Sand City Soccer: How one dad’s sideline energy sparked a new youth league

You can hear Paul Dippolito before you see him.

He’s loud. Intense. Packed with energy. The kind of person who fills a room without trying – and who gets genuinely excited when talking about kids, community and the future of youth sports. That enthusiasm is exactly what led to Sand City Soccer, a new local youth league that’s launching this fall and already building momentum.

Dippolito never played organized soccer as a kid. He grew up playing little league baseball, then lacrosse and wrestling (he went on to play Division III lacrosse in college). Soccer wasn’t on his radar until his oldest son, now seven, signed up to play in kindergarten.

What started as cheering from the sidelines quickly turned into something deeper.

“I would be the dad cheering for everyone and not being able to sit down because I wanted the kids to do well, so I was pacing on the sidelines,” he remembered.

When a coach was absent, Dippolito would be called in to help. By the end of the season, he agreed to come back the following year – joining Zack Rowan, Billy Woodward and Drew Carr, fellow parents and coaches who would eventually become his cofounders.

“Little did I know the fire that would light inside me as a dad, as a husband, as an adult. I absolutely love it. I truly love it,” Dippolito said.

That fire would become the foundation of Sand City Soccer.

Seeing the gaps – and wanting to fix them
As Dippolito became more involved, he started to notice patterns. The kids were enthusiastic, but many lacked fundamental soccer skills. Coaches were well-intentioned volunteers, often juggling work and family, but didn’t always have the resources or guidance needed to structure effective practices.

Dippolito understood the challenge. Parents step up because their kids need them – not because they’re trained coaches. The commitment from parents is there, but there was no support structure for them, he said.

So he started learning on his own, watching YouTube videos on coaching youth soccer. He practiced drills in his backyard before heading to his son’s practice – sometimes while taking work calls. He was preparing lesson plans like a teacher before class.

At the same time, he noticed another trend: registration numbers in the league his son played in were declining. Fewer coaches meant fewer teams with too many players. His son’s most recent team had 16 kids – too many for meaningful playing time or development at that age, he said.

On the field, games often turned into what Dippolito calls “bumblebee” soccer: every child swarming the ball in a single hive, with little structure or opportunity to learn spacing, passing or positioning.

Dippolito and his soon-to-be partners began reviewing U.S. Youth Soccer rules and standards, attempting to solve the problems they noticed on the field. They quickly realized that many weren’t being followed. Field sizes, ball sizes and the number of players on the field hadn’t evolved with modern youth development guidelines.

The game had changed, but in this case, the structure hadn’t.

The only way we’re gonna change
Dippolito, Rowan, Woodward and Carr put together a detailed proposal. They outlined ideas for modernizing youth soccer locally: updated rules and field standards, a coaching guide, better training and support, improved marketing and a stronger business plan to boost registration.

They presented it to league leadership. The response, Paul said, lacked urgency, and he wanted to see change that would benefit his kids and their peers. That’s when he said something to the coaches that would change everything: “The only way we’re gonna change things around here is if we start our own league.”

“They looked at me like I had 19 heads,” he said.

But the idea stuck. The plan was already there: coaching education, parent support, a modern website and scheduling app, and a clear philosophy centered on kids, not wins.

At this point, all that was missing was the right partner.

A shared philosophy
Dippolito met Erin Cho when their four-year-old sons’ teams played each other. With her extensive background in youth and elite soccer, she agreed to having the boys play with fewer kids on the field.

The difference was obvious, they said.

“Poetry in motion,” Dippolito called it. The kids talked to each other. Everyone touched the ball. Everyone played. “Little did she know at that time but in about two weeks we were going to meet at Copenhagen and I was going to pitch her on joining the league,” he said.

Where Dippolito is high-energy and outspoken, Cho brings a calm, grounded presence. She’s thoughtful and reserved. Community-oriented. Deeply focused on kids and development. A natural balance to Dippolito’s outward enthusiasm.

When he approached Cho about joining Sand City Soccer – asking her to serve as chairperson – she was struck by how complete the vision already was.

“Everything was so perfectly thought out and presented, in all aspects,” she said.

Cho’s connection to soccer runs deep. It wasn’t just a childhood activity, it was her life.

She played travel soccer locally at a young age, won youth championships and competed internationally. By 12, she was recognized as a top player on Long Island; by 13, she was invited into an Olympic development program as one of the top players in the Northeast. Her teams won state and national championships.

Along with many teammates, she earned a full Division I scholarship to play at St. John’s University, where she broke collegiate records for goals and assists.

But for Cho, the impact of soccer went beyond competition. The sense of community among players, families and parents left a lasting impression. Now, as a mother of two boys, that’s what she wants to recreate.

“Sand City is focused on involving many people who want to be part of something,” she explained.

Despite their different personalities and paths, Dippolito and Cho are aligned on what youth sports should be, and what they shouldn’t. They both emphasize that sports at a young age are about far more than future athletic careers. Dippolito referenced survey data on thousands of parents showing that up to 17% believe their child could become a professional athlete. In reality, far less than 1% do.

The takeaway isn’t discouraging – it’s grounding, he said: “Kids just want to play because they love the sport. They’re just having fun.”

Sand City Soccer is intentionally designed to remove that pressure. There are no tryouts. No emphasis on winning at all costs. No expectation that kids must specialize early. They encourage children to play multiple sports, play in various leagues, work with different coaches and explore what they enjoy. They also support families who choose travel sports.

“You don’t have to stop doing your travel league to be in our league,” Dippolito said. More time on the field is a good thing, he and Cho agree, and every family should choose what’s best for their child.

“Youth sports, regardless of your chances of going pro or not, it sets you up for life,” Dippolito said. Through sports, kids learn to fail, push through challenges, build confidence and develop camaraderie – lessons that extend well beyond the field.

Building a league that supports coaches, too
Once Cho joined, Sand City Soccer began attracting experienced voices from across the soccer world. “Once Erin came on, she opened her web of elite soccer people and they all wanted to be part of it,” Dippolito said.

Volunteer board members and advisors include former Division I athletes, elite trainers, former professional coaches and semi-professional players. Together, they’re creating age-specific development guidelines – what kids should be learning at each stage and how coaches should be teaching it.

Coaches will attend a boot-camp-style training session in August, where they’ll learn how to structure practices and teach skills effectively. They’ll receive all necessary equipment, and ongoing support from the board and advisors throughout the season.

The league will also use a centralized app for communication, allowing coaches to message parents, share schedules, post rosters and manage cancellations in one place. “We’re modernizing the game for our community and making sure that everyone involved is fully supported for the benefit of the kids’ development,” Dippolito said. 

Beyond logistics, coaches are viewed as mentors. Dippolito and Cho emphasize the lasting impact a positive coach can have on a child’s confidence and sense of self. Dippolito, who describes himself as a once-timid child, credits his experiences as a high school wrestler with helping him come out of his shell. Sand City coaches, he says, will set the tone for sportsmanship, encouragement and inclusion, while providing an environment for character building among their players. 

The logistics
Sand City Soccer will serve children ages 4 through 12, with a clinic for three-year-olds. The cost is $175 per season, which includes a full uniform. “We’re gonna have really cool looking jerseys,” Dippolito said. Each year, players will receive a new uniform they can add to their collection. He’s also hoping for sponsorship patches, just like the pros. 

Before the season begins, all registered players will participate in a short August clinic featuring fun drills. Board members and advisors will use the session to create balanced teams, ensuring fairness while keeping the experience fun.

Coaches will receive rosters and schedules by mid-August, and parents will have clear expectations for the fall season. Organizers have a few training locations in mind and are awaiting final approvals. 

All players in the same age group will practice at the same time, creating opportunities for scrimmaging and connection across teams. 

“It’s all about community cohesion,” Dippolito said.

A name, a mission and a community effort
The name “Sand City Soccer” came from founding member Drew Carr, who wanted something distinct and rooted in local identity. When he said it out loud, Dippolito immediately pictured the logo, the vision and the connection. He loved it. 

“We aren’t trying to be a disruptor or anything,” Dippolito said. 

“We’re such a great community and we’re just providing another option,” Cho agreed. “No matter what you decide, you should be happy with your choice.”

Affordability matters, too. Sand City Soccer aims to be accessible, with scholarships available.

To get the league off the ground, the team is hosting a fundraiser on February 26 at Napper Tandy’s in Northport. The three-hour community event will include food, drinks, raffles and sponsorship opportunities. Funds raised will support equipment, uniforms, insurance, health and safety measures, field maintenance, awards and scholarships.

“In order to be successful, we do need support from the community,” Cho said.

She emphasized the time and effort Dippolito has poured into the league, and the collective commitment of everyone involved.

Parents, Dippolito said, have been asking for something like this at the youth level. “I love it. It’s a passion that has ripped open in me that I never thought I’d have,” he said. “Everyone is fully dedicated to this league to make it the best thing possible.”

For more information about Sand City Soccer, including registration details and ways to support the league, visit their website or Instagram page. For tickets to the fundraiser on February 26, click here.