The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer) is a nationwide program that unites children with disabilities. The goal of the program is to take them from the sidelines into the game, according to the TOPSoccer parent’s guide.
Western senior and midfielder Michael Ricci, 22, said the Western soccer teams have an affiliation with the Bellingham Sportsplex and were asked to donate their time to participate with TOPSoccer. The Western team is participating to give back to the community that supports their team year round.
“The focus is fun: getting kids active so they feel like other boys and girls,” said Lance Calloway, executive director of the Whatcom County Youth Sports Association. “They get a jersey and the feeling of being on a team, so they are like the other kids in the other leagues.”
Twenty-four children are enrolled in the program, which had 14 Western soccer players volunteering as “buddies,” Calloway said. The session goes for six weeks, meeting once a week for an hour of soccer drills and activities divided by age group. The children and players are asked to commit to all of the sessions, Calloway said.
Children are paired with a buddy that stays with them throughout the hour. The buddies provide one-on-one time, offering the children an opportunity to enjoy someone else, besides their parents, to give them attention, Calloway said.
“Without a buddy, it is not as enjoyable [for them],” Calloway said. “The buddies keep them focused and help them reach a goal.”
All of the children at the session were having fun and were just happy to be there, Ricci said.
“A lot of them don’t have a good opportunity, and we are giving them an opportunity to get some exercise and have fun,” Ricci said. “We are giving them a role model.”
Rebecca Carrow, a parent of one of the children, said she notices the difference in her son during the sessions.
“He’s not just standing around waiting," Carrow said. "I’m watching him, and they are not doing it for him; they’re assisting."
During the session, the children and their buddies played games such as “green light,” where a player would show a color and the child with that color soccer ball would kick it toward the player.
The children also practiced shooting goals and were greeted with words of encouragement after every attempt, increasing the morale on the field. Cones were set up for the children and their buddies to do drills and kick the ball around. The drills were similar to the practices that some of the children observe their siblings partaking in.
Andrea Ruback said her daughter, Kaitlyn, 8, likes to watch her brother play baseball and basketball. It is hard to find a place where all the kids have different challenges and are able to participate, Ruback said.
“The one-on-one attention is huge. She would not be able to do this without it,” Ruback said. “There just is not enough opportunity for kids like this with a disability, and this is free. I would have paid. To me, this is phenomenal.”
Many Western players said they were also moved by the TOPSoccer experience and enjoyed the happiness and excitement it brought the children.
“Just the joy in their faces," said Claire Morgan, a Western sophomore and forward. You could tell they were excited to be there and so were the moms.”
Morgan said she has a passion for soccer and has worked at the Bellingham Sportsplex since she was 16. For Morgan, soccer is a competitive sport, but her experiences working with the children remind her of why she loves the game, she said.
“I don’t lose sight of what it’s supposed to be and that’s fun,” Morgan said.
Morgan is a recreation major and. through TOPSoccer, she is learning how to plan events that include people with disabilities, she said.
“You are really making an impact, even if it’s only an hour a week for six weeks, even if it’s just in a small way,” Morgan said.
Kevin Bowhay smiled as he watched his son Brook interact with a volunteer. Bowhay said because Brook has to interact and communicate with volunteers hehas been able to connect with them in a short amount of time.
“To get along in life with other people, you have to be social,” Bowhay said. “It forces him out of his comfort zone, but he feels secure and it’s a safe environment.”
Morgan said she fondly remembers meeting the children for the first time and helping them put on their shin guards. One boy could not walk properly and had trouble putting them on; he just wanted to do something that everyone else did and that made him happy, she said.
Morgan said sharing her love for soccer with children with disabilities makes the experience even more significant.
“I give them a part of what I love to do and that is my favorite part,” Morgan said.
The event was a new experience not only for the children, but for the players as well.
“I came into this and did not know what to expect,” Ricci said. “I honestly had a good time. We have five weeks left and I’m looking forward to it.”
The parents noticed the dedication and patience the players gave their children and appreciated the players’ spirit.
“It goes beyond my expectations,” Carrow said. “It’s nice to be able to sit back and watch your child have fun.”
The majority of the volunteers did not have any experience working with children that are mentally and physically disabled.
“It takes a special type of person to work with these kids. I’m impressed with every single one of them,” said Sharon Denny, a mother at the event.
Due to her involvement with the Western Women's soccer team, sports editor Brynn Regan did not take part in the crafting or editing of this story.
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