GALT, CA (MPG) - In Galt, something special happens on the soccer field: something that goes far beyond goals and game scores. The Top Soccer program is creating moments of pure joy and building bridges of inclusion, one kick at a time.

For families with differently-abled children, attending youth sports events often means watching from the sidelines in a different way, not as spectators cheering from the bleachers, but as hands-on helpers ensuring their child can participate. Top Soccer is changing that dynamic, giving parents the gift of simply being parents watching their kids play.

“This is a great opportunity for parents to sit and watch their kids,” said Kristin Krudop, who heads the program. “We’re helping with the needs of the special-needs kids. We have helpers for each kid. We have buddies for each kid who helps them along. The parents actually get to sit and watch the game.”

It’s a simple concept with profound impact: pair each differently-abled child with an able-bodied buddy who helps them navigate the game, and suddenly parents can experience what so many other families take for granted: the joy of watching their child play soccer without having to be on the field managing every moment.

Krudop, a teacher at Lodi High School who works with 9th through 12th graders on daily life skills, brings the program to life in Galt despite her commute. Her dedication stems from a career devoted to special education and a passion for inclusion.

“I used to teach at Reece Elementary, and then I taught here at River Oaks several years ago,” Krudop explained. “But I love this. I’ve done it for the past two years, but this year we really revamped it. We did some research and found out that we needed one buddy for each kiddo, which really helped. That’s building the inclusion and community, exposing both kids to working together.”

 

The buddy system is what has made the Top Soccer program so successful. 

The one-to-one buddy system has transformed the program. Each differently-abled player now has a dedicated partner: a volunteer who runs alongside them, encourages them, helps them understand the game and celebrates every small victory as if it were a championship-winning goal.

“I really love it, and we’ve got some great response,” Krudop said. “The kids all love it, and their buddies love it. The buddies absolutely love it, and they look forward to it.”

For Alvin Jones Pickettay, whose daughter has autism, the program represents something invaluable: a chance for his daughter to be part of a team and a community in a way that honors her abilities rather than highlighting her challenges.

“Being that my daughter has autism, it was important to build community,” Jones Pickettay said. “Not just community: to build and work on development, inclusiveness, sportsmanship, working as a team.”

The impact has been undeniable. His daughter doesn’t just tolerate the program; she eagerly anticipates it.

“She looks forward to doing this,” he said with evident pride. “We can’t get through the week without her trying to go in the backyard practicing. So she looks forward to doing this.”

 

A giant target is set up to help teach the players how to throw the ball from the sidelines.

That excitement – a child counting down the days until soccer practice, begging to practice in the backyard, feeling the same enthusiasm that typically-developing children feel about their favorite activities – is exactly what Top Soccer aims to create.

The program’s success has created a wonderful challenge: It needs as many volunteers as it has players. Each child deserves their own buddy, their own champion on the field, and Krudop is constantly seeking community members willing to give their time.

The volunteer buddies gain as much as they give. They learn patience, empathy and the pure joy of celebrating achievements that might seem small to outsiders but represent monumental victories for the children they’re helping. They discover that inclusion isn’t just good for those being included; it enriches everyone involved.

On the soccer field in Galt, something beautiful is happening. Children who might otherwise be isolated are running, laughing and playing alongside peers. Parents who might spend every moment of their day in caregiver mode get to simply be parents watching their kids have fun. Volunteer buddies are learning life lessons about compassion and community that no classroom could teach.

The scoreboard doesn’t matter here. Every child who steps onto that field is a winner, every parent in the stands is getting to experience a precious gift, and every volunteer buddy is making a difference that will ripple far beyond the final whistle.

Because at the end of the day, every child deserves the chance to play, every parent deserves the chance to watch and cheer, and every community is stronger when everyone belongs.

 

 

Part of practice involves obstacle courses for the players to gain skills.