Hoboken Recreation Soccer Program May Be Outsourced At Higher Price (Updated)

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Recreation Soccer, held each fall, is one of the most popular recreation programs in the city. But the organization running it has sent out an email to residents saying the town is going to fix what organizers believe ain't broke — potentially outsourcing the program and doubling the cost per child.

This comes on the heels of a recent announcement that the city's traveling soccer program for kids, Hoboken FC, might have to skip a season — until a group of Hoboken parents stepped in recently to save it. READ MORE: Parents Meet To Save Hoboken FC Soccer

Hoboken Youth Soccer said in their email on Tuesday that the city has not responded to their questions about the potential change.

(To attend Wednesday's council meeting, head to City Hall at 94 Newark St. at 7 p.m.; otherwise, you can watch on the city's Facebook page but can't participate.)

The existing program includes games every Saturday in fall, with practices offered during the week, and jerseys and trophies for the kids.

City And Councilman Respond

Councilman Michael Russo said Tuesday that he's concerned about the rising costs of the recreation programs for families.

"Hoboken has an obligation to provide recreation programs to our residents, especially our children," he said Tuesday. "I do not agree with outsourcing that responsibility. Those who are truly invested in our community, the volunteer coaches and parents, who are and have been such an integral part of the upbringing of our youth, should continue to be in that role."

He added, "I’m completely baffled by these sudden changes to our recreation programs. We are losing community, increasing costs and quite honestly, I’m very concerned where this road may lead us."

City spokesperson Marilyn Baer responded Tuesday, "To clarify, Hoboken has always utilized a third-party vendor to provide youth recreation soccer. The city went out to RFP [request for proposals] to solicit proposals from qualified vendors to operate the fall recreation soccer
program as is the law and to bring the previously outstanding program into compliance. The RFP was provided to all those who requested it including the Hoboken Youth Soccer League which did not submit a response."

She added, "If adopted by the Hoboken City Council, the city will enter into a contract with Athletes Connection Toward Success for the fall 2023 season for residents between 5 and 14 years old. Through this partnership with the city, the city will be able to provide weekly practices and games to participants, full uniform kits for participants, and training for volunteer coaches.

"The program would be $75 per participant and free for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Other programs are also provided through similar vendor partnerships, such as instructional baseball and instructional golf."

The organizers have asked residents to email their council representatives, as well as the new recreation director who was hired over a year ago to improve and add programs. READ MORE: Hoboken Gets New Recreation Head To Revitalize Programming

The city's former head of Health and Human Services resigned earlier this year, but the recreation program already had been moved to the Environmental Services department.

Below is the email that was sent out today from Hoboken Youth Soccer. Got thoughts? Email here.

Important message about HYSL Fall soccer season

Please support your Hoboken Youth Soccer League before the City Council and Mayor’s Office this Wednesday!

We are sending this communication in response to emails we received on the opening of the Hoboken Recreation Soccer Fall registrations which usually happens in early May. The Hoboken Administration has decided to outsource its largest, most successful recreation program at a cost to Hoboken residents of $180,000! This will almost double the registration fees from $40 per child.

WHY?

Without warning, with no explanation, and after 40 years of partnership between the Hoboken Youth Soccer League and the City of Hoboken, the city of has decided to outsource the soccer recreation program through an RFP (Request for Proposal). We have asked to meet with the Hoboken Recreation Department to understand the reasons for outsourcing the league prior to the RFP, however no response was provided. After the RFP was published, we were told that no one in the administration would be legally able to discuss with us the reasoning because of the published RFP.

The Hoboken Youth Soccer League has been supporting the City of Hoboken and its kids for over 40 years. Through all those years and through numerous Mayoral administrations, The Hoboken Youth Soccer league has always maintained an excellent, efficient, transparent, and affordable recreational soccer program for Hoboken children. The league has proudly grown into one of the most popular and successful kids' recreational programs, recording over 1200 athletes, 150 volunteer coaches, over 85 teams and almost 400 games last year alone. All of our Directors and volunteers are extremely dedicated to the league and the kids of Hoboken.

We are not aware of any other Hoboken youth recreation program (baseball, basketball, football, softball, tennis) that is required to go through the RFP process. Will this be the new norm for all Rec programs? We are baffled by how an outside group can replace a core group of volunteers, whose passion is Hoboken and its kids.

Why has Hoboken Recreation determined that the HYSL, led by long term volunteers who are former HYSL parents and part of the Hoboken community should be replaced?

The HYSL has never been approached with any concerns regarding the league.
HYSL is a 501 (C )(3) nonprofit organization;
The leaders all volunteer their time and talent.
HYSL runs very efficiently though its core volunteers who have been players, coaches and administrators in soccer for decades enabling them to fine tune the program to ensure the best soccer experience for the kids.

Do not let an outside organization whose program is to claim they need $180K to run a not-for-profit program?

The Hoboken City Council is meeting on Wednesday, June 21st at 7PM. Please come and let the City Council and Mayor know that HYSL should remain as the provider to ensure that the Fall 2023 recreational soccer season can move forward under HYSL leadership. If you can’t make it, please email the Hoboken Recreation or your city councilman and ask why this is happening?

Feel free to forward on to anyone that can join us or and encourage any sport recreational program parent or guardian because this will impact them soon!

Hoboken Recreation email: jgonzalez@hobokennj.gov