MULLICA HILL, N.J. — If you build it, they will come. This has never been more true than the inclusive, adaptive programs offered by TOPSports.

Head to William Wilt Soccer Complex on a Saturday morning in the early fall and you’ll see this in action — a collection of kids and teens of all ages and abilities dancing, laughing, playing, and kicking around a soccer ball. In the middle of this ‘party,’ you’ll find an enthusiastic man giving fist bumps, sharing encouraging words and inspirational quotes, and making everyone smile. This is Troy Memis. And this is TOPSoccer.

TOPSoccer is one of four adaptive sport programs offered by the local non-profit, TOPSports. This September marked the 10th year of that inaugural program. And, it all started with a dad just wanting to find an opportunity for his little boy to play soccer.

Troy and his wife Michele have four children —  their youngest, JT, was born with Down Syndrome. JT has a love for people, life, and sports. As a young child, JT wanted to play soccer with Harrison Township’s youth program so Troy volunteered as the coach, just as he had for all his other children. By age 6, Troy realized his son was no longer competitive on his team. “His first goal was in his own net. He was very proud. He didn’t understand what he did, he was just happy. I was a little embarrassed for him,” Troy says. “Then, I heard clapping. I turned around and saw both teams cheering for him. That’s when I knew I was in a really good community.”

Troy realized that to keep JT involved with soccer, he’d have to find something better suited to his son’s unique needs. After some thought and research, Troy approached the Harrison Soccer Club board with some ideas about starting an adaptive sports program for kids for kids like JT. The Board was very open to it, and encouraged him to create one. “I said, Oh, I’m not that guy,” Troy laughs. “Then, after a year went by of JT not having any team sport outlets available for him, I realized I had to be that guy.”

During his research, Troy discovered the US Youth Soccer’s TOPSoccer program and decided to emulate that. “I was told by them to expect about three to five kids the first year, with a small but steady growth each year, topping out at about 25.” But, Troy was confidently anticipating about 30 athletes right off the bat.

He went back to the Harrison Township Soccer Club, gave them his projected numbers, and told them what he’d need to get started. This included the construction of a paved area in front of the playgrounds at William Wilt. Graham Hollywood was a huge support as was Eric Stanwood. Eric ended up becoming the TOPSports first Board President.

The program didn’t just need athletes, however. Its success was reliant on peer volunteers to provide as close to a 1:1 ratio as possible. Troy credits his daughter Kayla for this. “She was instrumental with getting all the buddies. She went out and recruited students from Clearview. Most of the buddies the first year were her friends and their friends,” he says.

The Buddy-Athlete relationship is really the key to the program’s success. “That was the byproduct that I wasn’t ready for but it’s paramount in the program,” says Troy. “This gives the athletes a friend and lots of them don’t have a friend.”

Their first season of TOPSoccer started with 28 athletes and ended with 35. “After the first season, parents were so happy and asked ‘What are you doing in the spring?’” From there, TOPSports was born.

TOPSports (The Outreach Program for Sports) is a 501c(3) nonprofit whose mission is to foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth of its participants, including coaches, volunteer buddies, and athletes across South Jersey. In the fall, they offer soccer and a new cheerleading program, in the spring its baseball, and the winter is basketball. Ten years and 30 sessions later, TOPSports has approximately 85 participating athletes and 80 volunteer buddies.

Most athletes come from the local school district. The program accepts athletes between the ages of 4 and 18 and can work with a full spectrum of special needs, from visual impairments to wheelchair reliant to the Autism Spectrum.

All TOPSports programs are completely free for families. The cost for insurance, uniforms, training, specialized equipment, etc. is paid for through the program’s fundraising efforts. Their largest fundraiser is their annual Social — a fun event complete with raffle baskets, music, and food. This year, it will be an extra special (and extra fancy) as it will also celebrate TOPSport’s 10th Anniversary!

With a decade of success, TOPSports plans to continue providing opportunities for inclusion and inclusive friendship for children and teens in the South Jersey area. The organization has positively impacted hundreds of lives. It’s greatest impact, however, has been fostering a more accepting and inclusive community. Friendships that are made on the field spill over into the schools and greater community. Every high five in the school’s hallway and invitation to sit at a lunch table creates a ripple.  For Troy, those ripples mean everything.

Troy is greatly appreciative of the TOPSports Board, Harrison Township Soccer Club, and all the volunteers and supporters throughout the years — in particular, Eric Stanwood, Graham Hollywood, and most of all, his family. “The hardest worker is my wife,” he says. “The heart of my daughter, my wife, and the buddies has made this program the success it is today.”

With JT turning 18 this year, Troy hopes to start a Special Unified Olympics program. He’s also looking ahead to plan for the future of TOPSports as he approaches retirement in the near future. “It’s time to prepare for the next chapter,” he says. “I want to find buddies that are mature enough to get on our Board now. We’re preparing to pass that torch.”

Until then, you can find Troy, Michele, and JT on the turf, the court, or the diamond, surrounded by friends who have become like family. Creating ripples that extend farther than they ever imagined.

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