TopSoccer is a FALL ONLY program.
To register for the Fall 2010 TOPSoccer Program, please
click here.
For general information about the MSI TOPSoccer/Adaptive Program, specific information about the upcoming season, or how to volunteer, please read on.....
MSI's TOPSoccer/Adaptive Program is designed for young athletes ages 6-21 with disabilities such as intellectual and closely related developmental disabilities, severe learning disabilities, autism, Downs Syndrome, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and impaired vision and hearing.
Emphasis is placed on development, training, and participation, rather than on competition. By its very nature, ADAPTIVE soccer requires adaptation to each individual player and to the group of players present at each session. Coaches and volunteers strive to build the confidence and positive energy necessary to generate enjoyment of the soccer and team experiences as well as a continuing mastery of basic soccer skills. This program provides a great opportunity for children with special needs to learn new skills, build physical fitness and self-esteem, and have fun playing soccer.
Soccer is a universal, simple, and therefore highly adaptive sport. The TOPSoccer program is a 7-week Fall program and is administered by qualified instructors and specially-trained volunteer soccer buddies. For Fall 2010, the season will begin on Sunday, September 19 and will be held every Sunday through October 31 (rain date November 7). On October 31, the program will conclude with the fantastic TOPS festival at Thomas S. Wootton HS. For the past several years, we have been fortunate to partner with the good people at Wootton HS, who have enabled us to utilize their beautiful bermuda turf stadium field and facilities for the TOPS Festival and the Sunday High School program, which takes place from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Many members of the Wootton Varsity soccer teams have participated as volunteers in the program, and the school's Booster Club does a fabulous job hosting our end of season festival, a day full of pomp and circumstance!
The three TOPSoccer Leagues are:
1) Elementary League (Sundays from 12-1:15 p.m. at Julius West MS): Designed for kids in grades 1-4, this program offers skill training and small game play with Buddy volunteers.
2) Middle School League (Sundays from 1:30-3 p.m. at Julius West MS): Designed for kids in 5th-8th/9th grades, this program offers practice and game play with Unified Partners from MSI Classic and Rec teams. Two MSI teams and their coaches will train with our TOPS players and play 7v7 games in preparation for play in the end of year tournament at Wootton High School where we will invite teams from MD and VA to join us in a festival day of round robin play. (If enough kids sign up from a given school, we can create a “school team” within the Middle School League and hope to offer a mid-week practice for additional skill development.)
3) High School Unified League (Sundays from 4:30-6 p.m. at Wootton HS): Designed for kids in grades 9-12, this program offers some skill practice, but mostly game play with the Wootton High School Varsity and JV team players as well as other high school-age volunteer Unified Partners from our community. There are two levels of play, and everyone has a blast!!
In order to be successful, the TOPSoccer Program depends on the involvement of many volunteers ... both on the field and in the development process.
Volunteers needed are:
1)
Youth volunteers aged 12 or older to help with the elementary and middle school programs (This is an approved SSL program)
2)
High school and college aged volunteers to help with the high school program
3)
Adult volunteers and MSI coaches to share their experience volunteering in any of the three programs. (Each year, the programs have benefited tremendously from the involvement of several MSI coaches and the players on their teams.)
MSI Coaches: The TOPSoccer program needs you AND your players!!. To find out more about an exciting opportunity for your team, please
click here.
A special volunteer orientation will be held at Potomac Community Center on Thursday, August 26, from 7-9 p.m.
If you are interested in being involved, please complete the "Buddy App" and return it to the address indicated on the form.
Click here for the Buddy App.
If you have additional questions, please also feel free to contact Pam Yerg at 301-424-3083 or
jeyclan@verizon.net.