TOPSOCCER Registration Announced

Soccer program for youth with special needs to start its 2nd Fall Season

            Local soccer clubs are again joining with St. Joseph’s Villa to host the Fall season of TOPSoccer, a program geared specifically to introducing soccer to children with special needs.  TOPSoccer is an outreach effort under the auspices of United States Youth Soccer (USYS) and the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA).

            The program began in this area in Spring of 2006, marking the first time TOPSoccer was offered in the Richmond area and making it the 19th such program to be introduced in Virginia. It is the only program in the country run as a cooperative effort by ALL of the soccer clubs in the area.

            TOPSoccer teams up youth soccer players with Richmond area special needs children.  Designed to enrich the lives of children with special needs through the game of soccer, TOPSoccer is open to any boy or girl, ages 4-19, who has a mental or physical disability.  

            The youth soccer players – called “buddies” help the TOPSoccer athletes learn the game of soccer, or just enjoy moments of physical activity, through a variety of soccer-themed activities and games, appropriate to the age and ability of players.

            Each player is matched with a local youth player “buddy” or buddies who assist volunteer coaches and the TOPSoccer athletes-participants in the learning process.  St. Joseph’s Villa and other volunteers provide special needs expertise. Parents are a part of the program and are required to remain on site throughout the sessions.

            TOPSoccer volunteers have been encouraged by the positive response to the program and look forward to building on the success of past seasons.  The following clubs participate in TOPSoccer: Ashland Youth Soccer League, Chesterfield United Soccer Club, FC Richmond Soccer Club, Midlothian Youth Soccer League, Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, and Richmond Strikers Soccer Club

             Volunteers and athletes are welcome to our Fall season.

            Fall Season Session Dates:

            Sundays – September 16th through October 21 or October 28, 4:30-6:00 p.m.  Please note:  no session Columbus Day holiday weekend.  All sessions will be at St. Joseph’s Villa, 8000 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23227

            If you are a youth soccer player, love soccer, want to give something back to the game, and want to help someone with special needs, TOPSoccer has a place for you. Buddies provide support, guidance, and a play partner to the TOPSoccer player.  Buddies do not have to be a travel or school player – all a prospective buddy needs is compassion for others and love of the game. (If you are interested in being a buddy, please e-mail Buddy Recruiting Coordinator Paul Mack at Paul_J_Mack@aon.com and include your name, age, school, and the team you play on.)

            If you know of a child with special needs who may have an interest in soccer, TOPSoccer has a spot for him or her.  A nominal fee of $25  is charged to cover insurance, uniforms, and equipment. The program is staffed entirely by volunteers. Scholarships are available to those who cannot afford the fee. All that is necessary is to request one on the registration form. 

Registration

Please follow these steps so we can be sure you are registered for the Fall 2007 season:
 
Please register your athlete/child, by taking the following steps:

  1. Send an e-mail “intent to register” to the Richmond area TOPSoccer Administration and Communications Coordinator Lisa O’Shea at Laoshea@aol.com. This will reserve a place for your child. Enrollment fills up fast. While we want to make the program available to all, and run sessions year round, there is a limit on the number of athletes we can accommodate per season.

  2. Please include the following information: Your name; the participants name and age; and, a very brief description of the nature of the participant’s special need. This and all registration information will be kept confidential.

  3. Download the official registration forms  and complete them entirely.

  4. Bring the forms  and a $25 registration fee (check made payable to St Joseph’s Villa) to the first session on September 16, or mail them to the address directed in Lisa O’Shea’s response to your “intent to register” e-mail.  
           
    (Please note TOPSoccer on the outside of the envelope)
         
    Please take special note of the physician’s certification form, which we must have before your child may participate.  You may bring this the first day.

If your child was a new participant in the Spring session and you completed all the forms, please take the following steps:

  1. Send an e-mail “intent to re-register” (only if you have not done so already) to Richmond area TOPSoccer Administration and Communications Coordinator Lisa O’Shea at Laoshea@aol.com and cc:

            For information about registration, please send an e-mail to Richmond area TOPSoccer Volunteer, Lisa O’Shea at laoshea@aol.com and cc: Paul Mack, at Paul_J_Mack@aon.com.  You may access information about TOPSoccer and registration forms at http://www.richmondkickers.com/youth/TOPSOCCER/index_E.html

 

 

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