If you walked by Hooker Fields on Sunday, March 24, you may have seen a giant game of Hungry Hungry Hippos. No, not the Hasbro game — this iteration involves soccer, with balls kicked in every direction as players run to make their goal.
On March 24, UNC held its inaugural training session for TOPSoccer, a nationwide program designed to offer individuals with mental or physical disabilities the opportunity to play and learn about soccer.
Sophomore co-presidents Brenna Haynes and Lily Steinhilber have been working to launch the new program since last September. By partnering with the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association, the duo helped organize the first ever student-run TOPSoccer program through a university.
The program features an hour of practice on Sundays, starting with kicking around a soccer ball and stretching in a large circle. After the warmup, the practice continues with games like Hungry Hippos; red light, green light; scrimmages and more. Each player receives a buddy: a volunteer who keeps them engaged in the activities.
After talking to Haynes and Steinhilber, UNC sophomore Riley Page wanted to become a buddy.
“They were talking about how it was an amazing program for young adults and the youth in people’s communities, and how they’re able to provide a safe and fun environment for kids with special needs and special capabilities to play soccer and have fun," Page said.
Page — currently the program's social media chair — grew up playing the sport, but she also had a deeper connection to TOPSoccer.
“My cousin also has autism, so I kind of in the back of my mind was like, I wish she had a program like this for her to get involved in," she said. "It's just a great thing."
Haynes remembers the practices being relaxed, with a large turnout of parents and kids.
