A TOPSoccer Buddy is an invaluable volunteer

New this Spring 2024 Season, North Reading is very excited to be partnering with the Andover Soccer Association in offering TOPSoccer to the many surrounding towns that have been a part of this amazing program for more than 7 years!  

TOPSoccer Buddies are invaluable volunteers who participate directly with individual players or within a team with several players to enable participation in a soccer activity. The TOPSoccer buddy is not a player and does not score goals. They help the TOPSoccer player succeed and keep them as safe as possible. TOPSoccer Buddies can be the same age, younger or older, a teenager or an adult (we’re setting a minimum age of 12 for now, but can consider exceptions). They can be a soccer player, someone who works with children with special needs, or someone who has no soccer experience, but a strong desire to enable children to have fun. 

Whenever possible and appropriate, given the characteristics and limitations of given circumstances, we are committed to providing a buddy to each athlete.  We cannot always guarantee a specific buddy assignment, but do our best to have continuity. It is our goal to provide the opportunity for participation for each athlete, while ensuring the safety of all athletes, volunteers, parents and spectators.    

This is a unique opportunity to give back to your community in such a meaningful way. The kids you will be working with look up to their Buddies as mentors. We can promise you the experience will be rewarding and great friendships will be made. 

The role of the Buddy may include, but is not limited to:

• Enabling a player to participate/play
• Insuring the player's safety at all times
• Assist/Create/Direct/Guide/Teach in a FUN but learning environment 
• Role may vary widely depending upon needs of the player 
• Interacting with players, coaches, parents

In addition . . .

• Sessions run on Sundays in the Spring from 10:15am to 12:15 pm at Maguire Field in North Reading.  The first 30 minutes are reserved for getting checked in, helping with setup, discussion, etc.  The players arrive at 11AM. 

• Our Buddies are asked to commit to the program so we can adequately plan for our sessions. We're asking that a Buddy commit to at least 5 weeks out of the 7 we run the program. The kids also come to rely on you to be there and look forward to seeing you every week! 
  
  
• If it is not possible to commit to the 5 weeks that is okay too!  We always assign back up buddies for our players and have a floater pool each week that serves multiple on field roles.

• Buddies must come to TOPS sessions dressed appropriately so that they can actively participate on the soccer field. We recommend that they bring water as well.

• TOPSoccer Buddies understand that use of mobile phones on the soccer field is strictly prohibited.  Mobile phones are not allowed on a TOPSoccer Buddy’s person while on the soccer field.  We provide a place where you can store your phone safely while you are busy on the field.

• TOPSoccer Buddies understand that this is a fun but serious commitment.  If the program's Director/ Coach observes a TOPSoccer Buddy not fulfilling their responsibility, that Buddy may be dismissed from the TOPSoccer session and program.