Week 44 of #52weeksofgiving - TOPSoccer NH Fall Season Wrap-up
We are excited to feature TOPSoccer again for week 44 of #52weeksofgiving after wrapping up the new Stratham, NH, league’s inaugural fall season this past weekend! Players and volunteers alike enjoyed a rewarding eight weeks of building friendships and confidence through adaptive soccer.
On Sunday, the kids played like champs during their final games. Then, we celebrated with a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat party, where the players and their families donned their costumes and indulged in their favorite candy and treats!
LeMay Family Goodworks would like to thank the Stratham Fire and Police Departments for coming by to show the kids a police car and fire truck. We’d also like to thank Taylar Schoff, who has been an incredible leader to our league!
Beau, Michelle, Denise, and Hannah have loved spending Thursdays and Sundays with these special kiddos. We can’t wait to get back on the field in the spring season!
Learn more about TOPSoccer’s adaptive soccer program below and how you can get involved next spring.
Behind TOPSoccer
US Youth Soccer (USYS) created TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) to give young athletes with disabilities the opportunity to learn and play soccer. In addition to learning the sport, the program is a powerful and affordable way to help kids build their self-esteem, stay healthy, and have fun!
TOPSoccer has leagues nationwide, with the Stratham league being the newest addition in New Hampshire. The program welcomes players between the ages of 4 and 19 with special needs to enjoy:
Modified soccer games so all can participate and make fun memories.
One-on-one assistance through their “Buddy” system, in which slightly older neurotypical volunteers are assigned to individual players for the season to support them and cheer them on.
Specially trained coaches who know how to coach and adapt soccer practice activities for children with special needs.
Player groupings by both ability and age so kids can play at their own pace with teammates with similar abilities.
TOPSoccer helps young people with special needs:
Enhance their social skills and gain new friends.
Learn the importance of teamwork and trusting others.
Increase their perseverance by overcoming challenges in a positive, encouraging setting.
Boost their confidence that can be carried over from the field to everyday life.
So, why do adaptive sports matter? According to the American Physical Therapy Association, about 56.7 million Americans have a disability (i.e., a physical or mental condition limiting someone’s movements, senses, or activities).
A 2017 study’s findings suggest that community-based therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports programs can positively impact one’s quality of life:
Nearly 80% felt the program improved their overall health.
84% reported better quality of life.
70% reported positive effects on their family life.
Almost 80% agreed it improved their social lives.
Another 2015 study found that playing adaptive sports can also increase an individual’s likelihood of employment by 4%.
Whether it’s adaptive soccer or another activity, a growing area of research shows adaptive sports can help set up young people with special needs for future success in many areas of their lives.
Be a TOPSoccer Buddy
If cheering on these young athletes and helping them learn and grow interests you, please join us for our Spring 2023 season! Buddies do not need prior soccer experience—just a positive attitude and the willingness to be there for your assigned player twice a week for the eight-week season.
We meet at 100 Domain Drive, Stratham, NH 03885. The schedule will be announced closer to the start of the season. All volunteers must complete a 90-minute SafeSport training and submit to a background check.
Please text, call, or email Taylar Schoff at 603-978-7970 or schofftaylar@gmail.com. She will be happy to share more details about volunteering with TOPSoccer Stratham.
Follow the New Hampshire Soccer Association on Facebook or visit TOPSoccer to keep up with their latest efforts!