About TOPSoccer
TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) program for players with special needs. Everybody who wants to play soccer should have an opportunity to do so. Our TOPSoccer program is just such a place for players with special abilities/needs.
Loudoun Soccer supports The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer), a soccer program developed through US Youth Soccer for young athletes with intellectual, developmental or physical special needs. This program provides individuals with the opportunity to learn and play soccer in a safe, nurturing, and self-empowering environment. The goal of the program is to enable these young athletes to grow and develop physically, socially, and emotionally with the assistance of coaches and youth mentoring buddies. TOPSoccer is not for competition. Players are matched up by abilities and not age. TOPSoccer is for all youth ages and ability levels. Players enjoy the fun and excitement of soccer and learn some great skills along the way! Loudoun Soccer is proud to have offered the TOPSoccer program since the Fall 2003 season.
PROGRAM:
Our goal is to provide all kids a chance to learn basic soccer skills in a relaxed and fun environment. During the session, players will be paired with a volunteer soccer “Buddy” to work through fun games and skill activities under the direction of a professional trainer. There are six Saturday sessions during the Spring and Fall seasons which last approximately one hour. Players will receive a soccer jersey and an End-of-Season award. All players should dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, a ball, shin guards and a parent.
LOCATION:
Loudoun Soccer Park
19798 Sycolin Rd
Leesburg, VA 20175
DATES:
Saturdays April 13, 20, 27
May 4, 11,18
Make-Up Day: June 1
TIMES:
Saturdays 10:00-11:00AM
FEES:$37.00 per player
REGISTRATION:Open registration throughout the year. TOPSoccer players use the same registration process as the rest of the club.
Parent are required to remain on-site at all times - TOPSoccer is not a drop-off program and parents are expected to be in charge of all medical and behavioral issues for their child. Wear your sneakers! We always try to have buddies for all our participants, but be prepared to assist your child if we do not have enough volunteers or in the event that your child is unable to work with a buddy. Remember to bring a water bottle for yourself.
TOPSoccer VOLUNTEER BUDDIES NEEDED:
TOPSoccer requires several volunteers each session to work with and support the players on the field. Are you a student looking for service hours? Consider being a Buddy. Buddies are invaluable volunteers who assist the trainer and participate directly with individual players or within a team with several players to enable participation in soccer activities. Buddies are not players and do not score goals; they help the TOPSoccer player succeed and keep them as safe as possible. Buddies can be a same-aged peer, a teenager, or an adult. They can be a soccer player, someone who works with special needs children or someone who has no soccer experience, but a strong desire to enable children to have fun. Buddies will receive community service hours, make new friends and have a great time!
Be a TOPSoccer Buddy
Forms:
TOPSoccer players do not have special form requirements except for players with Down-Syndrome. An Atlanto-Axial Instability Certification is required only once for all Down-Syndrome players. Please bring it to the first session. Please note that a physical is not required, only a doctor’s signature. If you have any questions please email the TOPSoccer Director, at [email protected] or call 703-777-9977.
Check out
this video from US Youth Soccer for more information on the TOPSoccer program, and watch
this video of one of our own TOPSoccer sessions, when US Paralympian, Nick Mayhugh, was a Buddy for our players!
