EPIC (formerly VIP) Home Page
Overview
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) EPIC (formerly VIP) program provides a quality soccer experience for individuals whose differences or challenges prevent them from successful participation on mainstream teams.
Our Redwood City EPIC program welcomes every child regardless of where they live or the complexity or nature of their challenges, physical, sensory, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, or any combination. If you think your child, age four or above, might like to be outside playing ball, would benefit from spending time with peers, would like to build a friendship with a high school "buddy," then we encourage you to join us!
Our focus is on participation and fun! EPIC stands for Everyone Plays In our Community. Our EPIC coaches are flexible and positive, finding a way for all our EPIC athletes to participate as fully as they are able. If you thought your son or daughter could not play soccer, think again! With EPIC soccer, dreams become realities.
Through participation in EPIC soccer, everyone gets to experience the thrill of belonging to a team, wearing uniforms, and making new friends. Our EPIC athletes learn new skills and develop physical fitness while enjoying the game of soccer.
Each week our EPIC athletes are paired with a "buddy" - a high school aged volunteer - to assist them on the field. The athletes get to interact with a big kid, the "buddies" get a chance to learn just how typical and capable kids with differences are, and parents get to relax, step back and watch their child do things they might not have thought possible.
Participation requires that players be born before December 31, 2020.
Game times
For Fall 2024, games will be played at Red Morton Park on Bechet Field - West (the field closest to the Magical Bridge playground) on Saturdays from 9:45 to 10:45 am from September 7 to November 9.
Volunteering
AYSO is an ALL VOLUNTEER organization. Volunteers are needed as coaches, referees, and "buddies". For Fall 2023, the time commitment is from 9:30 until 11:00 on Saturdays from September 7 until November 9 at Red Morton Park (Bechet Field West) in Redwood City.
No soccer experience is needed, and training is provided. Please consider participating in this very rewarding program.
A buddy is paired with each player to to assist them on the field, as needed. If you are a high school age student (or older) and would like to be a "buddy," please contact the EPIC Division Directors listed above.