AYSO VIP Program Ensures Everyone
Plays®
The AYSO Very Important Players (VIP) Program provides a quality soccer
experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make
it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams. VIP teams may
include:
- Blind or visually impaired
- Amputees or with conditions that impair mobility
- Mentally or emotionally challenged
- Autistic
- Down syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
VIP
Goals
These players are Very Important
Players in AYSO. We recognize that all people need to feel a sense of belonging
and acceptance. The VIP Program offers that acceptance and carries our
philosophy of Everyone Plays® to new heights - giving everyone a chance to play
Kids with Special Needs are estimated to make up approximately 10% of the
school-aged population and approximately 20% of the United States population is
identified as having some type of disability. Special schools and programs can
be isolating, so the VIP Program has been structured to integrate our players
into the rest of AYSO by providing a soccer season, and in some cases, using
"buddies" - able bodied helpers - to assist players who need
assistance, both on and off the field. Our goals for every participating player
are:
- Have fun playing soccer
- Understand the fundamentals of the game
- Learn teamwork and fair play
- Increase positive self-esteem
- Become more physically fit
- Meet and be comfortable with new people
Everyone
Plays®
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.
Mail-In
Registration
1.
Go to www.EAYSO.org If you are new, create a user name and password and
fill out the player form. If you are not
comfortable filling out the on-line form, you can download a player form from
our Registration
forms page.
2. When you are finished, print out 2 copies right away.
Some parents had problems last year accessing their registration form
when they waited to print it.
3. Sign as indicated on the form.
Please make sure the VIP box is checked at the top of the form and make
sure to include your player's jersey and short size on the form. Also, make sure your e-mail address is
printed legibly.
4. Send the original, the copies and your check for $30 made out
to AYSO 127 to AYSO 127, P.O. Box 333, San Marcos, CA 92079.
Jersey and
short sizes are:
Youth: YXS, YS, YM, YL
Adult: AS, AM, AL, AXL, 2XL
Please
register your player by the end of June.
Fall season play begins in mid to late August 2014.