I had a nice phone call today from Ovey (a big fan of Derek's) telling us that he saw Derek in the Sports section of the newspaper.
The Bulletin reporter came to visit Top Soccer last week. She did a great article.
Thought you'd all like to see something else Derek is into (Derek has the red sweatshirt and orange penny on)!
Roll out the fun
TOPSoccer program levels the playing field
By
Katie Brauns / The BulletinPublished: May 05. 2009 4:00AM PST
Knowing which goal is the opponents’ goal is arbitrary. What matters is getting the ball into one of them.
TOPSoccer is not about winning or optimizing soccer skills. It is about opportunity and working up to potential. It provides an even playing field for children with disabilities.
“It helps them with hand-eye coordination,” says Bob Sauter, whose 16-year-old son Derek is a TOPSoccer player. “It gives them some exercise. It teaches them to follow instructions, be focused and pay attention. … And when they do play a game, everyone gets to score.”
TOPSoccer, which stands for The Outreach Program for Soccer, is a community-based training program for youngsters ages 4 to 19 who have physical or mental disabilities. The program, organized by U.S. Youth Soccer, is offered nationwide. Here in Central Oregon the Oregon Rush Soccer Club, a competitive youth soccer organization based in Bend, provides TOPSoccer to local boys and girls.
“The idea behind TOPSoccer is physical and mental and emotional growth through soccer,” says John O’Sullivan, who heads up TOPSoccer in Central Oregon and is the coordinator for Oregon Rush. “Our (Oregon Rush) soccer club provides opportunities to play soccer regardless of age or ability and this (TOPSoccer) is part of it … to place these kids in an environment where they can have success and have fun, and they can learn at their own pace.”
Originated in 2002 in Central Oregon by soccer enthusiasts Ric Secor and Mike Kennedy, the local TOPSoccer program was taken over two years ago by O’Sullivan when he joined Rush.
Clad in colored bibs for team identification — some red, some orange, some yellow — about 15 soccer players of all ages take part in skills drills on the damp fields at Bend’s Buckingham Elementary School. They throw soccer balls high into the air and shuffle around in attempts to catch them. When they are successful, the young players break into smiles.
“It’s great for the kids to come out and have a coach that’s really patient and understanding with them,” says Bend’s Terri O’Connor, a mom whose autistic son Colin is participating in the TOPSoccer program. “He (O’Sullivan) makes it fun. … I mean, you look at him right now and he’s down on the ground with the kids doing a crab walk. That’s great.”
The group quickly moves to another activity. They kick soccer balls around, changing directions: left, right, forward, back and in a circular pattern on the field.
O’Sullivan, 38, holds the attention of all the participants. He is jovial and animated on the field and, as he says, is having a blast.
“It’s my favorite program,” says O’Sullivan, comparing TOPSoccer with some of the competitive Oregon Rush programs. “It’s awesome. It’s so much fun to work with the kids. They have the best spirit and joy of life and joy of soccer.”
These TOPSoccer players are faced with a range of disabilities and issues, including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, partial blindness, partial paralysis and minor behavior problems.
“Different disabilities require different needs. You work for a smile. That’s what I’m out here for,” notes Chris Gilliland, of Bend, a TOPSoccer volunteer for three years. “My belief is that everybody has a disability. Mine may be paying attention, whereas some other people may have physical disabilities. Everybody has a disability of some sort, and you turn their disability into another ability.”
Locally, the free program is staffed by volunteers, mostly from Oregon Rush.
Some of the parents believe that the program would not be possible without the volunteers.
“One thing that I really like is the teenagers that come and help out,” says Sheryl Dodge, of Bend, whose autistic son Curtis, 10, is a TOPSoccer player. “They are providing a service and having fun with the kids. … It wouldn’t work without them. The kids need more than just a coach. They need somebody running alongside them and showing them where to go.”
To end each hourlong TOPSoccer session, the players scrimmage. Every player is given a chance to shoot on goal. The volunteers, called buddies, are paired with each participant, and their mission is to help their player score.
“The program is tailored for what each child can do, and we try to do it better each time,” says O’Sullivan.
“Soccer is really fun. It’s really amazing,” says Colin O’Connor, 8, who looks forward to TOPSoccer every Friday.
“They know Friday is soccer day,” says Terri (the mom) O’Connor, who introduced Colin to TOPSoccer three years ago.
Longtime soccer parents Jill and Bob Sauter say that the first thing their son Derek does on Friday morning is get his soccer shirt and ball ready for the afternoon practice.
“A lot of the parents say that their kid wakes up Friday morning and puts his uniform on because he can’t wait to go to TOPSoccer,” says O’Sullivan. “And for me, that’s the best thing in the world. That’s the ultimate compliment.”
Derek Sauter, who is autistic, does not fully express his joy for soccer through words. It’s his actions and facial expressions that say it all. When the word “soccer” is uttered, Derek’s lips part into a big, toothy smile. Derek has been with the program for 10 years.
TOPSoccer offers sessions in fall and spring, usually lasting six weeks with a big celebration at the end.
“We got trophies last year,” says Terri O’Connor. “That was a really big deal. And it was for every child.”
“They feel like,” adds Sheryl Dodge, “like champions.”
That’s the goal of TOPSoccer: Every player puts his or her best foot forward. And their efforts are rewarded.
