Youth Soccer: Meaningful or Menacing?

If you go to any large, flat, grassy field in early fall or late spring, you will find yourself surrounded by literally hundreds of children ages 4 and older screaming, running, falling, kicking and “participating” in soccer drills and games. This setting is where children and families begin to form lasting relationships. Most families and children take for granted their involvement in this energetic, chaotic scene. However, if you are a parent of a child with a disability, you wouldn’t think twice about soccer and in all likelihood would choose not to have your child play.

All children should have an opportunity to be exposed to sports, however; many children with disabilities are often not afforded this experience. When questioning youth sport organizers about including children with disabilities, the typical reactions are they are a liability; what if they get hurt; they cannot keep up; the equipment they use to move is dangerous to other children; and we can’t change the rules for just one child.

When questioning parents of children with disabilities as to why their child does not participate in the community soccer program we hear it is way too dangerous; he/she cannot keep up; and coaches are unwilling to modify the game to include my child.

I introduced you to Noah in my first post. In this story, he is five-years-old and walks independently with braces on both legs but falls consistently. His left arm does not do much work and if he falls to the left, he has difficulty catching himself.

As his physical therapist, I suggested to his mother that he get involved in community activities and interact with his peers for both socialization and for physical activity that would help improve his daily functioning. As expected, she responded with a panic stricken look and gasped in disbelief. Just like the other parents, she said just about every answer given above as to why a child with special needs doesn’t participate in a sport. But, after much discussion and reassurance (and begging from Noah), she pensively signed him up for a local youth soccer league. I promised her that I would also attend the first practice to make sure the coaches were aware of Noah’s “abilities”.

Noah’s coaches were two college students volunteering their time to the local organization. They knew very little about kids but a lot about soccer which was to Noah’s advantage! I spoke to them about Noah and cerebral palsy and shared that no adaptations were needed while he played. Sure, he is slower than other children and he wears braces. Yes, he runs funny but he knows as much about soccer as the other children, which would be nothing! They were all in the same boat in learning how to play so no child was better than the other, which helped Noah. The coaches thought maybe he would make a great goalie, but I explained to them that he would probably not do well at that position because of his compromised vision and slow reactions. However, his chances of getting hurt were no greater than that of his peers, actually less since he moved slower, so a position on the field would be perfectly fine.

Once practice started, Noah’s mother stood nervously on the sidelines, watching as he engaged with his teammates of 4 and 5 year-olds, laughing and slapping hands. When the ball would come toward him, he got mowed over by the pack of children chasing the ball, but he got up, brushed off his hands, replaced his glasses and took off after the ball just like the other children.

As Noah grows into adolescence, he may need to find another sport as reality predicts that the things that make him “differently abled” at 5-years-old (lack of speed, strength, agility, coordination) will become more emphasized as he and his peers mature. For now though, Noah is just another youth soccer player, who is a part of a team, learning new skills, developing friendships, making his parents proud, and like most of the children in the league, has no idea of wins and losses and will be awarded a medal …for trying.

*Noah is a fictional name to protect the real child.

About the Author: Deborah Thorpe, PT, PhD, has been a pediatric physical therapist, academician and researcher for 25 years. Her research focuses on fitness, physical activity, and health promotion for persons with cerebral palsy (CP) across the lifecourse. 

From Water We Come and Back to Water We Go

By Deborah Thorpe, PT, PhD

I come to the Choosy Kids blog through many years of working with children, first as an elementary school educator and presently as a pediatric physical therapist. I have been inspired by many wonderful children throughout my career and would like to share a few of these journeys with you. 

Noah* is a child who marches differently to every drum. His intelligence, energy, enthusiasm and bravery are what define him, cerebral palsy (CP) is just something with which he was born. For me and all those fortunate enough to make his acquaintance, Noah has taught us humility, bravery, creativity, determination, and joy for life – just like many other children. He inspired this blog and many to come, because through him, I have learned how to help children with disabilities and their families to become more physically active and to participate in community fitness and recreational opportunities. Even if you are a parent without a child with special needs, you still may be able to relate to Noah’s stories.

I met four-year-old Noah when his mother contacted me regarding aquatic physical therapy services. We worked through several aquatic treatment sessions where I felt like I was in the pool with “JAWS” (biting)! Once we straightened that misunderstanding out, we were on our way to great things!

Water is the perfect environment to encourage movement in children who have difficulty moving on land. As infants in the womb, we were surrounded, comforted and protected by water, moving freely and effortlessly. Water has unique properties, one being buoyancy, which neutralized the effects of gravity on the body, making it much easier to move. Children who have difficulty moving on land find water a great place to try movements that are more challenging and to practice with increased success. Water play is also a highly socially- acceptable activity within communities. Most little ones have their first encounter with community swimming at YMCAs, private pools with other family members, lakes and oceans which have many people at them, and even the family bathtub (yes, we all have those embarrassing pictures of ourselves bathing with a sibling).

Stepping out into the world of “community-based” physical activities, which are dominated by typically developing children and their families, is perceived as “risky business” by children with disabilities and their families. Easing the anxiety about the perceived risk by “evening the playing field” through aquatic activities is a nice way to integrate children with disabilities into community facilities and recreational activities with their typically developing peers. In all honesty, the parents are more anxious than the child when it comes to community integration. If given the opportunity, the child will determine how he/she can participate. This can also be said for children without disabilities. No one wants their child to get hurt, but sometimes you just have to let them go and be active with others. Children can learn some important lessons about being around others, being socially active and trying new things when participating in community activities!

Providing opportunities for Noah and his family to experience interactions with other children and families in community facilities during these early aquatic therapy sessions not only eased their anxiety but also helped to educate others as to the skills Noah possessed (as opposed to his impairments). It also cultivated healthy interactions and exchanges of information related to other available community activities.

In the next blog, we will travel with Noah to “uncharted territory”…community soccer!

What community activities have you and your family experienced with your children?

*Noah is a fictional name to protect the real child.

About the Author: Deborah Thorpe, PT, PhD, has been a pediatric physical therapist, academician and researcher for 25 years. Her research focuses on fitness, physical activity, and health promotion for persons with cerebral palsy (CP) across the lifecourse.