SHERIDAN — The five players stood in a circle and warmed up by passing a soccer ball to each other with the kicker calling the intended recipient’s name. Sometimes the ball careened past the player and they jogged to retrieve it or track down another rogue ball in the fairgrounds’ Exhibit Hall Monday evening. Later, the soccer players corralled cross-field passes and dribbled past defenders en route to scoring a goal and celebrating appropriately.

Though US Youth Soccer’s The Outreach Program for Soccer specifically supports young athletes with mental and/or physical disabilities, Sheridan County’s TOP Soccer practices held Monday evenings look much like any youth soccer program’s practice. Such was the goal when Big Horn High School freshman Emma Prior and her father Chris founded Sheridan’s organization last year and began practices this March. 

“I just love seeing the smiles,” Emma said. “They’re always so happy. I love soccer, and I love seeing these kids smiling and growing their love for the sport and being able to fall in love with the sport, a chance they might not have gotten any other way.”

Read more.

About The Sheridan Press
The Sheridan Press has served Sheridan County, Wyoming, since 1887. The award-winning independent newspaper is dedicated to informing and engaging the community by creating, producing and distributing exceptional content and trusted journalism. Online rates start at just $1.50 per week; to subscribe to The Sheridan Press, click here.