EPIC Program

🌟 What is EPIC?

EPIC stands for Everyone Plays In our Community, and it’s part of AYSO’s mission to make soccer accessible and joyful for all players — including those with physical or developmental disabilities.

The AYSO EPIC Program provides extra support so that athletes with disabilities can participate in a safe, inclusive, and fun soccer experience. From wearing a team uniform and practicing with teammates, to playing and cheering together, EPIC is about more than soccer — it’s about belonging.

EPIC Buddies: Central to the program are the EPIC Buddies—volunteers who assist players during games and practices. These buddies help athletes learn soccer skills, build friendships, and boost self-esteem. They ensure that each player has a rewarding and enjoyable experience on the field.

How it works:
EPIC teams meet once a week on Saturdays for a short practice followed by a simulated game experience. The program runs for 10 weeks during the fall season.

📅 EPIC 2026 Schedule

Dates:
Saturdays: September 19 – November 21

Time:
10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Location:
The Pit at Clover Park
2600 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
(“The Pit” is the sunken field closest to the airport runways.)

What to bring:

  • Shin guards and cleats or athletic shoes
    (whatever your player is most comfortable in)
  • A water bottle
  • Sunscreen and a hat
  • Player’s EPIC jerseys will be handed out at the first practice

Paying the registration fee through Self-Determination
Several of our families have asked me about using regional center funding for the season and I’m happy to report at least one of our families has successfully used their Self-Determination Program budget to cover the AYSO registration fee. If you’d like to do the same, here are the steps that have worked:

  1. Ask your FMS whether they can make a one-time purchase on behalf of your child, and what documentation they need to proceed.
  2. Add the AYSO registration fee for a soccer season to your child’s spending plan.
  3. Send your FMS the AYSO documentation they request. In our families’ experience, they asked for AYSO’s signed W-9 and the IRS letter of affirmation. Both are available on the AYSO Finance Forms page: https://wiki.ayso.org/wiki/Finance_Forms
  4. Give your FMS instructions for logging in to your personal AYSO account so they can pay the registration fee directly. Make sure you’ve signed all the required registration forms beforehand so the only step left is payment.

EPIC Buddies: We’re still looking — please spread the word!

EPIC Buddies are the volunteers who pair up with our players on the field, and we could use more of them this season. If you know a sibling, cousin, neighbor, classmate, or friend who’d be a good fit, please pass this along. Interested? Register here: https://forms.gle/fp6fEJQSByk7FcRXA

Unless they are already currently registered AYSO athletes, buddies will need to complete an AYSO volunteer form, take a short safety course (for buddies 12 and older), and attend a training session upon arrival.

Ready to learn more or join the EPIC experience?
Email us at vip@ayso20.org

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