US Youth Soccer Launches TOPSoccer Coaching Course
FRISCO, TEXAS (April 24, 2008) - US Youth Soccer recently launched the US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program of Soccer) Coaching Course at the US Youth Soccer Region IV Symposium in an effort to better equip TOPSoccer coaches. Sam Snow, Senior Assistant Technical Director for US Youth Soccer, will introduce the TOPSoccer Coaching Course at the upcoming US Youth Soccer Region II Symposium August 1-2.
The TOPSoccer Coaching Course addresses the essential elements in working with players which includes managing the playing environment, qualities of good coaching, prevention and care of injuries, risk management, the TOPSoccer Buddy and several additional topics. The four and a half hour long course also includes a field presentation, which provides candidates with practical training activities for ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
TOPSoccer was formed to perpetuate the US Youth Soccer mission statement which is, in part, "to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition." There are thousands of children with disabilities who can be provided with the opportunity to play soccer through TOPSoccer.
The TOPSoccer Coaching Course CD will be distributed to all 55 US Youth Soccer state associations to inform, train and teach TOPSoccer coaches and administrators within their respective associations.
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or physical disability. Our goal is to enable the thousands of young athletes with disabilities to become valued and successful members of the US Youth Soccer family. How do I participate? Contact your local US Youth Soccer State Association office to find out more about getting involved with a local US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program.
For more information on the TOPSoccer program, go to
www.USYouthSoccer.org/programs/TOPSoccer.asp.
