure. Actually, I got invited to come, but I wasn't sure if it was the first one or not.
Speaker C [38:54 - 38:56]: So you don't want to bog him down with too many gigs.
Speaker B [38:57 - 39:09]: Keep it example. But the fact that it was. I feel like that kind of speaks to just like how well run it was. Right. Because like, if you didn't, if you walked in and were like, boy, this must be their first event, that would be a. That would be a right.
Speaker F [39:09 - 39:27]: Definitely did not get that feeling. So I, again, I didn't know if it was the first one or not. I was just happy to help. And it certainly was well organized. And, and again, I have to repeat, I think seeing the joy of, of everyone who played going from hole to hole and, and the joy that the kids got when they put the ball in the hole.
Speaker E [39:27 - 39:27]: Yeah.
Speaker F [39:27 - 39:30]: And it's. It was just. Is truly amazing.
Speaker B [39:30 - 39:57]: Yeah, I love it. That's going to bring us to the close of this episode. So, Tab, I really appreciate you taking time with us. Obviously, Jack, Michelle, Zach. Evan. Evan, since you're sitting with us, if you can hit us with the where people should go to learn more about New Jersey soccer. Top Soccer. Everykit counts like as many as you can get in. We'll obviously put them all in the show notes for people to go click and learn more. But if we're gonna put em in there, let's do that.
Speaker C [39:57 - 39:57]: Sure.
Speaker E [39:57 - 39:57]: Yeah.
Speaker C [39:57 - 40:14]: Everykitcounts has its Facebook account and its Instagram account that Zach's working through. And certainly the story about every kid counts is hosted on our website as well as links to Top Soccer and all the other programs@njusoccer.com awesome.
Speaker B [40:15 - 41:57]: Well, thank you everybody again for joining us on this episode. This was fun. Like four different segments. This is like, like an old school kind of greetings episode of. It's like having a bunch of people all doing small segments over the course of a thing, over the course of an episode. And I think this is like going to wind up being episode 190 at this point. So it's been going for a while and we really appreciate all the partnership and all, all that. So thank you everybody for listening again. We'll put all the links and tags and everything that we. Evan just said in the show notes. If you just go click on, click on them. Obviously, we'll put greetingstroothegarden state.com in there as well, which is the website for the show. And you can get all of our other episodes that we've had over the course of the year. And so check that out, because we've had a lot of really great guests, including all the ones today. And this has been the Green Speak RSA podcast, powered by the New Jersey Lottery. I'm Mike Ham. Thanks for listening. And we'll catch you next at home. Tell me before you go all the way. Do you alive. Sam.
