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According to our Chapter records, the Bergen County Soccer Coaches Officials Association was inaugurated in September of 1938. During these early years, there were about 20 local schools competing in 3 leagues. The season began in early October and concluded in mid November after playing a 10 game schedule. The Bergen Evening Record, which sold for 3 cents, was the source for local sports reporting. Soccer coverage was somewhat limited and shared the sports pages with both football and bowling. Game reports featured a baseball style box score with complete positional lineups and substitutes. These games were mostly officiated by 1 referee, whose name also appeared in the box score.

Throughout the following decade, the Association was disrupted by the war and struggled to continue until November of 1949. This is when the following 10 gentlemen met at Dwight Morrow High School and became the Founding Fathers of our Association:

Mickey Corcoran – Dumont
Chet Demarest – Hackensack
Tom Gorman – Dumont
Cass Muehleck – River Dell
Roy Nickerson – Tenafly
Willard Quirk – Dumont
Wilbur Smith – Englewood
George St. Almond – Clifton
William Sunderland – Glen Rock
Charles Yennie – Ridgewood

The Chapter’s Constitution was adopted and the purpose of the Association was:

1. To promote the welfare of the game of soccer on the National, Local and Regional level by uniformly interpreting and administering the rules of soccer as set forth by the NCAA.
2. To promote and maintain the highest degree of soccer officiating by following a uniform set of mechanics.
3. To have available at all times an adequate number of thoroughly trained and capable officials.
4. To cooperate with all organizations connected with the game of soccer in furthering its interest and ideals.

The earliest membership directory in our archives dates back to 1963. There were 47 members with about 2/3 being officials and the balance being coaches. The membership meetings were held at various school sites that included Bergenfield, Englewood, Glen Rock, Hackensack, New Milford, Teaneck and Tenafly. A Varsity fee was $15.00 and the annual Banquet was held at Ed Fricke’s in Ridgefield Park.

In the late 60’s, the Association changed its name to the Bergen County Soccer Officials Association (BCSOA). At the same time, The New Jersey Soccer Officials Association (NJSOA) was adopted which now includes 8 chapters geographically located through out the state. As a chartered member of the NJSOA, our Association has an affiliation agreement with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). The major benefit gained with this agreement is the general liability insurance coverage available to all registered members. 

The Bergen County Chapter continued to progress successfully and has grown steadily into our current membership of 195 registered NJSIAA officials and 58 working cadets. The Association has found a home for its membership meetings at Dumont and Elmwood Park High Schools and its cadet school at the Maywood Elementary School. The BCSOA now supports 79 local high schools throughout the North Jersey area with most schools offering both girls and boys soccer programs. It is a pleasure to maintain this web site to all interested soccer enthusiasts.

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