With a lot happening in the world of accessible soccer we've compiled a few of the opportunities for you or your child to get involved in accessible and inclusive soccer programs.
Look out for our new Club flyer listing all Club programs which will be out next week.
In the meantime, the month of October finished on a positive note with the delivery of blind soccer sessions to school children in Sudbury as guests of the Sudbury Catholic School Board. The Ontario Soccer Association and Ontario Blind Sport Association delivered two sessions at St Benedict Catholic Secondary School and then two at the St. James Catholic Elementary School.
The students were fantastic participants who wholeheartedly got involved despite the fact one of their key senses was taken away. The high school students particularly became engaged as they tried to understand more about how soccer can be played without the sense of sight. Video from the day captured by the Northern Life media outlet can be seen here.
The final weekend of October also included the start of Oshawa Kicks latest All Abilities program which runs Saturday mornings from 11 a.m.
And on Sunday the Pickering Soccer Club continue their 8th year of All Abilities programming with Juniors kicking off at 11 a.m. and the Seniors starting at 12 p.m. in the Pickering Soccer Dome.
Workshops for Club staff and volunteers in the program take place on a regular basis and the latest session provided a great development opportunity focused specifically on mental health and the needs of the athlete. Guest speaker Jason McCormack, from The Hincks - Dellcrest Centre, provided an overview of typical anxieties that a player may have and discussed some coping strategies to ensure everyone is able to participate.
November promises to be a busy month as Clubs running accessible soccer programs ramp up their indoor activity.
Kitchener Soccer Club hosted their first ever blind soccer session for existing players and coaches on Nov. 3 and the invite is extended to any players and coaches who want to learn more over the coming weeks.
Further details are available by emailing Fearnalls@Rogers.com
The Milton Soccer Academy will be opening their doors on Nov. 21 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. for athletes within the autism spectrum.
The Open House will provide parents and players with information about their upcoming sessions scheduled for January 2016. Further details are available by emailing headcoach@miltonsoccer.com
Woodstock Soccer Club began their latest block of All Accessibility Soccer programs on Oct. 24 and it will run through to February 2016. Programs take place every Saturday at 11 a.m. at Cowan Park.
Interested participants can contact woodstock_soccer_club@yahoo.com
The City of Toronto will be running their latest block of free para soccer programs as part of the Toronto 2015 Para Pan Am Games Legacy from Nov. 8 - Dec. 6. Sessions will run from Noon - 2 p.m. at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Scarborough and details can be found here.
Finally, the Variety Village in Scarborough hosts its 19th Active Living Conference on Nov. 6. Popular with students, coaches, educators and groups interested in active living opportunities for people of all abilities, the OSA will be participating with a demonstration of blind soccer and wider discussion on grassroots Club programs.