Children come in all sizes, physical condition, and mental abilities. Unfortunately, most children with physical or mental challenges do not get the opportunity to participate in many of the sports activities that other children have. US Youth Soccer created the TOPSoccer Program to ensure all children have the opportunity to participate in America’s number one sport for children.
TOPSoccer is community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. The program provides a fantastic opportunity to engage all of our young children through guided play, with opportunities for social skills and pragmatic language introduction and generalization. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a cognitive or physical disability.
Soccer can help children with disabilities gain confidence, improve social skills, and develop better coordination. Improvements in balance and motor skills often go hand in hand with progress made in cognitive function and academic achievement. Sports and exercise can improve proprioception, or the body’s sense of where it is in space and where the parts of the body are in relation to each other, which is important because some disabilities often affect sensory processing. Exercising and playing sports gets more oxygen to the brain, helps kids stay in shape, improves sleep habits, and can improve relaxation and decrease aggressive behaviors. And most importantly, soccer is fun.
Recently, Murrieta Youth Soccer Organization had the good fortune to have Jeff Kirshberg volunteer to direct this program for our local youth as he has in the past with various other organizations. He is excited to bring this opportunity to the youth of our community. Jeff is a co-founder of ‘A Place For All Pieces’, a charity, which specializes in providing children with autistic spectrum disorders opportunities for social motivation, initiations and peer-to-peer interaction.
With Jeff and TOPSoccer, MYSL is looking forward to allowing soccer to foster and nurture a positive self-image for all of our participants. Should you have any questions about the TOPSoccer Program or want to find out more details about soccer, feel free to contact me at president@myslsoccer.org.
Steve Haubrick is the MYSL/Murrieta Surf Soccer Club President.