What People are Saying about NPYFC

“…the Northport-Commack Football coaches are first rate, and everyone is friendly. It’s like being part of one big family,…”

“…For the past 3 seasons I’ve had the pleasure of working with Benjamin Carey on several successful youth projects working with and/or through the PAL system. I’m sure the great working relationship between PAL and Northport-Commack will continue with the same enthusiasm…” -Anthony Williams, Chairman, Suffolk County PAL

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PRAISE FROM TBR NEWS:    [link] Northport football and cheer development program holds its annual Jamboree

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“Under Coach Baskam, Andrew has been much more disciplined and studious as of late. He creates his own study sheets and flash cards without being asked. We noticed his improvement in focus and discipline during his season on the team last Fall. I believe that Coach Baskam added a lot to him apart from the football field. He would study HUDL incessantly, and review the playbook every night. The hard work and character that Coach Baskam preached to him and the rest of the boys all Fall really sank in with Andrew in particular. He has taken on a more vocal leadership role in other sports, and has become a more confident & aggressive player. He also played travel football this winter for the Long Island Spartans. Coaching young boys is a very big commitment and responsibility, one that I am glad Coach Baskam invests his time into and does such a good job. I am delighted to see that Andrew took his football and life lessons to heart and has translated them into so much positivity. I just wanted to say Thanks, it made a huge impact on him.” -Garrett Chellius

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“I have had the pleasure of working with Benjamin Carey in PAL and other youth football events on Long Island. He is a passionate teacher of football, and hard working volunteer. His values are in the right place, and Northport-Commack will flourish under his leadership.” -Rich Platia, Suffolk County PAL Football, Director of Officials

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“We lost today 19-0 to a better team. I don’t think the better team should be asked to lay down just because they are better to make the other team feel good. Our coaches and the kids were not looking for a free touchdown. You win and you lose. I try to teach my kids to work hard to achieve things they want. That life is not easy, don’t expect to get something for nothing. I think that Coach Carey shares these views. I think he is a good coach. He puts a lot of time in working with our kids helping them get better in turn making the team better. I am glad he is coaching my son.” -Mike & Eileen Riordan

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“My son Nicholas, has played football for 3 seasons, this is his first with Northport-Commack. Lou Petrucelly is a great coach. He really teaches the boys discipline, teamwork, accountability, and respect. He does all of this and the boys are having lots of fun. His emphasis on player safety lets me know that my son is in great hands. My son and I are really enjoying our first season with Northport-Commack.” -Stuart Anderson

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“My son has been coached by Benjamin Carey now for the second year in a row. Ben is passionate and puts his heart and soul into the team. He’s always looking to make our team feel more like a family! This year we were able to see football footage from every game on the HUDL account he set up for us! I really love this because it makes our kids feel like superstars and allows me to share my sons progress with relatives! Ben explains to the kids that football is not just football; he reinforces respect for parents, teachers, and grades in school! He encourages the boys to bring their test scores to practice and share their good grades with the team and then rewards them with helmet stickers! He always reminds the boys that it’s ok to make a mistake, and that what we learn from the mistake is what matters! My son ran the ball in a game and fumbled it. My son being very hard on himself got very upset. Coach Ben called him over in the huddle, and then let him run the same play. This time he didn’t drop it and scored a touchdown! It was a proud moment for all involved! To me that’s a great coach!” -Lisa and Matt Hickey

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“My son, Luciano Thomas Kryoneris, is playing in his third year in the Northport-Commack Youth Football League. He absolutely loves his teammates and coaches. Over the past three years, I have seen him grow as teammate and a football player. In particular, Coach Lou Petrucelly makes sure all the children follow the rules, play safe and have fun. Lou and his team of coaches teach the children the foundation of playing football. All the coaches are supportive and caring for each individual child. I personally have seen the kids grow and learn together thanks to great coaching and team practices. The games are always fun to watch and we are very competitive too, which is also fun.” -Dimitri Kryoneris

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“Coach Fortuna, is an inspirational coach who is able to motivate and challenge the boys. He always uses positive encouragement and fosters a love for the children and the game. He has been fantastic.” -M.Dechiaro

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“Coach Benjamin Carey — I’m breaking the 24 hour rule. But in 24 hours we will both be so busy! He is a Valenti favorite! The patience he showed and the encouragement he gave to Luca today was immeasurable!…..he never reached that point! …he was

Calm

Cool

Collected!

Luca is lucky to have him!” -Deb Valenti

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“The lessons that Coach Dave Baskam taught at last night’s practice are exactly why I feel football is in a league of its own. It’s a bond/brotherhood that will carry with these boys forever. Typically, the brotherhood is built on its own over time, however, once in a blue moon a team is given a coach that teaches more than just the game. That coach is the one who will have impacted every player on his team for life. Because he taught something so invaluable that they wouldn’t learn from anyone or anywhere but on that football field from a true leader. I want to thank Coach Dave Baskam so much for being such an amazing role model for my son.” -Lauana Lyons

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“This is my sons 3rd season playing for Lou Petrucelly. He is dedicated and really knowledgeable . He makes it fun for the kids and they enjoy playing for him.” -Courtney Presti

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“Our son has been coached by Benjamin Carey for the last 2 years in Football and before that Ben was Nick’s soccer coach for approximately 6 seasons of youth soccer. He is always there for our boys, and very dedicated. He is respected by the boys, and through hard work, dedication and commitment yes, our team is very good. In addition to football, he has taught the boys a tremendous amount about life. These are lessons that the boys will refer to for the rest of their lives; things like teaching them how important a handshake is whether it is the first time you meet someone or the one hundredth time, how to push forward when faced with adversity, how to not give up on yourself, respect your peers as well as your parents, teachers, coaches, etc. Coach Ben has helped us parent our son. Through his coaching, we have had the opportunity to have countless discussions with Nicholas about life, respect, community, self-esteem, etc. He is a dynamic coach and it has been a blessing for Nicholas to play for him throughout the years. He has also taught the boys how to lose the right way. He does not rant and rave on the field during the game as we are losing. He does not challenge the referees. He keeps the boys focused on the game. When we lose, Coach Ben talks to the boys about what went wrong – we tried our best and something is not working. We have to fix the things that are not working in order to perform better next time. Even in losing, he finds an opportunity for the boys to get something out of it, to improve their character, to learn from mistakes. He knows that everything he is teaching the boys is about life. He gets it. Coach Ben is a star. We are lucky to have him in our community. We are honored to have him as a role model for our son.” -Greg & Jennifer Blazevich

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“There was no youth football in Northport-Commack before Ken Femiano and Chris Pica started this league years ago. You had to travel out of town to play for the Huntington Bulldogs because there were no local options. There are so many struggles in starting any type of sports league from scratch let alone football. The sport has always fallen in the shadows of lacrosse and the more popular sports in Long Island, and is under even more scrutiny today. I tip my hat to Ken and Chris for their perseverance in the face of so many challenges, and for their success. They’ve done a great job with the league. Over time they’ve held up to the constant scrutiny that leaders of any large organization experience. I can attest first-hand to their integrity, character, and genuine compassion for the kids. They are well-meaning gentlemen. I hope one day my grandchildren will play in the league.” -Ed Connell

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“I have been around football my whole life as a player, fan and father. I videotape the games for Coach Benjamin Carey on a weekly basis. This is done in an effort to analyze the team’s performance and help make the team be as successful as possible. Our players may only be 7 years old, but this shows the level of dedication that Coach Carey has for his team and one of the many reasons he has strong parental support. We have a very strong team and Coach Carey displays commendable sportsmanship by doing things like shuffling our starting line-up in an effort to make the game more competitive. I would be disappointed if our players were asked to “lie down” and allow a touchdown as it contradicts everything we teach them about giving your all, playing hard until the final whistle blows, and most importantly never ever giving up. Victories are a testament to hard work and dedication and should never be turned into a knock on the coaches and players that put more into this than most. My wife and I made the decision to put our son on Coach Carey’s team with the Long Island Spartans. Our son is playing at an elevated level, yet I feel assured that he will never be exposed to anything unsafe during a game or practice. I have heard and watched Coach Carey and his staff correct the use of technique that was incorrect and potentially dangerous on numerous occasions. Football is demonized by many but for those of us who love it, there is no other sport.” -Chris Cooke

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“Coach Joe Fortuna has been involved in youth sports for 15+ years, and been a widely recognized name in youth football on Long Island. He has strong ties with Suffolk County PAL Football, is involved with a number of charitable organizations, and has always been an advocate for Northport-Commack Youth Football. He and his group spearheaded the the youth football and cheerleading scholarship programs, and the sod field donation to Northport High School. He is an avid supporter of Kids Plus, an organization that benefits autistic children, and the Fresh Air Fund. Joe has also promoted Cheerleading as an important component of the club and looks to allocate additional resources and have them more involved in the organization. His greatest asset is his passion for football and desire to be a positive impact on the lives of his players and the people around him.”

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“Coach Benjamin Carey and has coached our son for the last 3 years now. For the duration of that time Ben has always proven to be a good man with qualities I would seek. He has shown to be an honest, upstanding person with good morals and excellent family values. He has also proven to be one of the best coaches in the league who is loved and respected by all his players and their families. He has not only been a coach but also a mentor to my 7 year old son who encourages education, good health and good sportsmanship as well as an understanding of the game. Ben has never wavered from the standings which have allowed me to say that he is a person I trust and value in my life.” -Gregory DiPalo

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“Benjamin Carey created a very exciting and successful ‘homecoming’ for the 5/6 year old football players. The East Northport-Commack Festival was truly enhanced by the homecoming event on Saturday. It was wonderful seeing families cheer on their future football stars and the excitement that created. The East Northport-Commack community was rockin’ that Saturday afternoon and it showed visiting teams and their families what East Northport-Commack has to offer. We truly hope that this ‘homecoming’ continues to grow under the supervision of Ben and this becomes a wonderful tradition during the festival weekend.” -Chuck Adams, President, East Northport-Commack Chamber of Commerce

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“My son has been playing sports with Benjamin Carey since he is 4 yrs old. Ben has been nothing but a positive influence on my son and had always treated him like a member of his family. Since we have been part on Northport-Commack Youth Football there hasn’t been a time where I ever second guessed who should be the head coach or if my son wasn’t being taught the right way. Ben’s dedication to the sport and the league is second to none. We are very fortunate to have him leading our boys.” -Coach Steve Lembo

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“I had the opportunity to meet Coach Benjamin Carey when he asked our son, Brady, to play for the LI Spartans select football team. What I encountered with Ben Carey is that he is highly motivated and driven. Ben’s passion for football is obvious and most people who meet him can feel that. It’s exciting to watch my son play at a very competitive level, and comforting to know that under Ben’s supervision his safety has never been jeopardized in any way shape or form. My son has learned an immense amount of football under his training with Coach Ben, and more importantly he has learned things like playing with sportsmanship and never giving up. These are the types of values we teach our sons in my home and it’s a great feeling to watch Ben and his staff enforce the same values on and off the field. Ben has been a gentleman and extremely organized when it comes to team communication and he also does an outstanding job of creating a community feel that goes beyond our games by setting up lots of activities that he, himself, runs.” -Laura Cooke

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“How Coach Fortuna starts and ends practice sums up what he
has taught our boys. 1…2…3…Family! We love him.” -the Hamada Family

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“Coach Fortuna presents an environment of friendship, pride, and commitment.” -K.Tittman

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“I would like to congratulate Benjamin Carey and the Northport-Commack Youth Football Club for an outstanding job at this year’s East Northport-Commack Festival. This was one of the best festivals yet and I am certain this new aspect contributed greatly to the comeback. There is no question the Town will support a similar event.” -Don McKay, Director of Parks & Recreation, Town of Huntington.

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“Coach Angelo Pastore is a good motivator and always pushes the boys to play their best. He holds them responsible for their own play and constantly reinforces his acumen that they “do their job” within the system that he coaches. This ultimately has made the boys better players and in the end collectively a better team.” -Ray Evans

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“On the field we’ve seen our boys practice and play hard and grow to love a sport even more than they did before, if that is possible. We have seen new players emerge with the skills and confidence to be part of a football team. Off the field we have seen families open their homes to have this team come together as a second family. The season was a success because of the dedication of our great coaches…Tom Lembo, Tim Kirchner, Pete Macholz, and Terence Murphy…..as well as Pat Campbell and Mike Ryan. Your countless hours of teaching our boys about football, hardwork, and sportsmanship have not gone unrecognized. We cannot thank you enough for what you have helped them achieve. Our boys all love football because of what you have taught them on the field and off the field.” -the Butler Family

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“My son Luke Marino is on Coach Benjamin Carey’s 7 yr old Black Tiger team. This is his second year on the team. It’s been said before, but football is much more than a game, and provides the opportunity for many teaching moments. He is learning more about the game and how to run plays, AND he is also learning how to be a responsible teammate, player and person. Ben believes in the boys, and inspires them to be the best that they can be, and to reach higher than they thought they could. My son has responded positively to this. He is also learning about sportsmanship and recently said to me, “You know Mom, my job is to block the players, but I can still help them up when they get knocked down.” I think that is a powerful statement from a 7 year old, something that I hope that he carries with him. I attribute that to Ben Carey and the coaching staff of this team who provide a well balanced football experience.” -Kerry Marino