Brett Ferrell (r) plays catch with Sara Kamber, a Behrend student who works in the Athletics sports information office.

Damien Coughlin (r) is taught the finer points of soccer by Behrend student Rob Milani.

Emma Perritano (l) works out with Behrend student Kara Struski.

Logan Burrows (r) interacts with his TOPS buddy, Brent Gailey.

When Dan Perritano first found out about TOPS (The Outreach Program for Soccer) back in 2000, he thought it would be a great activity for his daughter, Emma. As head men's soccer coach at Penn State Behrend, Perritano had the resources, like the brand-new Junker Athletics Center, to put together a program for children with disabilities who, like Emma, were in need of recreational activities. With the help of Patrick O' Driscoll, head women's soccer coach, Perritano was able to put together a solid program for twelve participants that first year.

Five years later TOPS has grown to 42 participants with 45 volunteers. There's even a waiting list. Designed and administered by U.S. Youth Soccer, the national program "provides meaningful learning, development, and physical participation opportunities" to young athletes with special needs. The program pairs one child with one college student, who becomes his or her "buddy" for the course of the eight-week program, which begins after spring break in March and runs to the end of the semester.

The TOPS program at Behrend fills a need for such programming in the Erie area, a need Perritano recognized because of his daughter. "With our daughter I started paying more attention to opportunities for children with special needs. Having a special needs child opened my eyes to the great need in Erie for recreational opportunities for children with disabilities." Children ages three to young adult with a wide range of disabilities can participate.

It's called The Outreach Program for Soccer, but Perritano emphasized that what's important is fostering a relationship between buddy and child. "We try to be really open-ended with the volunteers, with the activities they organize. I think soccer gets the kids in the door. But we really want the kids to develop a relationship with the volunteers. The most important part of the program is that we match one college student up with one child."

The benefits of this kind of close, one-on-one attention is enormous, for both student and child. Kacie Burns, a Behrend general arts and science major in her junior year, marked her third year volunteering in the TOPS program. "This is something we do for the community," she said. "It's nice to feel like you can actually help a child have fun and learn a little bit while they're here." The program is a good opportunity for Behrend athletes to make an impact beyond the Behrend community. Volunteers include players from a variety of sports, including soccer, women's basketball, and volleyball, as well as non-athletes.

Kim Coughlin, whose son Damien is one of the children who takes part in the program, speaks highly of Rob Milani, the Behrend student partnered with Damien. "Rob is absolutely fabulous," Coughlin said. "He's just taken Damien under his wing and flown with him."

As the number of volunteers and participants has expanded, so have the activities the program offers. This year's programming included a karate demonstration and pizza party as well as soccer exercises and games. For the parents, an attorney offered a seminar on special needs trusts. Participation trophies for each child were donated by the PA West Soccer Association, and every child also received a soccer ball and t-shirt. Thanks to generous donations from the Sertoma Club of Erie and the Kiwanis Club, the program is free of charge.

What does Perritano envision for the future of TOPS at Behrend? "We'd like to have more children and more seminars for parents," he said. "Eventually what I'd like to do, and this is the dream, is to have some type of special needs summer camp here, since we are fortunate to have such great facilities. But there are a lot of things to consider before that is possible."

For more information regarding the TOPS program, contact Dan Perritano at 814-898-6296.