Adaptive Soccer Member Strategy

The Adaptive Soccer Member Strategy defines the programs, services, and initiatives that specifically serve participants with disabilities and Member Organizations who serve participants with disabilities. 

SSA is a participant-centred, membership-based organization that respects that all participants and organizations should have choices in how they participate and achieve their goals in soccer, and welcomes all participants who want to achieve their goals in soccer in Saskatchewan, regardless of body type, physical characteristics, athletic ability, age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sex, and sexual orientation. This language is reflected in policy within the Member Rights and Responsibilities Policy and the Code of Conduct and Ethics.

SSA recognizes that people with disabilities are people first, before their disability, and that their identities are not solely tied to their abilities or disabilities. Person first language puts the person before the disability, and describes what a person has, not who a person is. SSA strives to use person first language in its daily language and when interacting with others.

SSA acknowledges diverse family and relational representations by utilizing parents, guardians, and caregivers within its policy and documents.

SSA is proud to be formal partners of Special Olympics Saskatchewan (SOS). As part of this formal partnership, SSA recognizes and supports SOS soccer as SSA members, encourages local SSA Member Organizations to reduce costs associated with participation and support SOS partnership initiatives through MAP Grant funding, supports SOS to assist in reducing financial barriers to participation, and encourages the expansion of Special Olympics soccer programming with its local SSA Member Organizations.

SSA is proud to offer the Special Olympics Provincial Championships during the indoor soccer season.

Our website includes a resource page that describes soccer's different adaptations for participants with different types of disabilities.

In 2018, SSA released A Guide to Inclusive Soccer: Offering Soccer to Athletes of All Abilities, a guide for parents, guardians, caregivers or supporters of a participant with a disability, coaches who have athletes with disabilities on their team, and Member Organizations who are looking to welcome athletes with disabilities onto their teams or into their organizations. The guide provides useful strategies, knowledge, and tools to get athletes of all ability levels involved in soccer and having the best possible playing experiences.

Saskatchewan Soccer is proud to promote Canada's para soccer team by sharing its news on our social media channels and circulating information about identification opportunities. Canada's para soccer team is made up of athletes who have cerebral palsy or have had a stroke or brain injury.

The MAP Grant provides Member Organizations with significant funding opportunities to grow adaptive soccer and futsal programming for athletes with disabilities.

Thanks to the support of the Sask Sport Adaptive Equipment Grant, Saskatchewan Soccer has a variety of adaptive equipment available that can be loaned to Member Organizations and entities. The equipment includes sensory balls (heavier soccer balls for athletes with sensory processing challenges), ringing balls, blindfolds, and textured floor tape (for athletes who are blind or have visual impairments), and soccer guards for wheelchairs (metal and hard plastic), large balls, and goal posts (for athletes who use wheelchairs). Member Organizations may loan equipment to trial programming or find the best fit of equipment for athletes.

Thanks to the support of the Sask Sport Adaptive Sport Club Development Grant, Saskatchewan Soccer will be offering adaptive soccer coach training in September during Thanks Coach Week. Stay tuned for more information.

Saskatchewan Soccer supports Member Organizations who are interested to develop adaptive programming by doing research, sharing resources, and connecting MOs to others who may be of support.

Adaptive Soccer Promotional Video

The Launching an Adaptive Soccer Program webinar shares information to be considered when building an adaptive soccer program. Thank you to Matt Greenwood, Executive Director of Pickering Soccer Club and Tyler Hillstead, Technical Director of Grassroots and All Abilities Programs, Weyburn Soccer, for sharing your knowledge.