AYSO's VIP program is now called the EPIC program, standing for Everyone Plays In our Community. The EPIC program is designed to provide a quality soccer experience for children whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult for them to participate on mainstream teams.
We strive to help foster in these participants a sense of belonging and acceptance by providing a program that gives everyone a chance to play. In this program, all of the children play, regardless of their limitations, and goals are celebrated no matter for whose team they count.
For every child, we pursue the following objectives:
- To have fun playing soccer
- To understand the fundamentals of the game
- To learn teamwork and fair play
- To increase positive self-esteem
The EPIC teams are led by volunteer parent coaches, and each player is assigned a buddy, who volunteers for the role. The buddies are students drawn from our local schools. Buddies work alongside players on their soccer skills while the player is engaged on the field. We often find that a special relationship develops between the players and their buddies.
The program meets for an hour on a weekend afternoon in the fall season only.
Please visit National AYSO's website for additional information about the EPIC program:
https://ayso.org/epic/Middle School and High School Volunteers Needed: Rivertowns EPIC Soccer Buddies
Rivertowns AYSO has an ongoing volunteer opportunity for middle and high school students. Every fall, Rivertowns AYSO offers a soccer program for special-needs players. Volunteer parent coaches lead the sessions. One of the hallmarks of the program is that each player has a buddy who assists them on the field as needed, during the session.
Volunteer Buddy Description:
>> Buddies can be in middle school or in high school.
>> Buddies should have an interest in helping a special-needs player learn how to play soccer.
>> Buddies do not need to have knowledge of soccer in advance of volunteering.
>> Buddies find that this is a wonderful rewarding experience for both players and volunteers!
Volunteer Buddy Time Commitment:
>> One hour each Sunday afternoon during the fall soccer season
>> The fall soccer season runs mid-September through mid-November - excluding Columbus Day Weekend
Volunteer Buddy Training:
>> Buddies attend an in-person meeting with all the EPIC buddies and the division coordinator before the first session.
Please contact longtime volunteer Rivertowns EPIC Division Coordinator to let her know you would like to be a EPIC Buddy, or with any questions:
Gwen -- [email protected]
Please feel free to share this information with any families with middle or high school students who might be interested in volunteering as a EPIC Buddy.