SSSC to launch TOPSoccer program

The Sandy Spring Soccer Club (SSSC) is excited to announce that we will be expanding on our relationship with the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) where the club is currently affiliated, by launching a TOPSoccer for children with disabilities in the North Silver Spring/Sandy Spring community.

TOPSoccer is an Outreach Program that focuses on training and team placement programs for youth athletes with disabilities. The program is set to launch in May 2023, and will be coordinated by SSSC volunteers. This inclusive program is designed for children who have intellectual, physical, behavioral, and emotional disabilities.

When asked about the addition of the TOPSoccer program to SSSC, Junior Academy Director Justin Reid said, “TOPSoccer is a program that I have been personally looking at for the last 5 years having spoke to several of my peers who run TOPSoccer programs in Virginia. So when I took on the project to help build a youth soccer club here in the North Silver Spring/Sandy Spring area, I thought to myself that this would be the perfect time to connect with MSYSA to launch TOPSoccer.”

Reid continued, “I reached out to Nathean Meadows at the MSYSA office and he was excited that SSSC was going to be on board. He had mentioned to me that there are approximately 75,000 children in the state of Maryland with disabilities, so there was clearly a need for children with disabilities to engage in more activities and this is why we are excited to be part of TOPSoccer. We are a very inclusive and diverse club. But diversity doesn’t stop with race, gender, and religious beliefs, it travels throughout all spectrums of life. So when the opportunity presented itself to launch a TOP Soccer program, we were all in!”

SSSC will start with a clinic once a week on Fridays. The program will be FREE for participants and the clinic will be between 45 minutes to 1 hour. The club will be looking for participants, coaches, and “buddies”. Buddies are current players (in our club) that would assist our TOPSoccer participants during their clinics. Buddies would be eligible for community service credit. Registration for TOPSoccer will be located under the Programs link on the homepage of the website. Coaches and Buddies can sign up to volunteer by reaching out to James Greene at info@sandyspringsoccer.com.

Tentative schedule:

Dates: Fridays, May 12 – June 23, 2023 (6 sessions)

Times: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (6-10 year olds)

Location: Sandy Spring Friends School (16923 Norwood Rd, Sandy Spring, MD 20860)