This season, Republic FC and Special Olympics Northern California are again teaming up to celebrate inclusion on the pitch and offer a unique way for players with disabilities to compete. On April 14, the two organizations will host a free soccer clinic for players across the region and kick off the second season of the Republic FC Unified Team.
Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Republic FC’s Unified Team is open to players ages 18-38 and is led by the club’s Manager of Soccer Programming, Filip Handl – a longtime volunteer with Special Olympics Northern California.
“There’s nothing that says inclusion more than coming together on the soccer pitch, playing together, and having a common goal,” said Handl.
Following the clinic, Republic FC’s Unified Team will practice weekly leading up to a series of games against Unified Teams from other professional clubs. On June 1, Republic FC’s squad will host the San Jose Earthquakes Unified Team at Heart Health Park. Later in the summer, the club will take on the Unified Team from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Additional opportunities for Unified Team athletes to get on the pitch and engage with the club will be added throughout the year, including experiences with Republic FC players and coaches on the pitch.
Last year, Republic FC and Special Olympics Northern California fielded their first-ever Unified Team featuring 15 Special Olympics athletes and additional Unified Partner players. After weekly training sessions brought the players together, the squad played its inaugural match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Heart Health Park. Republic FC first team players frequently visited the club’s sessions to help the squad in training and were in attendance to cheer for the team from the sidelines at its first match.
Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Having sports in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away, especially when partners are all close in age. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team, inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
What: Republic FC Unified Team Free Soccer Clinic
When: April 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: American River College, 4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA 95841
Who: Special Olympics athletes and interested Unified Partner players ages 18-38
Register today: Click here
