RYSL TOPSoccer

Purpose
The TOPSoccer program was created to train young people with disabilities in a caring coaching environment to play soccer; to serve as a feeder program to recruit, assess and train players to participate in competitions offered by existing sports organizations for people with disabilities; and to mainstream higher ability players onto regular youth soccer teams.

RYSL/RSC is proud to assist in the implementation of TOPSoccer as an alternative to the mainstream RYSL/RSC soccer program.

Philosophy
By providing a community-based training and team placement program for young people with disabilities, organized locally with the assistance of RYSL/RSC volunteers and networked with the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA), any boy or girl, age 4 to 19 with a mental or physical disability will have the opportunity to learn and play soccer and become valued and successful members of the US YOUTH SOCCER family. Modifications will be made to the game to allow full participation and enjoyment to each child. One-on-one assistance will be available to those who need it. Our goal is to offer a recreational, leisure approach to the game of soccer.

Description
TOPSoccer was designed not as a competitor to the programs run by other sports organizations for people with disabilities, but rather as a complementary program that works hand in hand with organizations, like Special Olympics, to expand the overall training and competition opportunitiesfor young people with disabilities.

The TOPSoccer program often works as a feeder program; recruiting, assessing, and training new soccer players who would benefit from opportunities sponsored by these sports organizations. Many of the sports opportunities currently offered to young people with disabilities are school based. However, many parents of these young people would like their child to participate in the same community sports program as their abled brothers and sisters - to wear the same club uniform, play at the same fields, go to the same awards banquets, and if appropriate, play on a non-disabled team. TOPSoccer can fill this need.

Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteers are always welcome. We must restrict smaller youth from physically participating due to safety reasons. Volunteers will assist at the clinics and games by giving one-on-one help while also helping the coaches organize and implement drills at practice. Other opportunities range from providing a team to play against TOPSoccer of Rochester Hills on Saturdays, to helping in administrative activities. There are also opportunities available for community awareness, corporate sponsorship, and assistant coaching.