Our Mission
We are dedicated to providing a comprehensive soccer experience that promotes rapid skill development and grows strength in character to forge the next generation of talented young athletes and leaders. Our club is built on the same values and principles that defined the Southern Tier of NY and Greater Binghamton area: hard work, resilience, community, integrity, and teamwork. For us, it’s more than just soccer. We take pride in our community’s history and our roots. Our goal is to help shape a bright future for our area’s young athletes together.
We believe in challenging our young athletes physically and mentally, while still being sensitive and attentive to their emotional needs as children and journey through maturity. We blend fun with a demanding program, and track each player’s progress regularly along the way so both players and parents understand where their children are exceling and opportunities for growth. We firmly believe in transparency and seek to provide an experience that benefits everyone and positions our players for success.
More information on our programs and offering is available in our Programs section.
Our Motivation
The cost of living across the United States is on the rise. Everything from groceries to fuel is going up quickly, and youth sports are no exception. Premier/travel clubs are growing, which is wonderful for sports and competition, but not our wallets making the experience unattainable or untenable for most. This is frequently referred to as the “Pay-to-Play” model.
In Broome County alone, which has a population of roughly 200,000 people, approximately 31,000 people were last reported in 2023 to be living below the poverty line (15.5% of the population), 24% of whom are children. This is higher than the NY State average of 20%. Many more sit just above the poverty line without access to crucial benefits and services.
There are many promising, talented kids who are eager and ready for the premier/club experience but simply cannot. The cost of membership, equipment, travel, and other related expenses is often prohibitive, especially over time. When it comes to fun, learning, growth, and development, families shouldn’t have to worry about these things. A premier/club experience should be available to all with the skills and drive to be successful.
© 2026 EXACT Sports - Barry Tarter
Our Vision
This is where we come in. Our vision is simple. We aim to provide a premier, high-end, soccer club experience for Binghamton, NY and the surrounding areas that is affordable and attainable for those with the skills and desire to play. While there is equality in soccer and youth sports in general, we wish to bring equity. Money shouldn’t prevent kids from doing what they love. We find strength in diversity whether it is socially, financially, racially, ethnically, or otherwise. Our common unifier is our love of the game and drive to play as an elite club.
Beyond our goals to develop our young leaders and athletes, we wish to give back to the community and partner with our local schools and organizations. This includes volunteer opportunities, coaching and leadership development, youth programs, and other in-kind donations. We believe every dollar in should be a dollar out in support of our kids and the communities we live in. We intend to give expecting nothing thereof….
Our Philosophy
The most important thing in any organization is its people. We take this to heart and execute our mission and goals based on a people-centric philosophy. We are here to serve our players, parents, and the communities we live in. Therefore, we have the following pillars at the core of our philosophy:
Transparency & Communication - Open communication between coaches, staff, parents, and players is key to a healthy organization. We want players and parents to feel comfortable sharing feedback directly with our coaches and staff. We promise to do the same in a respectful, constructive manner. This comes through regular, transparent dialogue and crucial conversations. We pledge to be transparent and clear in our methods, plans, and agendas.
Flexibility and Freedom - We understand families have many commitments and activities on an ongoing basis. If you wish to play other sports and/or do other activities, that is not a problem. In fact, we encourage it. A variety of sports and activities greater enrich our youth and help to make them more well-rounded. We want our families to feel comfortable to explore, try new things, and/or perhaps some other things you enjoy.
Collaboration & Partnership - Working with the community is a big part of our mission. To that end, we will be collaborating with our local schools’ sports teams and partnering together to provide more opportunities for competitive play. When you join STCM, we realize many still wish to play with their friends on their school teams. We think that’s wonderful, especially as our players can bring what they learn on STCM and share. We will not force children to play against their school teams and friends in games if/when the situation arises. Instead, it is your decision as a family, which we promise to respect and honor.
Respect & Empowerment - In a world with many different opinions, beliefs, customs, orientations, faiths, etc. we request mutual respect and tolerance. This includes coaches, staff, parents, and players on and off the field. Hate and intolerance have no place in STCM. Our differences are what make us unique and soccer is what brings us together. This makes us stronger and empowers us to reach new heights together. We want players to use their unique talents and personalities to explore, try things, succeed, and also fail. Success makes us feel good, but failure also teaches us valuable lessons. We empower our players to make decisions and be creative without fear of retribution.
