About TOPSoccer
TOPSoccer is a community based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl with disabilities. The New Jersey Youth Soccer / US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program provides assistance to affiliated organizations with ways to enable players with mental or physical disabilities to play soccer.
The emphasis of this program is on development, training, and meaningful participation rather than on competition. Our goal is to enable the thousands of young athletes with disabilities to develop their physical fitness, technical skills, courage, and self-esteem, through the joy and excitement of playing soccer. There are thousands of children with disabilities who need, and can be provided the opportunity to play soccer through TOPSoccer. That opportunity exists for these athletes to achieve, develop and participate according to their individual abilities.
Player registration and TOPSoccer Coach/Buddy training is currently offered at no cost, thanks to the generous support of RWJBarnabas Health.
Program Components
Athletes
A NJYS recognized program has a minimum of five (5) registered athletes. The TOPSoccer program is developed for toward athletes with disabilities, and participation requirements may vary by club program.
Coaches
A NJYS recognized program has a minimum of one (1) TOPSoccer Coach who has completed the TOPSoccer Coaching Course. All coaches shall follow the minimum guidelines for risk management. TOPSoccer coaches should be paired up with no more than (5) Athletes. Coaches are 18 years of age or older.
Buddies
A recognized program has at least one (1) TOPSoccer Buddy who has successfully completed the TOPSoccer Buddy Training. TOPSoccer buddies should be paired up with no more than two (2) Athletes. Buddies are under the age of 18 years old.
All participants should be reported to NJYS within 1 week to the start of your program. This will ensure proper insurance coverage for your program.
Program Education
TOPSoccer Coach Course
New Jersey Youth Soccer offers a free 4-hour TOPSoccer Coach Course that fosters understanding relating to organizing and implementing a TOPSoccer session with fun, safe, and inclusive training activities, considerations for special needs of players, increasing effectiveness of TOPSoccer Buddies, identifying unique challenges for safety and risk management, addressing injuries and emergencies, and applying a variety of coaching strategies and qualities. Skills are explored for organizing, checking and adapting, effective communication, designing program formats, developing staff, and planning learning progressions.
To enroll in the digital on-demand course, access USYS University.
TOPSoccer Buddy Course
New Jersey Youth Soccer offers a free 2-hour TOPSoccer Buddy Course that examines the role of the Buddy for creating fun, safe, and inclusive opportunities for the players as they explore, problem-solve, collaborate with others, and build competence through guidance and encouragement. An emphasis is placed upon considerations for special needs of players, skills for effective communication, and awareness of expectations for each session.
To enroll in the digital on-demand course, access USYS University.
TOPSoccer Program Directory
Additional Programming
NJ Youth Soccer is pleased to communicate opportunities for players with disabilities in other communities. Although these are not registered NJYS TOPSoccer programs, we invite you to click on the programs below to learn more.
Contact
Interested in Starting a Program? Email Lou Mignone (lou@njyouthsoccer.com)
For general inquiries, please contact recreation@njyouthsoccer.com.