Challenger is a recreational sports program for children and adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities.
The Challenger Soccer Program at Deptford Soccer Association (DSA) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities. The Challenger program provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive.
DSA is proud to provide the Challenger Program as an option to players in the community. To learn more about the program, please review the Parents Guide.
Athletes of all ages are welcome and there is no cost to participate in the Challenger Program. Players do not need to have any athletic abilities in order to participate and enjoy this program.
Benefits for Participants
SOCIAL & COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Players interact with their volunteer Buddy and other athletes in a fun group setting and learn how to respectfully enjoy soccer.
TEAMWORK
Players learn to trust someone else and rely on them through soccer activities and games. They also learn to enjoy a team sport!
PERSEVERANCE
Players might encounter difficulties with activities, but they will be encouraged to keep trying and overcome challenges.
CONFIDENCE
Players will achieve success on the field that carries over to their lives off the field in so many ways!
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Players will engage in physical activities, a combination of games with the soccer ball and without.
challenger soccer program
- BUDDIES – Each participant is assigned a volunteer, trained ‘Buddy’ who is typically a little older and neurotypical. This Buddy works with their player individually and makes sure they are safe, engaged, supported, and having fun. The player-Buddy relationship is maintained throughout the course of a season, resulting in strong interpersonal bonds and an establishment of trust and confidence that allows each player to achieve their full potential.
- COACHES – Our coaches and administrators have taken formal USYS education and certification training that assists them in successfully delivering the program. In addition to providing coaching strategies and tactics specifically for children with special needs, the training identifies the traits of the most common disabilities and provides guidance on how to modify typical soccer practice activities so everyone can be successful.
- GROUPINGS – Players are grouped by ability, not just age, such that they can develop at their own pace and participate amongst others with similar abilities.
- Getting Started – Register your player to be placed on a team.
- Games - Our program will go 8 weeks and be played early Saturday afternoons.
- Equipment - we suggest each player have cleats and shin guards.
- Uniform - Each player will receive a uniform with a unique number.
- Costs - Fees to the players will be nominal, if any at all. We will rely on local sponsors and organizations to fund the program.
- We look forward to transitioning and partnering with TOPSOCCER.
For more information, please send an email to info@deptfordsoccer.net.
Still Have Questions?
Still on the fence about our programs? No problem, send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can!