Yasmeen Ash was named NJYS TOPSoccer volunteer of the year. (Photo courtesy of NJYS)

EAST WINDSOR, N.J. – New Jersey Youth Soccer announced on Thursday that Yasmeen Ash of the Piscataway Soccer Club was named the 2021 NJYS TOPSoccer volunteer of the year.

Ash, a Piscataway Soccer Club board member, started a TOPSoccer Program with her club this past fall, organizing the elements necessary for its successful launch. She identified many TOPSoccer Buddies and a coach, arranged and advertised the program, secured an initial sponsorship and even printed awards that were presented to the players at the end of the fall season. Her primary focus remained on creating a fun and safe environment for the TOPSoccer participants and their families.

“I truly appreciate this honor from New Jersey Youth Soccer,” Ash said in a statement. “As a soccer mom who enjoys watching kids fall in love soccer, TOPSoccer has given me the joy of introducing soccer to the special needs community in Piscataway. My voice was heard within the Piscataway Soccer Club, and they fully supported me in this initiative. It has been an amazing experience for me, the players and their parents. I want to thank the Piscataway Soccer Club for helping to turn my vision into a reality! I am looking forward to the 2022 spring season.”


Yasmeen Ash (Photo courtesy of NJ Youth Soccer)

Ash comes from a soccer family, with both her sons having played soccer from a young age. She saw the impact that soccer had on her on them and wanted to share that with other families.

TOPSoccer is a community-based training and team placement initiative for young players with special needs. The program also provides a curriculum to train coaches on how to provide fun and engaging soccer for those young players. The program, designed by US Youth Soccer, emphasizes player specific development, training, and meaningful participation rather than competition and results.

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.