It’s raining on the soccer pitch at Southridge Field here, but the athletes don’t seem to care.
They are too busy laughing, high-fiving and chasing a soccer ball to be distracted by a little thing like rain. This is their night to play.
The athletes belong to Fergus-Elora and District Soccer (FEDS), as part of the adult Special Needs Soccer (SNS) league.
“Every Friday night they really look forward to soccer because it’s part of their routine,” said Ashley Murray, a support worker at a group home in Fergus. She has three individuals from her facility who participate.
“I think it gives them a chance to really socialize with their peers and not feel the pressure of being excluded in other ways.”
In the middle of the action, keeping the ball in play with a smile and infectious enthusiasm is Pat Espina, president of FEDS since 2004.
He is also the creator of the SNS team, and has served as its coach since 2010. His daughter Michelle was the inspiration for the league.
“My wife Irene and my daughters Jessica, Michelle and Allison have been involved with the challenges and desires of special needs people since Michelle was born,” Espina explained.
“Michelle had a condition called Williams Syndrome, which resulted in her having some special needs. Michelle died in 2005 unexpectedly at age 17.
“Because of our experiences our family has some understanding with the needs that this part of the community has and also understands that most of them want to do what all other people do. They just have challenges while doing it.”
Soccer is a passion for Espina, a native of Chile who says of his sport, “in Chile it is a way of life, so I guess it is in my blood.”
In his role, he has coached girls soccer for 10 years, and been an active player for the last 12 years.
“At some point I thought that it would be great that FEDS would have a program for special needs people, especially adult special needs people. Many adult special needs people do not get too many opportunities to experience the type of experience that FEDS has to offer through soccer.”
He credits the support of the volunteer executive board of FEDS for making the league a reality. The idea was a success and the league has grown to 34 athletes between the ages of 17 to 55, drawing players from Arthur, Mount Forest, Hillsburgh, Elmira, Guelph and Centre Wellington.
“FEDS works with the Guelph Community Living organization, who help us reach the members that we have,” Espina said.
Every Friday for the past three years, throughout the soccer season, Barbara Webster-Powell and Stephen Powell bring their son Leif, 18, to join in the games.
Leif, a student at John F. Ross, also plays basketball in winter and enjoys swimming. But Webster-Powell says being a soccer mom is fun.
“There is something about this that totally de-stresses me. It’s just so lovely,” she said.
“There is nothing like this in Guelph,” added Stephen, who has no problem making the short trip to Centre Wellington for the sport.
That’s because these parents see the value of soccer in their son’s life.
“Leif can say, ‘I play soccer,’ just like everybody else,” said Webster-Powell. The sport of soccer, she adds, also gives her son life and social skills.
“It’s the practical stuff, like fresh air and exercise and a sense of belonging to a group … without this, people like Leif can feel ostracized.”
It’s the inclusiveness of the group, Webster-Powell says, that makes the league a success.
“They accommodate all the players, no matter what the skills, so I think the athletes experience a sense of achievement and fun,” said Webster-Powell. “They all play together.”
That’s exactly what Espina strives for with the SNS league.
“Soccer offers them an opportunity to participate in a team sport where they can try to expand their abilities and experience the great game while experiencing the many other benefits that come with it,” Espina said.
“I hope that they feel that they can be soccer players and that they are capable of belonging to a club like FEDS.”
Inclusiveness is key, he believes.
“Our special needs soccer players are made to feel as the rest of our FEDS members. That is the point,” Espina said. “They pay their fees, they use our soccer balls, they get their jerseys, shorts and socks. We’re all part of the same club. We love it.”
For Riley Hillis, 21, of Guelph-Eramosa, being a part of a team is important. He is active in basketball, bowling, swimming and track and field, and this is his third year on the FEDS team.
“I think the league is fantastic,” said Riley’s father, Kerry Hillis. “Riley’s sisters grew up playing soccer and he never had that opportunity.”
While some of the athletes are able to run and kick the ball and follow the basic structure of the play, others require their support workers to take the field alongside them.
“I think many of the workers love to come out as they see their people doing something that they truly enjoy, get fresh air, exercise, participate and socialize,” said Espina.
Murray agrees. She believes the skills taught in the league are important, from running and kicking the ball, to scoring goals and working together.
“The coaches really encourage their independence, which is very important,” Murray said.
“I think they offer a lot of support and encouragement.”
Cheered on by his aunt Jan Hillis, Riley enjoys being a part of the team atmosphere.
“It’s true Sportsmanship,” said Jan. “Everybody shares. Everybody gets a chance.”
That kind of respect isn’t just what these athletes are taught, but who they are.
“They are all very respectful, caring and patient for each other,” said Espina. “When one of our players takes the ball and is moving very, very slowly with the ball, all of the players let that player carry the ball and stand back, they just wait for their turn. When someone falls, they all stop and only continue when that person is okay.”
Espina’s respect for his players is obvious, and he enjoys their honesty.
“That is one of the things that I have learned about special needs people. They tell it to you like they feel it. If they are happy they show you true caring. When they are mad, they tell you about it or they show it. When they are sad, you feel their sadness,” Espina said.
Watching from the sidelines, Webster-Powell says, “There is always laughter and a lot of congratulations … and a lot of clapping and high-fives.”
She also liked that players will stop to allow for each other’s turn.
“One of my favorite stories was a game where someone scored on the goalie and the goalie cheered … because it was a goal,” said Webster-Powell, of the overall spirit of the game.
This kind of enjoyment for the families is important to Espina’s goal with the league.
“I think the families get joy out of the experience,” said Espina. “I think many are surprised at what the group is capable of. I am amazed every week at what they can do.”
It’s his enthusiasm for the players, as much as the sport, that makes Espina the kind of coach that has earned the respect of the parents of the special needs athletes, and the affection of the athletes themselves.
“Coach Pat is wonderful. He greets every player … always with a smile. It’s just lovely,” said Webster-Powell. “He has a big, big heart and you can tell the players just love him.”
She adds, “He is very respectful of all the players and as a result, the game is a very respectful game.”
Jan Hillis agrees. “He has a huge amount of patience and everybody gets a chance, and everybody shines.”
That is Espina’s goal.
“I get joy out of the experience. Everything about this program is right,” Espina said. “They (the athletes) give me confirmation that they are all capable of experiencing fun and able to be a part of something good. I hope that some of what they learn at soccer may be of use in their lives, such as having courage to try other experiences because they can do things others can do.”
But Espina can’t do it alone. Volunteer coaches are an important part of the special needs league.
“We have a wonderful group of volunteers now,” said Espina. “I think they all love the experience and feel like I do. We always need more volunteers and not only with the SNS program, but also with our other programs. No real soccer training is needed but we have offered some basic training in the past.”
Mark DePass has been a soccer player with FEDS for many years, and was inspired by Espina’s vision for the SNS league.
“I knew that I would like to play a part, and when the volunteer coaching opportunity came up, it was the perfect opportunity to become involved,” DePass said.
“I believe coaching athletes at any level can be very rewarding. I think in our case, it might even be a little more rewarding because we are dealing with people who haven’t had many opportunities to play organized Sports.”
He notes the pride he takes in seeing the players who are intimidated early in the season, often preferring to be on the sidelines, but later join in the game.
“One day each of them would eventually take the plunge and join in. Now they are right in the middle of things and more fully involved with the play. Playing a part in that transition can be very rewarding,” DePass said.
“Just sharing in their enjoyment on the field and seeing how quickly and far they have progressed in their technical and team playing skills, has been very inspiring.”
DePass is the mechanical manager of Trade-Mark Industrial Inc., the corporate sponsor for the SNS team, and he’s proud to link the two organizations together.
“FEDS’ Special Needs Soccer program is a fantastic example to soccer clubs across Ontario of what can be done. Trade-Mark is just happy to have been given the opportunity to be involved with this team and to have the chance to give back a little to this community,” DePass said.
He feels it is a sound investment into a group of remarkable athletes.
“It amazed us in the beginning what naturally good team players we have in our group. The respect they show to each other is amazing,” DePass said.
“Without being asked, higher skilled players will give space and time opportunities with the ball to not only their teammates but also to the opposing team’s players so that everyone can get time on the ball, enjoy themselves and improve at the same time. The experience of playing on a team gives them a chance to develop these skills that they already have.”
To celebrate the achievements of the athletes in the SNS league, the coaches developed a new event, the first Special Needs Soccer Festival, which will be held July 6 from 12 to 4pm at Victoria Park in Fergus.
“Well, this is a very unique event. As far as I know there has not been anything like this,” said Espina, who has invited groups from Halton Hills and Kitchener to take part in an afternoon of non-competitive soccer and other activities.
The event is open to adults, 16 years of age and over, belonging to a special needs soccer program.
“In total we should have about 80 to 90 participants,” he said. “We will be having two sets of soccer games, we will have music, festival type games, food, face painting, clowns, trophies and most important, so it seems, cake for all.”
While the event is free, donations will be collected to support expenses and fund future plans to build an indoor/outdoor arena.
“We hope that our community will embrace the event and will come to support the players and experience something that they have most likely not experienced before,” Espina said.
He credits the sponsors for making this event possible.
“We have terrific sponsors. Our number one sponsor is Trade Mark Industrial Inc. They have been very caring and giving since the beginning of the program. For the festival we also have some other sponsors including: Walmart, Jim and Maureen Farquharson (Remax), Brazilian Soccer School, Musashi, and the Quatro Group,” said Espina.
“The festival will cost a significant amount of money. Whatever sponsors we can get, the better.”
It’s a big undertaking, but for the athletes, it’s exciting to be in a tournament atmosphere, meeting new people and enjoying the sport of soccer.
“This is all new to all of us,” said Espina. “I think that if the festival is successful, there is a good chance that it could be a yearly event.”
DePass believes the growth of the SNS league is an indication the future is a positive one.
“I feel that all of our soccer players enjoy themselves each week. Most of them are returning players and every year we are growing in numbers,” DePass said.
That makes Espina very proud.
“I think all of our assistants and I really love to see those special moments, such as when one of our players, that has never scored, scores a goal, or as simple as one of the members whose whole purpose for the year was to step on the field and does,” he said.
“This is what SNS is about.”
For more information visit www.fedssoccer.ca.
