Glass City TOPSoccer
Glass City TOPSoccer was founded in January 2024 in response to the City of Toledo Parks & Youth Services Department’s desire to have a fully inclusive soccer program at Schneider Park.
We invited multiple local soccer clubs to host the program and it was Pacesetter Soccer Club that said yes. Pacesetter even gathered a group of dedicated parent volunteers to – before the very first Glass City TOPSoccer session – build an ADA-accessible ramp and install it at what is now their former indoor soccer space at Key Bank Field.
Glass City TOPSoccer was an immediate success, in large part due to the enthusiastic and committed volunteers who showed up and continue to show up to provide this unique opportunity for individualized coaching in a team setting for people with disabilities. The City of Toledo has supported Glass City TOPSoccer with multiple programming grants and private donors have also contributed to the success of our program.
In short: it takes a village to launch and sustain something like Glass City TOPSoccer. We invite you to be a part of
the village in any way you see fit!
45
Athletes
Anyone apart of the special needs community is welcome to participate in the Glass City TOPSoccer program.
13
Volunteers
Learn both soccer and socialization skills in a safe, accepting environment with the assistance of volunteer buddies and coaches.
2024
Established
Glass City TOP Soccer is an adaptive soccer program for athletes with special needs based on meaningful participation.
Benefits for Participants
Social Skills
Players interact with their volunteer Buddy and other athletes in a fun, group setting.
Teamwork
Players learn to trust someone else and rely on them through soccer activities and games.
Confidence
Players will achieve success on the field that carries over to their lives off the field in so many ways!
Perseverance
Players might encounter difficulties, but are encouraged to try to overcome them.
What is TOPSoccer?
TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. Glass City TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Players are grouped by ability, not just age, such that they can develop at their own pace and participate amongst others with similar abilities.
The Buddy System
This Buddy works with their player individually and makes sure they are safe, engaged, supported, and having fun. The “Athlete-Buddy” relationship is maintained throughout the course of a season, resulting in strong interpersonal bonds and the establishment of trust and confidence that allows each player to achieve their full potential.
Our Expert Coaches
TOPSoccer coaches and administrators have taken formal USYS education and certification training that assists them in successfully delivering the program. In addition to providing coaching strategies and tactics specifically for children with special needs, the training identifies the traits of the most common disabilities and provides guidance on how to modify typical soccer practice activities so everyone can be successful.
