TOPSoccer

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 girls, age four & older, 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 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer & US Youth Soccer families.

How Do I Participate?

Easily find your State Associations local TOPSoccer clubs by clicking here.

Then, you may contact the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer office, or the listed local TOPSoccer club contact, to find out more about getting involved with a local USYS TOPSoccer program.Then, you may contact the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer office, or the listed local TOPSoccer club contact, to find out more about getting involved with a local USYS TOPSoccer program.

How Do I Start a Program

Developing a TOPSoccer Program can be very rewarding. Just like anything new, it takes time. We have a more comprehensive guide here, but the suggestions below are a great place to start.

1. Establish a Committee
Talk to like-minded coaches, administrators or volunteers within your club about starting a TOPSoccer Program.

Set a timeline for the year as well as goals such as:
– Number of players you wish to get involved
– Establishing indoor and outdoor sessions
– Outlining modified play

2. Coordinate Volunteers
Volunteers are crucial to the TOPSoccer experience. Emphasize the community service aspect of the program to interested parties.

3. Register Your Players
Once your plans are in place, register your players as an intramural team with your club and therefore Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. Players need to be registered in order to be covered by insurance.

4. Complete Background Checks
Anyone who is 18 and older and involved as a volunteer, TOPSoccer Buddy or coach must have their PA Child Protection Laws background checks complete.

5. Spread the Word!
Word of mouth goes a long way in making a successful TOPSoccer Program–neighbors, classmates, teachers, friends and fellow soccer people. You’d be surprised by how many want to help out.

Keys to a Successful Program

A TOPSoccer player is defined as any youth player age four and older who has a physical or intellectual impairment that limits his/her ability to perform at the level of play which he/she has chosen to participate.

A successful TOPSoccer program consists of the following elements:
1. Placement of players by ability, not age
2. Emphasis on ability NOT disability
3. Player involvement
4. Meaningful experience for players
5. Achievement of individual goals
6. Dependability and stability of coaches
7. Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Click Here to register

For any questions regarding TOPSoccer, please contact JT Dorsey at jtdorsey@epysa.org.