The Outreach Program for Soccer for athletes with disabilities
TOPSoccer is a community based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. 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. The Illinois Youth Soccer – US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program provides assistance to affiliated organizations with ways to enable players with mental or physical disabilities to play soccer. The emphasis of this program is on development, training, and meaningful participation rather than on competition. Our goal is to enable the thousands of young athletes with disabilities to develop their physical fitness, technical skills, courage, and self esteem, through the joy and excitement of playing soccer. There are thousands of children with disabilities who need, and can be provided with the opportunity to play soccer through the TOPSoccer program. That opportunity exists for these athletes to achieve, develop and compete according to their individual abilities.
TOPSoccer was formed to perpetuate the US Youth Soccer mission statement which is, in part, "to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition." There are thousands of children with disabilities who need, and can be provided with, the opportunity to play soccer through the TOPSoccer program.
“Why do we need TOPSoccer? So that every kid can know the rewards of playing on a team, of trying to score – of being in the game! It brings a sense of accomplishment and sheer joy to kids who otherwise would have to sit on the sidelines. Parents can’t praise it enough, the siblings enjoy helping and cheering, the kids’ laughter and enthusiasm are infectious – In this program, everyone comes away a winner.” - Julie Foudy, US Women’s National Team Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist, World Cup Soccer Champion