TOPSoccer

CINCINNATI (October 9, 2023) – Every year, the first full weekend of October means one thing for those in Mason, Ohio: The Cincinnati TOPSoccer Fall Classic. Continuing the annual tradition that started 25 years ago, many showed up to this year’s event, which featured a parade, opening ceremony, and games.

In addition to the players and their families, more than 300 buddies, volunteers and coaches met up at the Hope Church’s fields for a weekend of fun. Participants came from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and even West Virginia for the first time. It was a true testament to the growth of TOPSoccer around the United States as it marked a 900% increase in player attendance dating back to the first Fall Classic in 1998, which Randy and Lisa Corey pioneered.

Even though the inaugural event only had one inflatable and a few motivated volunteers, the goal was still the same back then: Give players with diverse abilities an event like the fall tournaments their neurotypical peers attended with local recreation and travel programs.

TOPSoccer is an adapted soccer program for players with disabilities. One such player, Austin (18), plays for the Cincinnati North Kickers’ TOPSoccer team, and while he enjoys playing with his friends, Austin really loves the opportunity for competition. One of Austin’s club mates, Sam (15), who is partially blind and has paralysis on the right side of his body, was recruited to join the Kickers by his friends and basketball teammates. Sam’s mother, Bianca Simonson, shared that TOPSoccer has given her son a space to be active and with friends. Simonson added that Sam, who comes from a very athletic family, did not have equal opportunities in sports because of his differences, but TOPSoccer changed that. “The bond that these boys have as teammates is beautiful,” Simonson added.

The 2023 Fall Classic’s theme was “Happy Birthday!,” and was created two years ago when a father was overheard asking his son if he had a good time at that year’s event. His son’s answer: “Yes! This makes up for all the birthday parties I never get invited to!” The blunt reality of this comment provided insight as to what many TOPSoccer players feel in their daily lives, so the Coreys were inspired to throw a big birthday bash that everyone was invited to attend.

The Fall Classic begins with a parade similar to the Parade of States held at the US Youth Soccer Championship events. This year’s iteration was led by a local high school marching band and Northern Kentucky University’s dance team. Players carried in banners, with each state and program represented. Shortly after the opening ceremony wraps up, the games begin. There are 11-a-side matches for the older groups and both 3-a-side and 5-a-side for the younger players, with a focus on making sure every player has success. The TOPSoccer Fall Classic also had two fields set up on parking lots for wheelchair users to compete in end-to-end action with a large soccer ball.

In addition to the games, the Fall Classic featured disability services agency booths, carnival games, raffles, and entertainers. Each player was provided a lunch and a cupcake for the birthday celebration. Two attendees each excitedly said that this was their favorite day of the year.

In a day full of fun, goals were scored, saves were made, and high-fives were given. “It was an amazing event, so well organized and focused on the athletes,” said US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Committee Chair Dave Robinson. “The spirit of community was awesome, and the way that Randy Corey opened his arms to programs around the Midwest is what TOPSoccer is all about — inclusion!”

-USYS-

FRISCO, Texas (April 6, 2023) – US Youth Soccer, alongside etrainu have launched two new courses through the USYS University. The TOPSoccer Buddy and TOPSoccer Coach courses are now available for premium USYS University users.

US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive.

Within the TOPS framework, there are buddies and coaches. These two new courses are centered around these roles.

Each participant is assigned a volunteer, trained ‘Buddy’ who is typically a little older and neurotypical. This Buddy works with their player individually and makes sure they are safe, engaged, supported, and having fun. The player-Buddy relationship is maintained throughout the course of a season, resulting in strong interpersonal bonds and an establishment of trust and confidence that allows each player to achieve their full potential.

Coaches

TOPSoccer coaches and administrators have taken formal USYS education and certification training that assists them in successfully delivering the program. In addition to providing coaching strategies and tactics specifically for children with special needs, the training identifies the traits of the most common disabilities and provides guidance on how to modify typical soccer practice activities so everyone can be successful.

The TOPSoccer Buddy and Coach courses are both accessible as self paced learning through the USYS University premium library. Users can sign up to USYS University here for free and pay a small annual subscription for access to the premium library.

About TOPSoccer Buddy

The TOPSoccer Buddy course teaches volunteers how to support children with disability. Learners will gain an understanding of the different types of disabilities and how to engage children with disability respectfully.

About TOPSoccer Coach

In addition to providing coaching strategies and tactics specifically for children with special needs, the training identifies the traits of the most common disabilities and provides guidance on how to modify typical soccer practice activities so everyone can be successful

To sign up for the USYS University, click here.

– USYS –

It all started with an idea. Tommie Smith and Annette Schroeder, two college students, developed the concept for TOPSoccer while volunteering with the Special Olympics. They suggested that soccer should be provided more than one month a year, and shortly thereafter, the Special Olympics met with US Youth Soccer to discuss a plan.

TOPSoccer was formally presented to the states at a seminar in 1990. Ray Thompsett and Peter Ellers ran the meeting in Denver with immense hopes of launching the idea. Later that year, Pennsylvania West and Wisconsin became the first two state associations to start TOPSoccer programs.

Peggy Neason, who started her involvement with the program as the initial East Region Chair, was also anointed the inaugural TOPSoccer National Chairman in 1992 and held the position for two years. Doug Gaddis, John Janasik, and Joe Nagel were the other Regional Chairs in the program’s first year. There have been seven National Chairs in the 28 years since Peggy held office, with the incumbent Dave Robinson starting his term in 2020.

In 1992, Pennsylvania West became the first state association to host an event related to the program, hosting the inaugural TOPSoccer Jamboree. One-day events such as these consist of an exciting day-long festival that features training, games, and entertainment for all involved.

Seeing the good that TOPSoccer had brought, US Youth Soccer and Adidas signed an agreement to provide additional funds for the program in 1998. TOPSoccer was afforded the opportunity to further showcase what the program could offer two years later when it garnered its first sponsorship with Uniroyal Tires.

In 2000, former Chairman Peggy Neason, along with James Kelly and Karl Dewazien, created a landmark moment for the program. They published the first known TOPSoccer coaching manual: Miles and Miles of Soccer Smiles, A Complete Guide to Starting and Coaching a Soccer Program for Special Needs Children.

Returning to its roots in Denver, TOPSoccer held its first National Symposium in 2001 — 11 years after the idea for the program was initially thought of. The US Soccer Federation provided grants to TOPSoccer in the late ‘90s to help them jumpstart the events on a regional and national level, and the USYS Board currently provides ongoing funding for annual Symposiums. This year, the East/South Region Symposium will take place in Newark, DE, while the West/Midwest Region Symposium will be held in Albuquerque, NM, from April 1-3.

US Youth Soccer currently has 51 of its 54 state associations with TOPSococer — a number that has continued to increase over the years due to all of the good brought by this program.

NOTE: If you are unable to find the information that you’re looking for about TOPSoccer on a state’s youth soccer association website, please feel free to contact any national committee member.