HARRISON, N.J. (June 10, 2025) –The New York Red Bulls are excited to announce an expansion of their player development partnership with the Westfield Soccer Association (WSA). WSA has been an Official Youth Partner club of the New York Red Bulls since 2009. As a long-standing partner, Westfield Soccer Association continues to provide an excellent platform for its’ players and boasts a multi-faceted program catering to players of all ages and abilities.
Westfield Soccer Association offers programs for all ages and abilities within grassroots soccer including the U5 & 6 Fun of Soccer Program, U7 & U8 Rec, U7 Academy, U8 Pre-Travel, Intercounty (Inter-town Rec), and 26 WSA Travel Teams.
Additionally, WSA has continued to evolve their Club program further enriching a pathway for advanced travel players with Union County FC (UCFC), which now consists of 30 high level boys and girls teams. UCFC offers an opportunity for advanced travel players from in and around Union County to compete in the National Academy League (NAL) (boys), the entry level to the MLS player pathway, and the Development Player League (DPL) (girls), the entry point into the Girls Academy (GA) Pathway.
To support player development in Westfield Soccer Association, New York Red Bulls Youth Coaches will train all teams within the Intercounty program, support the U7 & U8 Academy training pool, and coach selective teams within the boys and girls WSA travel program. WSA will also benefit from Red Bulls Coaching Education support for both Intercounty and Travel programs.
As a result of the partnership expansion, Westfield Soccer Association will become further integrated in the Red Bulls player pathway. This includes having the opportunity to host events such as Red Bulls Goalie Wars and programs within the prestigious Red Bulls Regional Development Schools (RDS) like an RDS Talent ID Center, a cost-free talent ID program for players in Union County, and RDS Summer Camps. Lastly, UCFC teams who are deemed eligible by the Red Bulls may be invited to the exclusive RDS Invitational Tournament, competing against top teams from the area.
As an advanced player pathway within the partnership, Westfield Soccer Association and Union County FC will also take part in a two-way collaboration with the New York Red Bulls Academy scouting network to identify top local talent for potential trials or placement with each respective program.
Another goal of the expanded partnership is to connect young players to the professional game. As part of the curriculum, players are actively encouraged to watch soccer games and, through a special offer, all WSA players benefit from a free ticket to a Red Bulls home game at Sports Illustrated Stadium, a state-of-the-art soccer stadium, located in Harrison, N.J.
About Westfield Soccer Association
WSA has been a part of the Westfield community for over 35 years. During that time, the club have strived to create an environment where young soccer players can thrive both on and off the field, fostering a love for the game of soccer that lasts a lifetime.
Regarding the partnership expansion Eric Judka, President Westfield Soccer Association said “This expanded partnership with the New York Red Bulls organization speaks to the work that is done across both Westfield Soccer Association and Union County Football clubs to raise the level of play in a manner that prioritizes development first. As we look to continue our growth, we believe that a deeper partnership with the New York Red Bulls helps to accelerate our journey.”
Ruben Vloedgraven, Director of Coaching for Westfield SA & Union County Football Club, added “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the New York Red Bulls. The association is able to benefit from all that the Red Bulls has to offer, which will only help to evolve the programming for our members. Both organizations seek to be a positive part of the youth soccer landscape and by expanding the partnership we seek to impact youth soccer in the area in a positive and constructive way.”
Red Bulls Regional Manager Dan Vitu remarked that “Westfield Soccer Association has been a valuable partner to our organization since 2009. The longevity of this partnership is a credit to a very dedicated group of the WSA club leadership and a fantastic Red Bulls Youth Programs support staff who ensure partnership success. This new iteration of the partnership is particularly exciting as it provides a unique opportunity for Westfield Soccer Association to integrate different parts of the Red Bulls Player Pathway in Union County, having a deepened collaboration within both our RDS, and Academy.”
For more information on Westfield Soccer Association, check out
or email info@westfieldnjsoccer.com
About the New York Red Bulls Player Development System
The New York Red Bulls maintain one of the premier youth development programs in the United States, committed to identifying and developing talent in the tri-state area. The Red Bulls Player Development System is a multi-layered program that provides professional support at all levels of the game. Each level of the player development pyramid has been structured to provide the best development opportunities to players, coaches and youth soccer organizations. Within the local community, programs are offered for players of all ages and abilities. For players with outstanding ability, there is an opportunity to progress from the grassroots Youth Programs to the Regional Development School, then on to the Academy Teams (starting at U10) and, ultimately, to the Red Bulls professional team. Red Bulls Academy teams are consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation. Red Bulls players make regular appearances in U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams and NCAA Division I programs. For more information about Red Bulls Academy and youth programs, visit www.newyorkredbulls.com/youth.
