By M. English
Correspondent

Joe Hunter’s soccer priorities have nothing to do with David Beckham’s ongoing woes with the Los Angeles Galaxy or Federation Internationale de Football Association President Joe Blatter’s visit to the White House.

At the moment, Hunter’s attention is focused on Plymouth Soccer Club’s new TOPSoccer program for physically and mentally challenged 5- to 18-year-olds. In fact, the PSC president declares, “I’m willing to suit up somebody and put them out on the field, even if they only come out for the last game of the season.

“Our goal is to get people involved in this,” Hunter says. “I want people to feel welcome. There aren’t any geographic boundaries, either. People don’t have to live in Plymouth Township to join. We’ll be playing in the outfield of the softball field at Plymouth Community Center — that upper field near Germantown Pike and Walton Road, next to where Villanova plays — so everything is one level with parking and bathrooms right there.”

PSC has scheduled a full season of TOPSoccer, which was created by the U.S. Youth Soccer organization as “a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers” — as part of the local club’s regular 2009 calendar, and Hunter plans to start the action right after Labor Day.

“At the moment, we have four players signed up, but even if we only had one, we’d spend an hour every weekend — we’re still working out whether we’ll play on Saturdays or Sundays — working with that one person,” he says. “Ten to 20 players would be ideal, but we’ll make it work regardless.

“A big part of this is, TOPSoccer takes a completely flexible approach. At first, we’ll talk a little bit about the equipment, a little bit about how the game works, but our main goal is to get these kids involved and make sure they have a good time.

“The number one rule is, there aren’t any rules. If a player wants or needs to throw the ball with their hands, that’s fine. We’ll let the kids get used to the equipment and the field, and then gradually add athletes from our regular program into the mix as volunteers. We already have volunteers lined up to help out. Eventually, the kids could play other special needs teams from other places. But the whole thing is small steps. Baby steps.”

TOPSoccer excludes no one, according to Hunter.

“We won’t turn anybody away,” he says. “Boys and girls with [multiple sclerosis], kids who are blind, with hearing problems, people in wheelchairs … who need walkers or arm braces … any kind of physical and mental challenges. If someone has Down syndrome, the USYS requires them to have an X-ray done for some aspect of their condition — I’m not sure what exactly — and it has to be negative. But even there, if someone has a positive x-ray, we’ll just involve them in the coaching aspect of the game.”

The Plymouth Meeting man began exploring the possibility of adding TOPSoccer to PSC’s 1,500-member youth and adult program after meeting the “mildly retarded” sister of one veteran player.

“I invited her to sit on the bench with us, and at the end of the game I asked her if she liked watching her brother,” he recalls. “She said, ‘Yes, but I wish I could play.’ That was three years ago, and truth be told, I’ve been asking around and looking into this ever since. When I became [PSC] president last year, I brought up the idea, and people were on board, but the season had already started so it was too late to do anything ’til this year.”

Hunter, a safety director for Berlin Steel, realizes some parents may be concerned about their children’s well-being on the soccer field.

“I understand that people might have their reservations,” he says. “What if my child falls down or gets hit by a ball? Yes, of course there’s a chance that’ll happen, but keep in mind they’ll be playing with kids at the same ability level. That’s how TOPS works. So, the risk of injury is minimal.

“I get that, though. My wife and I have been married 26 years, and it took us 10 long years to have our son. He’s 14 now, and he’s an excellent soccer player. Still, do I worry about him? Sure. But I realize our kids are individuals who have their own lives to lead, and we parents have to let them live those lives.

“I do promise people, we’ll have open communication and accessibility with all the parents and all the players, all the time. And, remember, we’ll have many volunteers involved in this, from eighth-graders to adults. My latest volunteer is a young woman who’s been a referee for 18 years and wants to help out.”

In the end, Hunter says, TOPSoccer is about a lot more than propelling balls into goals.

“The social aspect is a key thing in this,” he says. “You’re opening up the doorway to something new. New friends. Interaction with athletes from other teams in the club. New experiences. It broadens their social horizons in every way. Physically, they’ll be using muscles they’ve, maybe, never used before. Getting to feel more comfortable in a new situation — all of this — carries over into their everyday lives.

“This kind of program is long, long overdue here.”

PSC, an independent nonprofit organization, already has a sponsor to cover equipment costs for its TOPSoccer program but welcomes inquiries about sponsoring shirt costs. More information for prospective sponsors, players or volunteers is posted at www.plymouthsoccer.org. Additional details about TOPSoccer are available at www.usyouthsoccer.org.