Adaptive Soccer

WEYBURN SOCCER ASSOCIATION

ADAPTIVE SOCCER PROGRAM INFORMATION

?REGISTRATION PACKAGE OPTIONS FALL/WINTER:

FALL/ WINTER 

ACTIVE START AND YOUTH - SUNDAY AFTERNOON 

ADULT - WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY EVENING 

Weyburn Soccer is proud to announce that we actively seek sponsorship to cover registration fee's for our Adaptive Soccer programs. We remain extremely grateful to Canadian Tire Jumpstart charities and Moffat Consulting as they have been our main sponsor's since we started this program. 

ALL ABILITES PROGRAM - The primary objective of the All Abilities Program is to provide the opportunity for children, youth and adults of all abilities, including those with special needs, physical and/or intellectual disabilities to play soccer, have fun, form friendships and participate in a team sport. Every child deserves a chance to build lasting friendships, make memories and feel like they belong. The All Abilitiesteam strives for an inclusive environment where no child is noticed for their disability. It is aplace where enormous abilities shine.Our program is fully inclusive, designed and adapted for children with any disability or level ofbehaviour. Whether they use a wheelchair, walker or wear orthotics, or live with an intellectual, communication (ASD) or developmental disability, we provide support (1:1 as needed) and welcome all on the field. At the grassroots and recreational levels, disability soccer programs can provide regular healthy activity to promote wellness, social integration and physical literacy. Atthe elite level, high performance programs can provide ambitious and talented disability players with opportunities for achievement in national and international competition.

Soccer is Soccer In coaching players with disabilities and delivering disability soccer programs, coaches and soccer organizations need to remember this. It is easy for coaches and administrators to be fearful that they lack the knowledge to serve players with disabilities. The truth is that they more know than they realize, and disability soccer does not require them to be disability experts. Soccer for players with disabilities is still soccer, and the skills needed to coach disability soccer are just an extension of the same skills that coaches use already. In limited instances where specialized knowledge of a disability is required to serve the players, local disability experts can be engaged as partners in helping to deliver programs.

ATHLETE WELLBEING

An athlete’s safety is the first concern prior to participating in soccer and certain plans and practices should be implemented to ensure all athletes are participating in a safe manner. An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a plan which provides important information in case of an emergency. An EAP should be formed or updated prior to participation in case athletes have special medical information that caregivers or emergency personnel would need, should a medical emergency occur.Coaches, parents, guardians, and/or caregivers are advised to have a valid CPR and First Aid certification incase any unforeseen circumstances occur. As well, priorto participation, the playing field should be checked bythe coach and/or referee in case of obstructions to thefield that could harm participants (i.e.: gopher holes).Involvement is an important objective in making athletes feel welcome and accepted in sport.Sometimes, in order to include athletes with disabilities effectively, athletes may require additional one-on-onetime to develop certain skills. Parents, other family members, and friends are encouraged to volunteer within their clubs so they can help with practices or skill clinics. Coaches may have little experience workingwith athletes with a disability, and parents or otherfamily members who have first-hand knowledge of theathlete and their abilities will be able to provide insighton how practices and games can be individually tailoredto enable success. In the early years of participation, itis encouraged that the athlete’sparents/caregivers arethe ones involved in their child’s sport. Parents andchildren will grow together,and everyone will learn newskills through becoming involved in soccer. Theinvolvement of working with an athlete who has adisability can be extremely rewarding to both thevolunteers and the athletes. Through this experience,knowledge and empathy will be gained.The sport of soccer strives to be inclusive, and with thisbeing a focus, it gives athletes with a disability theopportunities to play with their peers and teammates.Depending on the nature of the disability, someathletes will be able to fully participate in practices andgames, whereas others may need modifications to beincluded. An inclusive environment promotes socialskills includingteamwork, communication, fun, and understanding, rather than isolation. Having anincreased enjoyment for soccer and being able to playwith peers encourages a longer involvement in soccer.The longer the athlete is participating in the sport thegreater the benefits they will gain from being involved.SSA strives to have all participants enjoy soccerthroughout the entire lifespan.