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VIP Program - Soccer programming for children with different physical and mental abilities

Description

The AYSO VIP Program provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental abilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams.

These players are Very Important Players (VIP) in AYSO. We recognize that all people need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. The VIP Program offers that acceptance and carries the philosophy Everyone Plays to a new heights - giving everyone a chance to play.

The VIP Program has been structured to integrate our players into the rest of AYSO by providing a soccer season and in some cases, using “buddies”-able bodied helpers- to assist the players who need assistance both on and off the field. Our goals for every participating player are:

Have fun with soccer
Understand the fundamentals of the game
Learn teamwork and sportsmanship
Increase positive self-esteem
Become more physically fit
Meet and be comfortable with new people

Who is eligible?

Any child whose physical or mental abilities make it difficult to successfully participate on a mainstream team. VIP teams may include blind or visually-impaired players, amputees or with conditions that impair mobility, mentally- or emotionally-challenged players, and players with Autism, Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy.