Speak Through Sports Soccer

100 East Florida Avenue,Melbourne FL 32901

01 March, 2022

Description

Adaptive and inclusive soccer program for children with autism and related disabilities and siblings. Open to all school-aged children. The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development is thrilled to offer our fully funded Speak Through Sports Soccer Program at Melbourne Central Catholic High School! We look forward to gathering many of our current and also new families to explore learning soccer skills and have fun with our friends and Soccer Buddies! We provide meaningful and positive opportunities for the ASD child and sibling to interact through this signature program! Please read below to confirm all information about Speak Through Sports Soccer and reminders! • Speak Through Sports Soccer Clinics are open to all school age children with ASD and related disabilities and their siblings. • We partner with various organizations to provide opportunities to build self-confidence, improve fine and gross motor skills, as well as learn the basic rules and skills of a variety of sports. These sports also create a great opportunity for social interaction for children with autism and their families. We love introducing and developing soccer skills in our weekly clinics and encouraging a love of the game! Volunteer peer buddies and extra coaches are all engaged to assist children directly with skills development and nurture a positive, active learning environment. • LOCATION: Melbourne Central Catholic School (near FIT) 100 East Florida Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 • PARKING: Plentiful parking at the East Florida Avenue MCC entrance. The soccer field is past the football field and best to park along the fence by the baseball fields. • CONTACT: Please CALL or TEXT JULIA BARNEY, Director of The Parker Foundation at 321-704-3459 or e-mail at [email protected] • DATES: Tuesday Afternoons MARCH 1st AND 8th • TIME: 4:30-5:30 PM • WEATHER: Please bundle up – wear long sleeves and layers! If there is rain or other inclement weather then we will try our utmost to text and e-mail families in advance by 12:00 pm. • Parents must stay on site during clinics and shadows welcome! We will finish with a few minutes of scrimmage and then a celebratory snack and water after every clinic! This is a fully sponsored Speak Through Sports Program and all team equipment is provided. • Coaches this year are: Coach Missy (The Parker Foundation Co-Founder Melissa Parker) and Coach Julia (The Parker Foundation Director). We love our work and we both love playing and coaching soccer! We gather Soccer Buddies from several local high school soccer teams and have guidance from local league team coaching staff. Thanks again for your invovement and we can't wait to see you on the soccer field! The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to serving families of children with Autism through sponsoring and facilitating recreational sports, arts and education programs in our community. As parents of both a child with Autism and a typically developing child as well, Co-Founders Ted and Melissa Parker established the organization in 2015 inspired to create family-centered programs that would positively support early intervention. The mission of the foundation is to bridge the gap in resources and programs available to families of children with Autism as well as to nurture a community of understanding and support to children with Autism and related disabilities and their families.