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Signups will begin soon for the second season of Hollister’s Special Needs soccer program, which gives kids who can’t join typical sports more options to stay active and social, according to organizer Courtney Lopez.
“It helps build them up as they’re growing,” she said. “They get to feel like any other kid. They don’t have to be the kid in the special class or have something modified specifically for them.”
Lopez, who said she hasn’t narrowed down dates for the season, said the program began in late 2024, when local parents of children with special needs joined a Zoom meeting to discuss creating a sports program by partnering with existing recreation teams, following the example of the Little League Challengers program.
“I got looped because I have a special needs daughter,” she said, “and she wanted to play soccer. She has cerebral palsy, so she uses a walker and can’t join the standard recreation team. And there’s not a lot of other disabled or special needs sports programs.”
After the parents put together a plan, they reached out to the Hollister Tremors for assistance and scheduled a trial game for November. Afterwards, the parents discussed what did and didn’t work, decided what kind of equipment was needed and came up with a structure for the program.
“We wanted to at least get something going to keep them busy,” Lopez said. “The parents were looking for something their kid could participate in, even if they’re not at the same level as a neurotypical child.”
The first season began in mid-April last year and lasted eight weeks. There were 20 players, and each set their own level of participation, Lopez said.
“We tried to make it work for everyone,” she said. “Nobody had to play in a game, but we could teach them how to dribble, pass, or kick—whatever they might be interested in to keep them active and involved.”
Those who were not feeling up to the pressure of playing with the rest of the kids, or who were limited by being sensory-challenged, still had the chance to stay active by kicking a ball into a net on their own or by standing and watching the other players.
“It went really well,” Lopez said. “Even kids with autism or sensory issues need somewhere to go and just have fun and feel like part of the team.”
Mark Maritinez said his 11-year-old son, Isaiah, participated in the games last year and enjoyed the interaction and involvement. And Isaiah is definitely looking forward to the next season.
“He has not stopped talking about it since,” Martinez said. “With my son’s special needs, I couldn’t really find a sport for him that had other children with special needs where he could feel he fit in.”
Martinez said the team gave Isaiah a chance for “normalcy” that he had not gotten in other sports he tried.
“Because of his learning disabilities,” he said, “Isaiah doesn’t catch on to everything quickly. And children in his age group are not too welcoming. I noticed it in his demeanor and his self-being: he loves being involved in these games.”
Isaiah said he loved kicking the ball and enjoyed the other kids trying to take it from him.
“It feels good to be out on the field playing with everybody,” he said. “The grass is good, and I kicked the ball, and then I made a goal. I think more people should play soccer because they will have fun.”
Mike Lango attended the games last year with his daughter Lucy, 9, as one way to help keep her “as active as possible.” He said Lucy took to soccer immediately and even served as a goalie for a while. He said the experience of playing made the kids “feel tremendous” and included.
“It’s not very common,” he said, “for kids with special needs to get access to some type of competition and reward for their efforts. And the smiles on their faces are just absolutely priceless when they are out there.”
Lopez said that the feeling of accomplishment and inclusion is the team’s most important goal.
People with special needs often feel ‘othered,’” Lopez said. “People treat them differently, and it is good to help them feel like they’re not categorized or pushed aside. With the team, they’re just normal people having a normal day.”
For more information on signups and dates, contact Courtney Lopez via email at courtney.m.lopez1@gmail.com.
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