TOPSoccer
THE ROLE OF THE TOPSoccer BUDDY
TOPSoccer Buddies are invaluable volunteers who participate directly with individual players or within a team with several players to enable participation in a soccer activity. The TOPSoccer buddy is not a player and does not score goals. They help the TOPSoccer player succeed and keep them as safe as possible. TOPSoccer Buddies can be a same-aged peer, a teenager or an adult. They can be a soccer player, someone who works with special needs children or someone who has no soccer experience, but a strong desire to enable children to have fun. Some examples of the role of the buddy are:
- Enables player to participate/play
- Assists/Creates/Directs/Guides/Teaches in a FUN but learning environment
- Continuously monitor/assess the player
- Role varies widely depending upon needs of the player
- Interact with players, coaches, parents
The role of the buddy may include but not be limited to:
Physical needs:
- Create safe playing situations by creating safety zones around the player
- Create opportunities for play
- Provide assistance as needed
- Assist player to get into position to play
Cognitive needs:
- Create safe playing situations by creating safety zones around the player
- Provide instruction directly during play
- Model desired skill
- Help to define the space and "strategies"
Behavioral needs:
- Create safe playing situations by creating safety zones around the player
- Provide 1:1 assistance to model desired behaviors
- Assist player to focus on the activity
- Use a quiet "time out" as needed without being negative
Sensory needs:
- Create safe playing situations by creating safety zones around the player
- Provide stability in an often chaotic environment
- Guide and direct, often not touching player directly, but being near-by
- Create space around the player
- Allow for quiet time
Hearing needs:
- Create safe playing situations by creating safety zones around the player
- Show activity and environment
- Ensure player understands instructions
- Use touch/sign language/pictures to direct and guide
- Direct the ball to the player for touches and contact
Visual needs:
- Create safe playing situations by creating safety zones around the player
- Describe the activity and environment
- Use voice to direct and guide
- Direct the ball to the player for touches and contact
- May provide a balance and mobility support, with player holding Buddy's forearm
- Buddy involves player by using arm/voice to guide & involve player in play
Walker/Wheelchair needs:
- Buddy provides safety for all players by creating a safety zone around players
- Check on walker/wheelchair safety
- Creates opportunity for walker/wheelchair player to participate
- Push wheelchair for participation if necessary.
BUDDY GUIDELINES/RULES
- The purpose of the TOPSoccer Buddies is to assist the players, not participate as players themselves
- Can stop a ball from going out of bounds
- Can shield around their player
- Can guide their player to the ball
- Can position the ball for the player
- Cannot shoot on goal
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