What is AYSO EPIC?

The AYSO EPIC Soccer team is a unique program to AYSO with the purpose of creating a rich soccer experience for those with special needs.  This program is intended only for those with intellectual and or physical disabilities from 5-18 years of age. Our program emphasizes the rule of inclusion and has a peer model support system that consists of volunteers that are neurotypical children aged 12-18 to help promote soccer and social emotional skills. 

When registering for this team, you are acknowledging that your child has a speech hearing or vision impairment, physical and/or intellectual disability that has been diagnosed or demonstrates a need for an alternative setting that is a smaller ratio of players to coaches and with more modified coaching instruction. 

Guardians may choose to register their child for the EPIC team or a team in their child’s age group. It may be beneficial to the coach to share any diagnoses to allow for the coach to be cognizant of and able to know where to offer supports when working with your child. 


What to expect on the EPIC Team:

Meet for one hour on Saturdays. 
A warm up and stretch circle.
Working on communication and learning teammates and buddies names. 
Dynamic stretching. 
Drills: dribbling, shooting, passing, etc. 
Scrimmage 
Stretching closing circle. 
Tunnel for goodbye 


What is different about EPIC? 

We do not have games with other teams. We are one whole team and split into groups depending on group roster size. 


What is the mission of AYSO EPIC?

The mission of the AYSO EPIC Program is to provide athletes with disabilities the additional support they need to fully participate in a quality soccer experience.  The ultimate goal of the AYSO EPIC Program is to provide a holistic AYSO experience for players, families, and volunteers, from team uniforms, to playing on a team, to cheering from the sidelines, for all participants.


What is an EPIC Buddy?

EPIC Buddies assist during the games in which players learn soccer while meeting new friends, having fun and increasing skills and self-esteem. Players and their families, along with our volunteers, enjoy the complete AYSO experience – team uniforms, scoring goals, cheering from the sidelines, and beyond! The vision of the AYSO EPIC Program is to create teams in every AYSO Region to maximize opportunities for EPIC player participation.