‘It’s unbelievable’: Forty years and still kickin’ it at the DYSA

Laura Zexter remembers boxes and boxes of uniforms piled up in her living room, waiting to be counted and distributed to its respective soccer teams, but nobody was sure how many they’d need.

That was 40 years ago, Zexter said, when her parents, Christine and John Simon, moved to Dartmouth with their six kids and decided to start the Dartmouth Youth Soccer Association.

She recalls all the volunteers who joined and the overall community effort in getting everything for the association organized. Inside the clubhouse at the DYSA fields, one of the first financial documents for the association hangs framed on the wall.

“It’s all about volunteerism and that's what this organization is really all about,” Zexter said.

Forty years later, what began as a recreation program, now includes a town program and additional club program with the Vipers organization. 

“It’s unbelievable,” Zexter said. She emphasized the importance of the program to her family and her parents' dedication to it until their passing. 

Now, she said her own three kids are involved in the organization. But she still recalls those early days when the teams played on the soccer fields of UMass Dartmouth, then known as Southeastern Massachusetts University. 

Spending Saturdays there as a kid was a family tradition, Zexter added. 

Forty years since those Saturdays first began, the DYSA community gathered to celebrate in the style of a block party on Saturday, July 27, with a mini petting zoo, bouncy houses, games, a DJ and, of course, soccer.

Bob Long, association president and facility director, said being around this long is “pretty impressive.”

This spring the association had approximately 400 kids in its programs, which Long says is a “very good turnout.” 

“My girls started here when they were 4 and 5 years old,” Long said. “I knew nothing about soccer, but I wanted to be a part of it so I started coaching.”

Now, he said he has coached many teams all ranging in age and continued to get more involved, making friends along the way.

Derrick Medeiros,  fall recreational director, said he started in the DYSA back in 1996 when he was only 5 years old. 

Looking back at then and now, he said, “I remember [how it was] as a kid and being around the hype, but just now especially, there’s more to it than there was before. There’s more pride and it’s exciting.”

Stephanie Antoine attended the block party with her son Cayson Antoine Arruda, 5. “This is actually his first year, so it’s new to both of us,” Antoine said.

She said she liked seeing him try out different sports and watching his “mind expand” as he learns, adding how she did the same when she was a kid.

In regard to the association, Antoine said, “It’s amazing. I love how well put together and organized it is,” highlighting how easy it is to access information and get answers whenever she has questions.

Coach Chris Simoes said, “It’s like a family — a family starts off small and grows — and we’re definitely seeing the organization grow.”

Coach and Board member Dave Reynolds said he likes to see the kids grow with the sport as well as the team camaraderie. “It’s kind of like a second family,” he said.

Hannah Zexter, 12, and Amelia Wood, 12, sure know what he means. 

Hannah and Amelia have been playing soccer together for the DYSA since they were 4 years old. 

“It’s been a great part of our childhood,” Hannah said, emphasizing how being together on the same team were some of her favorite parts.

Now celebrating forty years, Amelia said it feels “really special.” 

Hannah said, “It’s somewhere you can make a lot of friends and have a lot of fun at the same time. If you’re shy and kind of want to come out of your shell, this is the place to go.”

Coach Joey Hill said being a part of the DYSA has been a positive experience for both himself and his three kids. He highlighted how inclusive the association is to kids from other towns: “They treat everyone like a huge family.”