A Message from the New President - Rob Mannino
A few short weeks ago, I had the honor of stepping into the role of President of Hauppauge Soccer League—a club that has meant so much to me and so many others in our community. I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to Ken Furuno and the the other board members who have dedicated their time and energy to keeping this club running. Their efforts laid the foundation for countless players to develop their skills, build friendships, and grow their love for the game.
As we look ahead, I am excited to work alongside all of you—players, parents, coaches, and volunteers—to take the Hauppauge Soccer League to new heights. This club is built on community, and together, we have an incredible opportunity to restore, strengthen, and grow what makes it so special.
Now, it’s time to get to work.
Restoring Our Club, Together
Hauppauge Soccer League has been a cornerstone of our community for decades, shaping young athletes and fostering friendships that last a lifetime. For many of us, including myself, this club has been more than just a place to play soccer—it’s where we built lifelong relationships, developed resilience, and learned the value of teamwork.
As we look ahead, we recognize the opportunity to strengthen and evolve the club. Shifting dynamics in youth sports, increasing competition, and organizational challenges have tested our ability to grow and thrive. However, we are committed to revitalizing Hauppauge Soccer League, ensuring it remains a source of pride and a positive experience for every player, parent, and coach.
This is not just about making small improvements—it’s about redefining what Hauppauge Soccer League stands for. Our goal is to create an environment where every member feels valued, heard, and excited to be part of the journey forward.
Your Voice Matters: We Need Your Feedback
Before we implement sweeping changes, we need to hear from you. Every parent, coach, and player has valuable insight into what has worked, what hasn’t, and where we can improve. One of our primary focuses in this transition is gaining feedback from everyone involved in the club.
We want to understand:
What have been the biggest pain points for families in recent years?
What aspects of the club do you love and want to see expanded?
How can we create a better experience for all players across all age groups?
What new ideas do you have that could help us improve?
This is a club-wide effort, and the more input we receive, the stronger our path forward will be. Over the next few weeks, we will be opening multiple channels for feedback—including the survey found here, open board meetings, and committee discussions—so every voice can be heard.
A High-Level Vision for the Future
We are putting a comprehensive plan in place to strengthen the foundation of the club and create an experience that benefits every player and family. While there are many areas of focus, we are prioritizing three major pillars:
1. Defining a Clear Player Development Pathway
One of the most important aspects of our plan is ensuring that every player has a structured pathway for growth. From our youngest players learning the basics to our more advanced players preparing for competitive opportunities, we want to provide a clear vision for development.
This means:
Establishing clear milestones at each age group to help guide progression.
Ensuring consistency in training and coaching across all teams.
Aligning players, parents, and coaches on what success looks like at every stage.
A crucial part of making this vision successful is realigning with our world-class trainers to make sure our development pathway is as strong as possible.
2. Maximizing Our Trainers & Realigning With Viva Soccer
We are fortunate to have an elite team of trainers who have coached at the highest levels and have strong connections throughout the Long Island soccer community. Their knowledge, experience, and leadership are vital to elevating Hauppauge Soccer League and providing players with the best possible training.
To ensure we are maximizing the impact of our trainers, we will be working closely with Viva Soccer to create a realignment strategy that:
Inspires and empowers our trainers to take the club to new heights.
Holds everyone to a higher level of accountability to maintain the highest standards of coaching and player development.
Considers trainer certifications, coaching styles, personalities, and strengths to strategically match trainers with the age groups that best suit their expertise.
Ensures continuity and structure across all teams so that every player benefits from a unified approach to training.
This effort is not just about assigning trainers—it’s about creating a culture of excellence, accountability, and long-term development that benefits every player in our club.
3. Strengthening Leadership Through Parent Committees
We believe that building a stronger, more organized club starts with engaged leadership and community involvement. To achieve this, we are forming key parent committees to assist with essential aspects of the club’s operations.
These committees will:
Provide structure and support for key initiatives like team organization, events, and club operations.
Allow parents to get involved in shaping the future of the club.
Ensure leadership responsibilities are shared, reducing the burden on a small group of individuals.
This is a community-driven effort, and we want as many people as possible to take an active role in shaping the club’s future.
4. Improving Transparency & Communication
One of the biggest areas we are working to improve is how we communicate with our families. We want everyone—players, parents, and coaches—to feel informed, heard, and included in the direction of the club.
To make this happen, we will be:
Holding open board meetings to encourage discussion and input from families.
Enhancing communication through consistent updates, newsletters, and social media engagement.
Creating a culture of transparency where members feel valued and involved.
This is your club. We want you to feel connected, informed, and confident in the direction we’re heading.
How You Can Get Involved
We need your help to make this vision a reality. Here’s how you can contribute:
Provide Feedback: Share your thoughts in upcoming surveys, meetings, or direct outreach. Please take the time to fill out this survey.
Join a Committee: Be part of the change by helping to lead and support key initiatives.
Engage in Communication: Stay informed, ask questions, and participate in discussions about the club’s future.
A Club Built on Community
For me, this club is personal. I grew up playing in Hauppauge Soccer League, and many of my closest friendships—even business relationships—were formed on these fields. My wife, Deanna, played here as well, and the friendships she built through soccer are still some of her strongest today.
That is what Hauppauge Soccer League has always been about—lifelong connections, great memories, and the love of the game.
Now, it’s time to bring that back.
This is our moment to take action, rebuild, and create something special for our kids. And we can’t do it without you.
Let’s make Hauppauge Soccer League a place we are all proud to call home.
Join us in this journey. Be part of the change.
Sincerely, Rob Mannino President, Hauppauge Soccer League
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