PURPOSE
The TOPSoccer program was created to train young people with disabilities in a caring
coaching environment to play soccer; to serve as a feeder program to recruit, assess and
train players to participate in competitions offered by existing sports organizations for
people with disabilities; and to mainstream higher ability players onto regular youth
soccer teams.
PHILOSOPHY
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a
community-based training and team placement program for young
athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association
volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of
learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or
physical disability. Our goal is to enable the thousands of young
athletes with disabilities to become valued and successful members
of the US YOUTH SOCCER family. How do I participate? Contact your
local US Youth Soccer State Association office to find out more
about getting involved with a local US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer
Program.
DESCRIPTION
TOPSoccer was designed not as a competitor to the programs run by other sports
organizations for people with disabilities, but rather as a complementary program that
works hand in hand with organizations like Special Olympics to expand the overall training
and competition opportunities for young people with disabilities. The TOPSoccer program
often works as a feeder program: recruiting, assessing, and training new soccer players
who would benefit from opportunities sponsored by these sports organizations. Many of the
sports opportunities currently offered to young people with disabilities are school based.
However, many parents of these young people would like their child to participate in the
same community sports program as their non-disabled brothers and sisters - to wear the
same club uniform, play at the same fields, go to the same awards banquets, and if
appropriate, play on a non-disabled team. TOPSoccer can fill this need. The TOPSoccer
program has also helped introduce the Unified Soccer Camp in many areas, a concept
developed by Special Olympics. The Unified Soccer Camp brings together disabled and
non-disabled soccer players in a positive and fun environment, hopefully breaking down
social barriers through a common love of the game.
A basic TOPSoccer program consists of two vital components. The first is a field site
where soccer players with disabilities can receive high-quality training to help develop
their soccer skills. Training sessions could include activities such as scrimmages,
small-sided games (3 v 3, 4 v 4) and tournaments. The second component of the TOPSoccer
program is an ongoing player assessment process that places participants in the most
appropriate playing situation, including placement on non-disabled, intramural and club
teams, or involvement in programs established by other sports associations for people with
disabilities (i.e., Special Olympics).
FINANCIAL GRANTS
Through a generous grant from the Soccer Industry Council of America (SICA) and the
Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) U S YOUTH SOCCER is able to provide
mini-grants to new and existing TOPSoccer programs, through their State Association. Grant
applications are reviewed and a limited number awarded based on the applicant's outline,
goals, objectives and ability to meet the guidelines and criteria set forth by U S YOUTH
SOCCER. |
|
Additional information can be
obtained by calling
1-800-4-SOCCER |
|
