EAST WINDSOR, N.J. ― New Jersey Youth Soccer will honor the Freehold Soccer League as its 2017 NJYS recreation program of the year at its 30th annual awards dinner Friday, Feb. 2.

“We thank New Jersey Youth Soccer for this great award,” said David Moore, outgoing recreation commissioner of the Freehold Soccer League. “Freehold takes great pride in our program, and our club places great value in the rec program. The entire club supports what we do each weekend with these 700+ players. The program is built on sportsmanship and creating a positive environment for the players to learn this great game.”

The Freehold Soccer League was founded in 1971 and has grown over the years. It has more than 700 players ranging from four-years-old to the high school level who participate in its recreation program. The athletes are grouped by school grade and play alongside their classmates and friends. All of its travel soccer players start within the recreation system as many still participate at the recreation level to keep playing with their schoolmates.

The management group of the Freehold Soccer League organizes the club with defined roles and expectations, using its mission and goal statement as the basis for decision-making among player, coaching and referee development.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.