TOPSoccer Program Enjoying Eighth Year at Penn
State Behrend
The TOPSoccer program, currently in its eighth year at Penn State
Behrend, is a community-based program aimed at giving special needs
children the opportunity to learn and play soccer. The program was
created by Penn State Behrend soccer coaches Dan Perritano and
Patrick O'Driscoll in 2001. The program began with 12 participants
in the first year, but has seen substantial growth over the years.
This year, 65 children will participate over the eight weeks of the
program along with 65 volunteers from various Behrend athletic teams
and other organizations on campus.
Perritano said, "The response from the special needs community and
the Behrend community has been outstanding. We would not be able to
continue accommodating so many without the support of all our
volunteers and the Behrend athletic department."
The program is sponsored by Sertoma Club of Erie County and the
Kiwanis of East Erie. In addition to helping fund the speaker
series and awards ceremony, the support of the sponsoring
organizations also helps to provide a T-shirt and soccer ball for
each participant.
The program which runs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., pairs
a volunteer with a special needs child. Each week the children
participate in basic soccer skills and small sided games as well as
other activities. Other features of the program are the sibling
swim program, a speaker series for parents of special needs
children, and the end-of-season awards ceremony and pizza party.
Coach O'Driscoll said, "The main focus of TOPSoccer is to give the
participants a chance to be active and hopefully learn a bit about
soccer. The real reward is the experience for all involved and the
special relationship that often forms between the participant and
volunteer coach."
"The help provided by our generous sponsors and volunteers has
allowed TOPSoccer to grow into a quality program that makes a
difference in the special needs community," said Perritano.