The emphasis of our program is on development, training, and meaningful participation rather than on competition.
Chicago SuperStars brings the U.S. Youth Soccer program TOPSoccer to the city of Chicago. TOPSoccer is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any players who have a mental or physical disability including (but not limited to) ADHD, Asperger's, Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy. A team coach, occupational therapist and able bodied youth volunteers create the appropriate games and drills and together keep everyone involved. The program will be adapted to include all skill levels.
TOPSOCCER is the outreach program of the US Youth Soccer organization.
fall 2020
We will not be holding a Fall 2020 session. Please check back soon for updates!
Licensed Occupational Therapists have skills that help people across all ages be more independent in their daily activities. OTs enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability, by implementation of therapy programs or modifications to their daily routines. In short, OTs work with all ages, in all settings (schools, hospitals, work place, etc..), to help promote independence.
So how do these skills come into play during…
Chicago Superstars is not a team focused on competition. We do not play other teams and/or worry about the end score of a scrimmage. We do focus on fun, meaningful participation. How do we do this? We let kids pick what warm up stretch they want to do, they get a choice. We give kids a chance to actually be the coach, having he or she come up with an obstacle course and direct their teammates. We let the child decide when he or she need a break, encouraging them to communicate their needs to us...
What’s up with the all the buddies? Chicago Superstars pairs each child up with an older peer. There are several reasons for doing so.
Most children are nervous when joining a new group, especially if they don’t have a friend going with them. To help ease the anxiety, we buddy up! What little one doesn’t love the attention of an older child? As soon as a new child joins Chicago Superstars they have an instant friend that stays by their side to walk them through the ropes...
Every child wants to belong to teams. However, sometimes belonging doesn’t come easy if you are working with a disability. What if the child can’t understand directions? What if he/she tires easily? What if that child loves sports but can’t keep up with his/her peers?
Even non-disabled peers want to have skills that mirror their peers. Being on a basketball team isn’t much fun if only the superstars get all the court time. At a very young age, children start to compare their abilities to others...