What is TOPSoccer?
The Pulse! No. #64
COVER STORY
TOPSoccer.... what is it?
The Outreach Program for Soccer, better known as TOPSoccer, is a community based training and team placement program for differently-able players over 4 years of age, who have a mental or physical disability. Organized by youth soccer association volunteers, this unique program enables these special athletes to play at levels consistent with their skills, not necessarily their age.
It's the Outreach Program for Soccer that enables children under 19 with physical and/or intellectual disabilities to play soccer.
Some children will not join Conventional Teams because
– Physically unable
– Learning challenges
– Administrative challenges- unable to place them on conventional teams
We can provide the opportunity for them to play soccer
TOPSoccer Players deal with the same things conventional teams do:
they are coached, taught skills / drills / game and taught to play as a team
They have fun thru the game and joy of being on a team
Players are registered
Community based program, or local club or association
Rewarding to everyone who participates 
as players are placed on teams by ability (not age)
Games may be freely modified, if one thing isn't working, try something else!
FIFA “Laws” are only guidelines - Lets say that Sally missed throwing the ball in play by a few inches. No biggie. She gets to try again!
Non-players may be on the field - the coach stays on the field as well as the soccer Buddy
Rules may be adjusted to fit as needed
Administrative procedures may be revised
Why is TOPSoccer important?
It develops social skills
It develops better motor coordination
Improves communication skills
Provide opportunity for exercise
What can you do?
Become a TOPSoccer Buddy or Coach!
Soccer Buddies are you and me, your kids, your neighbors
They are people that may or may not have experience in soccer.
They are people that want to see others succeed and keep the players as safe as possible.
TOPSoccer Buddies are invaluable volunteers who participate directly with individual players or within a team with several players to enable participation in a soccer activity. The TOPSoccer buddy is not a player and does not score goals.
Soccer Coaches
Are those same people I just named, You, me your neighbors...
all with the same goal. HAVING FUN and learning the game of soccer at the same time!
Those of you that would like to be involved in this, please contact Marty at TOPSDirector@comcast.net
I'm sure she would love to talk with you!
The following have areas that you can look into for being a buddy or coach, along with their contacts. If there isn't one listed for your area, START ONE! SNOHOMISH Linda Kautz ljkotr@aol.com
SHORELINE Cathy Olivere cathyolivere@comcast.net
BELLINGHAM Lance Calloway Lance@whatcomsoccer.com
EDMONDS Tami Sandygren tamis814@gmail.com
REDMOND Steven Blaire sc_blaire@hotmail.com
TACOMA Carrie Lillie-Lugo cllsoccer@mac.com
TUKWILA/SKYWAY Alice Russell arussell78@msn.com
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND Sue Steindorf SSteindo@bainbridge.wednet.edu
CENTRAL Becky Siegrist rsiegrist@msn.com
SOUTHERN Brannon Shalley brannons@jrabbott.com
NORTHERN (POULSBO) Tausha Peredo peredofamily@wavecable.com
CAMAS-WASHOUGAL Tammie Naffziger TopSoccer@cwsoccer.com
SPOKANE Gus Schmauch gschmauch@comcast.net
LEWIS COUNTY Darla Estep zoebug_n_mom@yahoo.com
THURSTON COUNTY Carolyn Hunsinger 360-446-2345 ***********************
Here and Now
http://washingtonpremiersoccer.com/forum/index.php?topic=10525.0...and never forget; if there is not enough blah blah blah on the games, you only have "you know who" to blame 
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TOURNAMENT TALK
WTG to the following WINNERS of US Club Washington Cup held at Starfire this past weekend
BU11
Champion: GRFC 97 Blue
Runner Up:NW Nationals Red
BU12
Champion: Eastside FC 96 Red
Runner Up: GRFC 96 Blue
BU13
Champion: Pacific Premier FC Red
Runner Up: Wenatchee Fire 95
BU14
Champion: Eastsdie FC Red
Runner Up: Evergreen 94 Green
GU11
Champion: NW Nationals Red
Runner Up:Columbia Timbers Red 97
GU12
Champion: Eastside FC Red
Runner Up:Crossfire Premier
GU13
Champion: Eastside FC 95 Red
Runner Up:NW Nationals 95 Blue
GU14
Champion: WPFC Black
Runner Up:Crossfire Premier A
Winners of Washington Cup Premier are given preferential seeding at US Club Soccer's 2009 National Cup VIII Regionals. ***********************
Brat Jr's YouTube Videos!!
Dragon and BC are FAMOUS!http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&lang=uk&code=3a72c075debc8aea50739ead76bb9e35BU PPFC vs
BU14 HPFC vs PT 1
BU14 HPFC vs PT 2
GU14 Crossfire vs Crush PT 1
GU14 Crossfire vs Crush PT 2
It comes down to kicks! Crossfire vs Crush
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"Shout out to da newbies"
We see a few brand new posters since the last Pulse Lets give out a Shout and as always, lets give a warm welcome to all new posters!
This week we would like to applaude and give Karma Kisses 
to:
Speak Easy
itsabeatifulgame
hammerfan
west side
CHIP
bugsmom98
Koko
Not Purple
Snicker
al dente
UserName
checkroster
Firedog Welcome aboard!
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ITS BACK for the FINAL WEEK
#14 Cassidy from DOS 95 She has been through a lot this year, and to conclude fall season with 31 saves is incredible. Just in her last game vs WPFC White, WPFC outshot DOS 32 - 8, and still lost due to this keeper's heroics. WTG CASSSIDY! You played a GREAT game for so many CP's to recognize your talents!
SHOUT OUTS!
In a must win game for Synergy 96 #20 put a quick shot in the goal with in the first ten minutes of the game and then was moved to defense for the rest of the game and helped hold Cascade scoreless. This was a great win for Synergy to put them back in a tie for 1st in District 3 Titanium.
Molly ... Alliance 95's keeper. She blocked shot after shot by WPFC Black! ***********************
"...Out on the Pitch"
GU14 EFC Red vs WPFC Black GU13 EFC Red vs NWN BlueGU14 SH REV vs SSFCGU14 Crossfire vs CrushBU13 PPFC vs Wenatchee FireBU14 HPFC Blue vs Evergreen GreenCrossfire **Please continue to send pix's to the Pulse newsroom! Anything soccer related is welcome!** 
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"Help! Is there a Doctor in the house?"
Hey Doc,
If there is ONE piece of advice for our DKs' what would that be?
Wow! Very timely.This is something I have been struggling with this season with my 16 year old son. I have watched him go from a quiet boy on the pitch at U12 to a high level of confidence and a leader at U16 . A boy who has had coaches from several D1 schools inquiring about him at the Showcases I am now caught in the reality that my son has decided that he does not want to play College ball. He has succumbed to burnout as a result of nonstop play over the last 6 years at P1 and varsity soccer, with NO summers off, school vacations waylaid by League games or Cup play. And coupled with being on a Club team that has underperformed this year, he has lost interest in the very thing that was his life for so many years. I have been caught in a rut, alternating between chagrin and anger over his decision, and I fear that I am making it EASIER for him to want to walk away, simply to shut me up. I hate what has transpired between us. But it is more me than him...MY dreams for him have been changed and I am being selfish by hounding him daily inquiring "WHY HAVE THINGS CHANGED?
?"
So the one thing I would tell our DKs is that soccer is YOURS to do as you please.Remember that you have entered into a fellowship of soccer and you should take from it what you give to it! Play hard, play fair...but know when you are ready to say "No more", whenever that time may come!! Do not let the dreams of others cloud your goals. Do not feel guilty if your priorities change. Do take away from the game the joy of playing, the friendships that may last a lifetime, the memories of wonderful wins and dreadful losses. But let NO ONE tell you how to achieve your goals! And most importantly, your happiness..................*Send all medical questions for "the doctor" to the Pulse email address************************
WPS FAMILY CIRCLE FOUNDATION!!! 
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DRAGON'S EYE ON THE G94'S!!!
As a way for 'ol Dragon to work his way back into the Pulse he will start doing a weekly article for the Pulse for the G94 age group! This week Dragon will just be hitting the highlights, but; Next week Dragon would like you to send me more details (then what we read in the recaps) on your team. Looking for stories on the G94 that play in P1, PDL (all levels), State League, FWR League, any Tournaments, and Even Rec teams! Look forward to doing an article for the 94's each week that I can...without further ado, lets begin! US CLUB PREMIER/WASHINGTON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
WASHINGTON PRIEMIER FC 94 BLACK!!!Great job to the Johnny Cash gals on winning the second annual US Club State Cup held this past weekend at SF. Just like the Chika Lobos of last year, a suprise team came out of no where to take home the crown. Congrats to coach Fish and all his gals, Dragon is very proud of you all!! Here is a great write up from their Championship run:This weekend the team was happy to play in another tournament. Right now they are at the bottom of PDL A and most think they will move to B in the spring. The girls just wanted to have a good showing after an up and down season so far in the PDL. Some of the more skeptical parents doubted they would even make it out of their bracket play, but thank goodness to a group of girls who believed they could do anything they set their minds to.
1st game was against FC Crush on Friday night and the girls were nervous and excited all at the same time. Crush scored first on a really nice corner kick from a forward that went untouched and into the back of the net. The second half Crush still put tremendous pressure on the girls until the final minutes when one of our forwards fought to take the ball to the end line and sent a laser cross that found the leaping head of another forward who deflected the ball for a goal. The game ended shortly thereafter and we had earned a tie. WPFC 1 CRUSH 1
The second game was Saturday against a very good Westsound team. The entire game was a battle, but we pulled it out in the end after a great goal from one of the girls. WPFC 1 WESTSOUND 0
3rd game we played on Sunday morning. We played the Eagles and both of us had to win to ensure we moved on. There were no ar's on the sideline and our first goal raised chants of 'offsides' on the Eagles sideline but the goal was good in the refs eyes. 1-0 at half. We added another goal off a corner and a 'chest shot' in the second to win! WPFC 2 EAGLES 0
A lot of parents were shocked. We not only were going to the finals but we won our bracket! The girls didn't seem suprised at all.
Semis we played EFC Red. This team has had our number all year and continued to show it by racking up shot after shot on our goal. But our entire defense came up huge in this game and even if they bent, they never broke! Holding them scoreless we made it to the first 'Golden Goals' overtime. About 6 mins into the first overtime one of the players flicked on a ball that landed exactly to a forwards feet and spliting the last 2 defenders just barely snuck in the goal past the diving keeper. The girls had did it! WPFC 1 EFC 0
The parents were shocked, the girls excited. They ran over to watch the pk's to see who they would be facing.
Finals the team faced the state champion team Crossfire A. What a great game as each team tired from the previous 2 games still gave it every ounce of energy they had. In a cold drizzle they both battled hard. With less then a minute to go in the 1st half we got a corner that was shot into the front of the goal and on a gorgeous deflection we went up 1-0. In the 2nd half the girls continued to play hard but with about 10 minutes to go the Crossfire girls pulled out all the stops and even had their goalie almost up to the 50 yard line as they pounded our goal with shot after shot. Neither our goalie nor our defense was going to let one go in this night! After the time expired the girls had done it!
WPFC 1 CROSSFIRE A 0
Even if they don't win a single game the rest of the year no one can take away this night from them. The midfielders, defenders, offense, and goalies; At least on this night, they were the US Club state champs! 
Thanks fo the great write up bro. Look forward to more great stories on your team! PRIEMIER LEAGUE (D1 to D4)This section would love to talk about whats going on with the teams in D1, D2, etc. Right now, we all saw the post about the Rockets and Sabers playing this weekday! Dragon hates to admit it, but would love to see it all come down to the Rockets and the Lords of Cowtown next weekend for the Championship of D1!
Please send Dragon your tales of D2, D3, D4 action after this weekend for Next weeks article! PDL A, B, C, DThis section D wants to focus on all the PDL action. Be is A-Bracket or D-Bracket, it all matters! This week we did get to hear about the Reign just unloading on Big Red in the first few minutes of the game. Even though Big Red came back and played hard, (and some say controlled the rest of the game), No team can overcome a 3-0 start! 
Great job to the Prince gals on coming out and putting that game away early!
Thats all for now, hope to get stories on other leagues, and even rec ball. Til next time, Dragon out "COACHS CORNER!"
Will resume at a later time***********************
"VIEW FROM BEHIND THE WHISTLE"
"Questions for the Ref"
OOPS! Catch ya next time Ref***********************
OTHER NEWS AND GOSSIP AND TIDBITS:
a new section will come out next week with Doug in the starring role!
"Ask the President" section will feature one or 2 questions from WA State Soccer parents, fans and kids!
PM or email your questions to me and I will forward them on to Doug for his answer in the next issue. Thanks Doug for doing this! ***********************
Thursday morning I was surprised and delighted by an invitation to attend the Washington Youth Soccer Holiday Party by Doug Andreassen.
This was an affair Saturday night at the Museum of Flight that went all out! With guests attending from all over Washington and Oregon
I had the pleasure of taking gr8cigar with me! and seeing a few WPS friends too! ( One of which was wondering why the heck I was there!
Cuz I''m special 
)
There was a little talk by Doug, Marty Torres of TOPSoccer and Michelle Frenchs' parents, Jeannie and Terry A band was singing older rock and roll tunes, people dancing and eating. All of them seemed to enjoy themselves immmensly.
There were a few major points of the night:
Michelle French and her on going battle with cancer.
Washington Youth Soccer has decided that they will add a donation point on the website to aid Frenchie and her fight.
There will also be raffle tickets to an upcoming MANU game in ENGLAND on Feburary 21, 2009 vs Blackburn Rovers COST $50.00
Trip Includes:
Air Transportation, Food and Lodging and 2 tickets to the Manu game 
Trip Details:
Depart Seattle Feb 19, Arrive in England on the 20th Attend the Manu game on the 21st, return home the 22ndAll Ticket Proceeds Will Benefit
Michelle "Frenchie" French How to Purchase Tickets
Call the Washington Youth Soccer office at 253-476-2237 to pay by credit card.
Send a check to the Washington Youth Soccer office. Please make the check out to WSYSA. Please include your name and phone number for the raffle ticket.
Come by the Washington Youth Soccer office to purchase tickets.
Email Tiffany Stark at tiffany@wsysa.com with your payment information.
It is our hope that this fundraiser will not only provide someone with the chance to experience the
world’s game, but also help one of Washington Youth Soccer’s most decorated alumni in the
fight for her life.
For additional information about Michelle and the Washington Youth Soccer fundraiser, please
visit www.wsya.com.
What a way to embrace those that have given so much to others, WYS!
Keeping those soccer family ties together!As I have never met Frenchie, I can only take what I know from hearing about her from others. A generous, loving person that has a legion of fans and friends. If she is anything like her parents, Jeannie and Terry I can see what kind of person she is.Keep fighting Frenchie! We are all behind you!Here are some links about Michelle:
http://ridersoccer.blogspot.com/2008/11/michelle-french.html
Our own Frenchie thread:
http://washingtonpremiersoccer.com/forum/index.php?topic=10517.0
To support Frenchie in her fight against cancer, we are wearing red wristbands with “Team Frenchie” and “JUST KICKIN’ IT” printed on them! Minimum donation of $5.00 each, minimum order of 10. "Team Frenchie" will also accept direct donations.
Please send a check payable to "Team Frenchie" to:
L. Whatley
615 Hillside Dr. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Questions? Please contact: ltwhatley@comcast.netThank you for your support! Washington Youth Soccer has changed their web page!!
Someone on here mentioned the fact that the state site still had WSYSA on it but they call themselves WYS. Guess what? They changed it!
You will still see all the information that was there, just in a more clean and bright page!
http://www.wsysa.com/ now if we could just get them to move the I WANNA PLAY SOCCER button back to the top
Marty Torres of TOPSoccer
what a delight it was talking with you.
And the video presentation that included a Sound Soccer Ball for the blind was incredible.
There is no reason in my eyes why soccer can't be for EVERY CHILD and TOPSoccer is making that happen every day! THANK YOU for sharing your life with others!
This is what inspired todays Cover Story!
gr8cigar and I walked out with Cliff McGrath and chatted for a few.
Thanks for all you have given us in our little corner of the world Uncle Nubber!
May you always be blessed with the love of soccer and admiration from all of us.Upon leaving the WYS Holiday party, We all were treated to a present from Washington Youth Soccer
A big THANK YOU to all the staff at WYS for making our state association one of the best to play for and be a part of.***********************
"WPS Paparazzi"
LCCTinkLCC vs TinkPeeping TomLet sleeping DOGS lieI'm Gumby darn itBreakaway ***********************
"RUMOR MILL"
1. heard yesterday that a certain GU-14 coach was openly questioning a rival coach's sexual preferences?
2. Heard that 2 top team girls are leaving for another top team.
Got the scoop on this: 1 did leave for the other team and one is guest playing.
Now possibly more are leaving from this top team
3. Heard that Crossfire told ALL the teams that they will buy a TEAM FRENCHIE bracelet!
If true, I think we should get all the other Clubs in WA to match that! 
4. I heard a Keeper got second team all Evergreen Conference and rookie of the year and another got league Offensive MVP! WTG GIRLS!!! ***********************
"SIDELINE SNIPPETS"
What is this Karma thing on the side? How did I get so disliked? I Feel like John McCain right now!
Brat, How in the heck did you get that e-mail, LOL. I haven't seen it yet and I'm an Evergreen coach. Like I said before Coach, I'm special
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"THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMMMMMMMMMMMMM"?
Hmmmm... Are we getting what we paid for?
We pay for a coach to train and coach our kids.
We pay for our coach to show up early enough to help warm our kids up prior to the game.
We hope that the coach is communicating to the players what he/she wants out of them.
What if we are not getting those 3 basic things mentioned above?? Yes, Duffer has said his piece this week about that. I am sure there are many people on here that have to deal with this situation. Not too much chatter for fear of reprecussion- Because we all know that many read and chatter, whether they admit to it or not.
We all talk about coaching being a business and that is how they make a living. But if you were a customer (which we are) of some of these coaches that are talked about on here, would you continue to use their service, or would you look elsewhere? I am so curious why it is ok for the coaches to say it is their business, but we (collectively) are not allowed to treat it in the same manner and advise them we are not happy with the service they are providing, and if they don't improve the service we will go elsewhere?***********************
"Dragon Coachs Interviews!"Dragon still looking for more interviews (always), send in your information or suggestions to the Pulse! :mrgreen:
If you are a coach, DOC, trainer, or have anything to do with soccer, contact the editor for your chance to do an interview ***********************
and once again the end of another great effort by all on the Pulse staff! Thank you for all your help in getting the Pulse out!
If you would like to donate to WPS click below to go to the front page and click on the Donate button:
http://washingtonpremiersoccer.com/
Thats it for this weeks Issue of the Pulse, hope you enjoy it...and as always never forget to...Play with Heart & Fire, Heart & Fire Always!
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TOPSoccer logo and pictures borrowed from the Washington Youth soccer website, along with Michelle Frenchs'.
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Topic: THE PULSE - #64 (Read 886 times)