Ridge Student Develops Soccer Program for Special Kids

When looking for an activity or project for a "Gold Award", the Girl Scout version of the "Eagle Scout" in Boy Scouts, Allison Pine needed to find a project that she was passionate to show her leadership skills and commitment to the community.

Pine said loves soccer and has played for many years and is now playing at Ridge High School. She also had a genuine concern for children with special needs. 

The result was a program that brought children together with soccer instructors, assisted by "shadow" aides to play soccer.  The "shadows" are students from St. James Roman Catholic Church in Basking Ridge as well as Ridge and Bernards High schools.

Pine said she had contacted representatives for N.J. Soccer Centers, Somerset, a training facility with an indoor soccer fields, and pitched the idea. They were very interested in the program and offered their support. 

Pine's efforts including coordination of the student aides or "shadows," Somerset County Park Commission, the facility and the children and their families.  The result was an eight-week program that included 12 children from the ages of 4-10. 

Somerset County Park Commission program coordinator Gwen Luvener has been part of the project assisting the Soccer Centers and Pine. Luvener works in therapeutic recreation and worked with the soccer instructors with developing the activities and giving them insight into working with special needs children. "The coaches and the aides have taken to the project like bees to honey," said Luvener." She added, "The participants have made friends and have shown amazing growth through the program." 

One of the parents, Laurie Lupo, said she was very happy with the program. "This is a phenomenal program. Allison did such a great job, she is one of a kind. Having a space for them to run around, to not have it outdoors and have a structured program is terrific. Unfortunately, it is going to end in a couple of weeks."