Strathmore Soccer aims to launch adaptive needs program
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Strathmore Soccer Association (SSA) recently hosted an event at Crowther Memorial Junior High in order to train more local coaches.
“Over the past two years or so, Strathmore Soccer and myself have been working on developing an adaptive needs program, as per the directive set forth by Canada Soccer,” said Ryan Parkin, technical director with the SSA. “There is not a whole lot of tangible resources in place yet, so what we have done is we have worked with partners at Soccability Canada, and they were able to deliver a training program for us that will help us develop what we are hoping to deliver as a pilot, starting hopefully in May.”
Parkin described it as being effectively a program dedicated to defining how Strathmore Soccer would run a program.
This would include coverage surrounding how other similar programs are operated, key terminology, and other particulars associated with running an adapted program.
The second half of the day, he explained, would be dedicated towards practical exercises where community kids will be brought in who might fit the adapted program.
SSA and Soccability Canada are working towards creating and the eventual launch of a soccer program in Strathmore focusing on developing an avenue to play for people with disabilities and/ or special needs.
“We as an organization have a mandate of trying to make this as accessible as possible to all members of the community,” said Parkin. “What this enables us to do is obviously provide quality programming for individuals that our current programs just don’t facilitate the needs for.”
The event which took place at Crowther Memorial, Parkin explained, was an amalgamation of the coaches within the SSA who will potentially be running the new adaptive needs program upon launch.
Members of the local community who aided the SSA in connecting with kids who may be able to benefit from adaptive needs programming also participated in the training session.
Parkin estimated a minimum of six coaches will be required to run the initial pilot of the adaptive needs program, with more or less demand which will be dictated by community interest.
“So far, the response has been very positive,” said Parkin. “Obviously, it is still very new, so people are still trying to understand what we are trying to offer, as well as what they can expect ongoing from delivery.”
More information about the program is available through the Strathmore Soccer Association website. The adaptive needs program is estimated to be able to launch this coming spring.