Very Important Player (VIP) Program
Providing a Unique and Exciting Soccer Program for Children with Special Needs
The AYSO VIP program was designed to provide a quality soccer experience for children with special needs whose physical, mental or emotional challenges prevent them from successfully participating on mainstream teams. VIP teams may include, but are not limited to, those who are:
- Visually impaired
- Amputees or conditions that impair mobility
- Autistic
- Downs Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- ADD/ADHD
These special children are Very Important Players (VIP) in AYSO. We recognize that all children need to feel a sense of belonging, acceptance and accomplishment. The VIP Program offers all of this and carries AYSO's philosophy that Everyone Plays.®
VIP Goals and Objectives:
- To give children with special needs the opportunity to play soccer
- To learn the basic skills of the game
- To learn teamwork and fair play
- To increase positive self esteem
- To have fun!
VIP helps more than just the players. Buddies and other volunteers increase their appreciation and understanding of individuals with special needs. They find their lives greatly enriched by their involvement with their new VIP friends. For parents thinking they would never see their children playing a sport or making new friends, VIP gives them joy and hope. They are able to relax and enjoy watching their children having fun like other kids, perhaps for the first time.
Teams can have as few as three players and may be co-ed. VIP teams can be put together with players who register based on mobility or ability. Older and younger players can also be separated onto different teams when numbers allow.