Alongside soccer fans around the globe who will watch this summer’s World Cup tournament in North America, a smaller but no-less important local audience—parents—will watch youths with disabilities enjoy the sport in a safe, adaptive environment.

Glass City TOPSoccer— an acronym for The Outreach Program for Soccer—is entering its third year under the wing of Sylvania’s Pacesetter Soccer Club. Serving a community of players as young as 3 years old and as old as 30, all with varying degrees of physical and mental limitations and challenges, means something special to Emily Glick, Pacesetter Soccer Club’s director of tournaments and special events and TOPSoccer administrator.

“It’s been eye-opening to me,” explains Glick, adding, “It’s my two passions—my love of soccer and students with special needs.” Glick, who played soccer as a student at the University of Toledo, is a special-education teacher at Stranahan Elementary School in Sylvania. Some of the youths in TOPSoccer are, or have been, her students.

Starting as a volunteer

Glick started her tenure at TOPSoccer as a volunteer coach. She fell in love with the program and what it does for the kids with disabilities, “and I became more involved. Now, I’m trying to keep the program growing. I write grants.” TOPSoccer—free to all players—is funded solely through grants and donations.

TOPSoccer runs from 2-3 pm, usually every other Sunday – excluding holiday weekends – either at the TOCA Soccer and Sports Center Toledo (commonly called the Rossford Dome) during cold weather, and at Schneider Park, part of the Schneider Soccer Complex off South Detroit Avenue in Toledo, in Spring and Summer.

Schneider Park recently underwent renovations to accommodate people with disabilities. “Physical or mental, speech or language impairment, Down syndrome, skin disorders, any disability, we’re super inclusive,” Glick said, referring to those who can participate.

Between 15 and 50 youths attend each Sunday. “It’s really for fun,” Glick said. The participants don’t play an actual game, and there’s no league. It’s to give those with disabilities an opportunity to use and develop gross-motor and listening skills, she said.

Good for parents

Aside from the youths, TOPSoccer is good for the parents. “It gives them a break,” Glick said. “It’s an opportunity for them to read or have a coffee” while their child is participating.

Kirk Brazeau of Toledo is a parent who appreciates TOPSoccer and realizes its greater good. Brazeau, a professional soccer coach, has a son, Archer, 8, with a rare genetic skin condition. Archer knows the soccer community by being around his dad and his 11 year old older brother, Anderson. But because of EB, Archer couldn’t take part – until two years ago at the outset of TOPSoccer.

“We reached a point,” Brazeau said, referring to him and his wife, Nicki, “where he could physically go to an adaptive session.” The Brazeaus asked Archer if he’d like to take part in TOPSoccer. “He immediately wanted to play,” Brazeau said. “He likes being around the other kids.”

Brazeau added, “The joy he has gotten being around the sport and other children who are facing challenges has changed his life, and ours. TOPSoccer has given us a new perspective on life, where he is included.” Regarding TOPSoccer, “There’s no better feeling than the welcome, the warmth, the care and the enjoyment that the program gives to the children.”

To parents of children with disabilities considering taking part in TOPSoccer, Brazeau relates, “The program is built on love. Everybody deserves to be part of something that’s caring. Take a chance— you’re going to enjoy what you see.”

The program is looking to expand beyond the immediate Toledo area. “We want to serve these children because it’s special for them. We are inclusive for everybody. We will find a way to accommodate your child.”