Red Bull New York welcomed more than 100 attendees, including coaches, club leaders, players and soccer professionals, to the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center on August 30 for the inaugural Red Bull New York Youth Coaching Summit.
Presented by RWJBarnabas Health, the invitation-only event brought together representatives from dozens of clubs, schools and soccer organizations for a full day of learning, collaboration and connection. It also provided guests with an exclusive look inside the new Performance Center and a closer understanding of how Red Bull New York supports player development across its professional teams, Academy and Youth Programs.
Following opening remarks from Dave Jervis, Head of Youth Programs, guests toured the facility before selecting from classroom and field-based presentations led by members of Red Bull New York's technical staff.
Sam Joyce, Head of Academy Performance Services, led the classroom presentation, "Development Phases and Talent Identification." The session explored the non-linear nature of player development and the importance of patience, context, and looking beyond surface-level performance when evaluating young players.
On the field, Decio Ribeiro, U12 Academy Head Coach, and Bryan Gonzalez, U11 Academy Head Coach, worked with Red Bull New York U12 Academy players during "Connecting Individual Actions to Group Tactics." Both began their coaching journeys in RBNY Youth Programs, and their session demonstrated how individual qualities, including a winger's ability to attack in one-on-one situations, can support larger team objectives such as creating chances through wide play and switching the point of attack.
One of the highlights of the day was the opportunity to observe a Red Bull New York II training session. Guests watched the team progress from a passing activation into possession and game-based activities centered on quick decision-making, in-possession actions, and counter-pressing. The observation was followed by a question-and-answer session with Head Coach Dominik Wohlert, Assistant Coach Jonathan Rhodes, Assistant Coach and Video Analyst Kyle Stump, and Technical Director Tiger Fitzpatrick.
The afternoon continued with two additional learning opportunities. Patrick Fuentes, Manager of Player Development, presented "Developing the Individual in a Team Setting." Fuentes, who leads the Academy Foundation Phase and Select pathway teams, highlighted the importance of player-centered environments, strength development, and helping each player develop a "special weapon" while contributing to the team.
Managers of Coach Development Artjon "Tony" Dibra and Jack Bradshaw then worked with Hoboken United U11 travel players during "Teaching Technique in a Player-Centered Environment." Their field session connected technical repetition with realistic decisions, challenging players to use creativity, individual moves, and combination play to break defensive lines.
The summit concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dave Jervis and featuring three perspectives on youth soccer and player development: Tab Ramos, who represented the United States at three FIFA World Cups and later led the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team; Bradley Wright-Phillips, a two-time MLS Golden Boot winner and Red Bull New York's all-time leading goalscorer; and Max DuBane, Senior Manager of Coach Development and Education. The conversation explored balancing winning with long-term development, recognizing players who develop at different rates, improving access to the game, and the future of soccer in the United States.
Feedback following the event reinforced the value of both the facility and the people responsible for creating the learning environment. One attendee described the summit as "an excellent experience" and praised the quality, knowledge, and professionalism of the presenters. Another shared that while the Performance Center was incredible, it was the people working inside the building who truly made the experience special.
The inaugural summit provided a new opportunity to bring the soccer community together, share ideas, and connect professional insights to the environments coaches lead every day. Building on the success of this year's event, Red Bull New York plans to make the Youth Coaching Summit an annual experience.
