Game_ON_Soccer - CP Soccer camp NYC 2019
In Collaboration with Columbia University & New York Red Bulls
In July 2019, CP Soccer collaborated with Columbia University’s Programs in Occupational Therapy’s GAME_ON_Sports to to develop a soccer specific camp program in a community setting. Our aim is to uncover the physical and emotional benefits of soccer for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
CP Soccer and the Columbia University’s Programs in Occupational Therapy, share a vision to develop adaptive team sports programs in the community that are responsive to needs of youths affected by the cerebral palsy/stroke/TBI. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and a cross-cultural professional sport for this population. We use soccer as the way to engage children and adolescents in meaningful physical activity and socialization. Our goal is to understand factors that affect participation, and with input from the CP Soccer community, develop a camp program that is adaptable to their needs.
For this camp, CP Soccer and Columbia University collaborated to develop the GAME_ON_Soccer day camp that utilized principles and outcomes from GAME_ON_Sports to teach soccer skills in youths with CP. The project measured functional mobility, fitness, and social engagement of these youths, before and after the soccer camp. CP Soccer and Columbia University worked closely with New York Red Bulls to develop and deliver tailored and targeted coaching for the project. New York Red Bulls donated the coaching hours, and the camp could not have happened without their unwavering support and commitment to educating to youth soccer communities in New York.
Children and adolescents with diverse physical abilities resulting from CP often disengage from sports and physical activity as they grow up. Many enter mainstream sports in younger ages but increasing efforts, expectations, and competition make participation in sports more difficult. This can affect the youth’s confidence in their motor and athletic abilities, and some may limit their participation or quit sports and physical activity altogether. As they develop, lack of physical activity can lead to a cycle of de-conditioning that may further impact their physical health and functional abilities.
Our Aims
The GAME_ON_Soccer camp aims for its participants to discover how engaging in a team sport can improve their motor skills, strength, endurance and physical health, and help them become more effective and efficient athletes. Equally important, is social engagement and interaction with their peers, and the sense of confidence in their abilities and skills. Our goal is to have children and adolescents feel a sense of achievement and be motivated to continue soccer and sports, and social interactions after the camp. A key aim of this long term iterative project for children and adolescents to translate what they've learnt and experienced into their everyday lives and continue to improve their physical skills, their confidence and their quality of life.
Outcomes
Balance, coordination, and walking quality
Fitness
Social engagement
Physical activity
Overall quality of life for children, adolescents and their families
About GAME_ON
GAME_ON_Sports is a method for developing adaptive sports programs that was initiated by Dr. Katherine Dimitropoulou (PI) in collaboration with Dr. Heakyung Kim (co-PI) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) in 2017 to support children and adolescents with cerebral palsy to participate in sports. The program utilizes principles and outcomes of motor learning, adaptive decision making, and fitness to develop exercises, sports drills and games, and to engage youths with CP in active participation in sports.
Check out the highlights of our NYC Camp 2021 here.
For more details please contact:
Jacqueline Chen
Executive Director, Cerebral Palsy Soccer, Inc nyc@cpsoccer.us
Katherine Dimitropoulou Ph.D., OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Programs, Columbia University
Advisory Board Member, Cerebral Palsy Soccer, Inc kd2524@cumc.columbia.edu