Frongillo Named to SYRA Post

At its February meeting, the MYSA Board of Directors approved the appointment of Richard Frongillo as the new State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA). After several years of dedicated service Andy Weiss decided to step down as SYRA in order to pursue other activities in the referee community. The new appointment was effective on March 1, although the transition of responsibilities will occur gradually over time. Frongillo will work to continue the tremendous legacy that Weiss leaves behind, serving the game of soccer within the state. "Referees share a special bond with eachother and form a close-knit community", said Frongillo. "I hope to support individual referees to allow them to grow and succeed within a strong referee infrastucture."

Born in Franklin, MA, Frongillo has been a part of the soccer scene in Massachusetts for many years. As a player, Frongillo began in the Franklin Youth Soccer Association (FYSA), played for coach Fran Bositis at Franklin High School, and played Junior Varsity at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst under the direction of coach Jeff Gettler. Frongillo continues to play and manage a team in the Bay State Soccer League.

In 1989 Frongillo returned to Franklin and began coaching within FYSA, working with boys and girls from under-10 to under-16. For four years beginning in 1994, Frongillo coached a boys team for Charles River United in the Massachusetts Premier League (MAPLE). In recent years, he has coached under-8s in Franklin.

Frongillo has held a number of administrative roles, serving as a director within Franklin for more than ten years. He has been a referee assignor within the Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS) league, the Treasurer and Registrar of the Bay State Soccer League, and an Area Referee Administrator (ARA) in support of the Massachusetts State Referee Committee (MSRC) since 1998.

Starting at age fourteen, Frongillo served as referee in recreational youth games. He became a USSF certified referee in 1987 and has been an active referee ever since. As a state referee, Frongillo works regularly in amateur leagues throughout eastern Massachusetts. His referee career has steadily progressed to higher level matches including professional assignments in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He has been appointed to represent Massachusetts at the Region I Youth Championship six times since 1994. He has been a member of the Eastern Massachusetts State Officials Association (EMSOA) since 1996.