Everyone Plays In our Community (EPIC) Formaly VIP

What is AYSO EPIC?

The mission of the AYSO EPIC Program is to provide athletes with disabilities the additional support they need to fully participate in a quality soccer experience.  The ultimate goal of the AYSO EPIC Program is to provide a holistic AYSO experience for players, families, and volunteers, from team uniforms, to playing on a team, to cheering from the sidelines, for all participants.

What is an EPIC Buddy?

EPIC Buddies assist during the games in which players learn soccer while meeting new friends, having fun and increasing skills and self-esteem. Players and their families, along with our volunteers, enjoy the complete AYSO experience – team uniforms, scoring goals, cheering from the sidelines, and beyond! The vision of the AYSO EPIC Program is to create teams in every AYSO Region to maximize opportunities for EPIC player participation.

EPIC & How it Relates to AYSO’s Six Philosophies

The AYSO EPIC Program is designed to give children and adults a soccer experience that incorporates the six AYSO Philosophies:

Everyone Plays: In EPIC, Everyone Plays without regard for their disability.

Balanced Teams: Teams are created to maximize opportunities for player participation in age-appropriate groups for maximum player safety and experience.

Open Registration: The EPIC Program is open for all athletes with disabilities from ages 4-99. There are no try-outs, and all players are welcome.

Positive Coaching: Players’ efforts are recognized and encouraged toward achieving their personal goals. The use of EPIC Buddies may support players during the game and create an additional element of positive coaching and support.

Player Development: Players are afforded opportunities to play the ball helping them to build on previously learned skills. Family members are involved in learning soccer fundamentals to support the development of their players. Players are encouraged to participate in physical movement at their individual level to help them maximize their physicality.

Good Sportsmanship: Players learn the importance of teamwork and fair play by recognizing and celebrating the efforts of all team members. Family members are also encouraged to model good sportsmanship by cheering from the sidelines for all players.

To register your player for EPIC, click Register Now in the upper right corner of our Home Page. If you have an account, then click Login. 

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]. 
To become a volunteer for EPIC, CLICK HERE.

EPIC Volunteers

We are in need of youth and adult volunteers to help out with the weekly EPIC sessions. For those or you that aren't familiar with the EPIC program, it is a nationwide program to provide the AYSO soccer experience for special needs players who otherwise would never get a chance to play soccer. Our region has had a EPIC program for over 15 years. Mike Hannan and Craig Besaw are the coaches. 

Our EPIC program is looking or a few volunteers to support the EPIC players for about an hour during our Saturday games. Many EPIC players function independently and need only encouragement and an occasional kind word. Other players need one-to-one attention to get the most out of soccer. In all cases, the objective is to provide all of the players with a fun, safe and rewarding experience. This objective of having fun, safe and rewarding experience applies to volunteers as well -- anyone who is not having fun as a EPIC volunteer should find another way to contribute to the community. 

The ideal volunteer for these sessions is someone who has fun with the players, is patient and kind, flexible, and shows up most of the time. The coaches are happy to write a letter crediting volunteers for their community service.

Please consider volunteering. If you are interested, please contact Coach Mike or Craig. You can also just come on Saturday and talk to the coaches if you see this is for you. 

AYSO 498 EPIC Coaches
 - Mike Hannan: [email protected]
 - Craig Besaw: [email protected]