Volunteer Opportunity – Be a PAL VIP Buddy This Fall!

Andy Green • July 31, 2025

Volunteer Opportunity – Be a PAL VIP Buddy This Fall!

We’re reaching out to ask for your support in making this fall’s PAL VIP Soccer Program a success! We’re looking for middle school and high school players to volunteer as VIP Buddies and help make a difference for disabled athletes in our community.

Program Details:

Who:
 Middle School & High School players

What: Serve as a VIP Buddy (coaching, assisting, and encouraging athletes)

Where: Niceville Recreation Complex

When: Saturdays, September 6 – October 25, from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Why Volunteer?

Earn Bright Futures & college application volunteer hours.
Gain valuable leadership and coaching experience.
Support local disabled athletes and give back to the community.
Grow as a person while having a lot of fun!

Flexible Commitment:

This is an 8-week league, but buddies can help as their schedule allows.

If you have EC Rush games/events, you can still participate—just help for 1-2 hours before leaving.

Buddies can easily accumulate 30-40 volunteer hours in a season!

How to Sign Up:

If interested, please register as a Volunteer Buddy at:
https://sports.bluesombrero.com/nicevillepalsoccer

Important Note: If your player has an old PAL player account, they cannot use it to register—they must create a new "adult" account with their own email address.

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to me at u9academy.fcdec@gmail.com.

By Louis Richard June 20, 2025
Coastal Clash! Coastal Rush Families, Our June Interclub Playdate Happens tomorrow. This event is for 2014s - 2019s ages. Being held at Ashton Brosnaham, it is the perfect opportunity to play and then walk over to the stadium for Pensacola 1559’s double header games. Both games are free for all players! Please fill out the form below so we can mark you down and then we will look forward to seeing you soon! Spots are filling up fast, and registration closes today at 1pm. Spots are filling up fast, and registration closes today at 1pm.
By Emerald Coast Rush June 11, 2025
Summer Series now posted!
By Emerald Coast Rush June 11, 2025
Summer YDP Sessions now posted! 
By Emerald Coast Rush May 15, 2025
The 2025/26 coaching announcements are now posted! See below for our coaching deck!
By Emerald Coast Rush April 17, 2025
Volunteer for EC Rush's First TOPSoccer Event!
By Emerald Coast Rush April 1, 2025
2025-26 Tryout Information
By Emerald Coast Rush March 3, 2025
The Florida Soccer School Spring Break Soccer Camp
By Caitlin Hairston February 13, 2025
STARS Update & Press Release
By Emerald Coast Rush January 7, 2025
The Fourth Annual TOPSoccer Festival, hosted in partnership with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, brought joy, excitement, and community to athletes of all abilities. This year’s event, held at the Rowdies Training Facility, marked a significant milestone with participants, coaches, and volunteers coming together to celebrate the spirit of inclusion through the beautiful game. TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based program designed to provide opportunities for athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. The annual festival has become a cornerstone event, showcasing how the power of soccer can bring people together and create unforgettable experiences. A Special Year for TOPSoccer TOPSoccer State Chairperson, Jenn DiTillio, reflected on the event’s success, sharing, “This year’s TOPSoccer Festival was something really special. Coaches from all over the state came together to make it an unforgettable experience. We added some fun new stations, and I’m thrilled to share that half of the attendees were experiencing TOPSoccer for the very first time! A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped out – your support made all the difference, and we couldn’t have done it without you!” The festival featured a variety of interactive stations, skill challenges, and small-sided games designed to engage athletes in a supportive and inclusive environment. New stations introduced this year brought added excitement and creativity, allowing participants to explore different aspects of the game while having fun. Building Community, Changing Lives One of the festival’s most remarkable highlights was its ability to welcome first-time participants. For many families, this was their first opportunity to experience the camaraderie and joy that TOPSoccer offers. The festival not only gave young athletes a chance to play but also helped parents and caregivers connect with the wider soccer community. Coaches and volunteers traveled from all over Florida to make the day a success. Their dedication to creating an inclusive environment ensured every participant felt encouraged and celebrated. From warm-up drills to goal celebrations, smiles were in abundance as athletes bonded over their shared love for the game. Emerald Coast Rush Staff Coach Loco and Coach Devin were in invited down to attend. " Even though we are not TOPSoccer coaches, we are FYSA carded coaches for EC Rush and we coach disabled children for VIP, so the FYSA committee invited us down. It was a great experience, we learned a lot and we also shared some of the great things that the VIP program has done" Said Coach Loco.
By Emerald Coast Rush December 5, 2024
Coach Zach Probst Obtains C License