US Youth Soccer Competitive Coaches of the Year announced

LOS ANGELES (Via US Youth Soccer) — The recipients of the 2016 US Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year award for Boys and Girls were announced tonight at the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala, held in conjunction with the 2017 US Youth Soccer Workshop in Los Angeles. The national US Youth Soccer Competitive Coaches of the Year award winners are John Greaves of Yardley, Pa., (Girls) and Michael Ertel of Cheektowaga, N.Y., (Boys).

For the past 15 years, Greaves has been a member of Yardley Makefield Soccer. Greaves has a vast array of experience in coaching from the English Premier level, to the U.S. youth soccer level. On one of his most recent teams, nearly every player went on to play Division I soccer. In 2016 alone, Greaves and his team won the US Youth Soccer National Championship, a US Youth Soccer National League title and a fifth Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup. Win or lose, Greaves teaches his players to act with the utmost respect to the opposition.

+Read: National winners announced at 2017 US Youth Soccer Awards Gala

Ertel is known by fellow coaches and players for leading by example. While he emphasizes soccer-specific skills, the theme for each of his coaching messages is how to develop not only as a player, but as a person, as well. In his free time, Ertel is lending a helping hand in the community by volunteering at charity events and coaching local kids in the community. In addition, Ertel is the head men’s soccer coach at Villa Maria College and he holds a USSF National “B” License.

Recipients of the Competitive Coach of the Year awards are selected by the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala Committee on the basis of sportsmanship, player development, personal coaching development and community involvement (citizenship).

For bios on each of the regional award winners, click here.