EPIC/VIP Soccer

ABOUT EPIC/VIP SOCCER

What is AYSO EPIC (formerly VIP)?

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.

To learn more about EPIC: https://ayso.org/epic/

Until 2023, EPIC was known as VIP.

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.

EPIC & How it Relates to AYSO’s Six Philosophies

The AYSO EPIC Program is designed to give children and adults a soccer experience that incorporates the six AYSO Philosophies:

Everyone Plays: In EPIC, Everyone Plays without regard for their disability.

Balanced Teams: Teams are created to maximize opportunities for player participation in age-appropriate groups for maximum player safety and experience.

Open Registration: The EPIC Program is open for all athletes with disabilities from ages 4-99. There are no try-outs, and all players are welcome.

Positive Coaching: Players’ efforts are recognized and encouraged toward achieving their personal goals. The use of EPIC Buddies may support players during the game and create an additional element of positive coaching and support.

Player Development: Players are afforded opportunities to play the ball helping them to build on previously learned skills. Family members are involved in learning soccer fundamentals to support the development of their players. Players are encouraged to participate in physical movement at their individual level to help them maximize their physicality.

Good Sportsmanship: Players learn the importance of teamwork and fair play by recognizing and celebrating the efforts of all team members. Family members are also encouraged to model good sportsmanship by cheering from the sidelines for all players.

Registration Information

To register your child for our EPIC/VIP Program, please go to www.twinsburgsoccer.com and complete the registration form.

If you are looking for a community service opportunity to work with children with special needs as an on-field Buddy, go to www.twinsburgsoccer.com and register as a volunteer EPIC Buddy.

Interested in Becoming a VIP Program Sponsor? Please contact [email protected]

EPIC/VIP FAQS

My child seems to like soccer but is physically challenged. Can they play in the league?
Yes. AYSO nationally (and ourselves locally) have an EPIC (Everyone Plays In our Community) program for individuals challenged physically or mentally. The program is designed to help players who would not be able to successfully participate on a mainstream team. EPIC players are assigned “buddies” from mainstream teams who would provide prompts and guidance on the field. For more information contact [email protected].

Can you provide more information on the EPIC program?
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.