Veteran Soccer Referee Ian Bongaardt Appointed as New State Referee Administrator for the Eastern Pennsylvania State Referee Committee
Plymouth Meeting, PA – August 11, 2020 – Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, which fosters the mental, physical and emotional growth of youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition within Eastern Pennsylvania’s 36 counties, today announced that veteran soccer referee Ian Bongaardt has been appointed as the new State Referee Administrator of the Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association Referee Committee (EPSARC).
Bongaardt succeeds long-time soccer official Frank Giancroce, who recently retired after more than 30 years of service to Eastern Pennsylvania soccer referees. Bongaardt, a suburban Philadelphia-area entrepreneur and business owner, brings over 30 years of experience as a player, coach, and referee to his new position. He was a U.S. Soccer National Referee from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. Soccer instructor from 2011 to present, and a U.S. Soccer Assessor from 2012 to present.
Previously with EPSARC, a joint committee between the youth and adult soccer association, Bongaardt served as the organization’s State Director of Instruction for the referee committee from January 2015 to July 2016. During that period, he developed and oversaw the instruction program for 3,000 referees, instructors, assessors, and assignors in the Eastern Pennsylvania, providing clarification on the interpretation and application of the Laws of the Game under the guidance of US Soccer.
“We are excited to have Ian come back to our organization in his new role as State Referee Administrator,” said Jeff Sommer, President of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “Ian brings a ton of great soccer experience, not only as a ref, but as a player and a coach. All of those aspects enable him to view the game with a unique perspective, and he will be vital in guiding our game officials going forward, especially in this ‘brave new world’ of youth sports in the time of COVID-19.”
Bongaardt is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, as well as a graduate of the Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders program. He is the owner of Comfort Keepers, an elder care alternatives provider, and is a leading expert of the elder care industry.
About Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer State Referee Association:
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s State Referee Association (SRA) is appointed by the youth and adult associations as part of a joint state referee committee to serve both associations. The state referee committee is responsible for recruiting and training new referees, and the registration and continuing education of current referees for US Soccer. For more information on becoming a referee, go to www.EPSARC.org.
About Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer:
Since 1972, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer has worked throughout 36 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania to promote, foster and perpetuate the game of soccer to the region’s youth. Through competitions, educational programs, outreach efforts and coaching clinics, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer impacts the lives of more than 130,000 youth soccer players from ages 5 to 19. Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is one of 55 state associations in US Youth Soccer and a member of the United States Soccer Federation. Additional information about Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer can be found at www.EPYSA.org.
Media Contact:
Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations
Phone: (215) 266-5943
E-mail: jim@jhdenterprises.com