Ricky & soccer

September 14, 2008
Originally uploaded by Beckerbuns

Yesterday was Ricky's second soccer day this season. He actually missed the first day, two weeks ago, because I was working.

Ricky plays in VIP soccer, which, according to the AYSO website, "...provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams."

Many of the kids on Ricky's teams have been on the autism spectrum. He has also played with kids with spina bifida (with their walkers!), Down Syndrome, severe ADHD, and mild to moderate retardation, as well as a visually impaired child.

The teams are co-ed but grouped by age and ability. Ricky's abilities are very good as far as the scoccer part goes, but he does have some frustrations with some of the rules, etc. His main impairment which would not make him suitable for a regular team is his energy level. When the kids run around the field to warm up, for example, he cannot keep up and ends up walking, due to his lung capacity. He is also a little awkward, which would probably be a problem in regular soccer.

So, every Sunday at 1:30 we go to the field and Ricky practices with his team. Each player has a "buddy" who assist the player with playing and getting involved in the game. The buddies are pre-teens, teens, and adults who volunteer their time. They and the volunteer coach ensure that each child has the opportunity to score in the game and to play various positions. Ricky prefers goalie, possibly because he doesn't have to run around as much. He takes pride in his position as goalie and takes it very seriously!

The first season, Ricky was at first on a team with some profoundly disabled kids. They moved him to a different team with higher-abled kids. Last year, he was on an appropriate team. This time around, I think he's on the wrong team again... The kids on his team have pretty serious autism and other disabilities, and in the next field over there is a team that I think would be more appropriate. If his coach doesn't decide to change him over, I might say something soon and get him changed over myself. I think he gets frustrated with the amount of help needed by the kids he's currently playing with. We'll see what happens. :)