Our Award Winning Program Offering Children with Disabilities the Opportunity to Play Soccer
Program Overview
TOPSoccer is a community-based program for young athletes with mental and physical disabilities, organized by US Youth Soccer Association volunteers. This program is designed to allow these athletes to learn skills and allow participation in recreational soccer, with the emphasis on having fun. Our TOPSoccer players come from Tolland and surrounding communities that do not offer TOPSoccer programs. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, the state-wide governing body for youth club soccer, recognizes the Tolland TOPSoccer program as one of the oldest and largest for club play in Connecticut.
Buddy Volunteers
Middle school age and high school age volunteers have been recruited as “buddies” to work with the players. Each player is assigned 1 or 2 buddies and the buddies stay with the player on and off the field for the entire practice. The buddies help the players follow the coaches’ directions on an individual basis and help make soccer fun.
If you are interested
At this time we are reaching out to all special needs students in Tolland and nearby towns to let them know about our TOPSoccer team. We play at Tolland High School on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings (times TBD). Our season starts in early September and runs through early November (weather permitting). This is not a formal team and so attendance at every session is not required. We have tremendous coaches who understand the needs of the players and game of soccer. We also have a very enthusiastic Buddy Coordinator who recruits buddies to work with the team each fall.
If interested in learning more about TOPSoccer please contact TOPSoccer coach Jeff Gallagher at [email protected] or contact us and we will direct you to the correct person.