Fair Lawn to Launch Special Needs Soccer Program

Fair Lawn All-Sports will collaborate with the Saddle Brook Soccer Association this fall to offer a new soccer program for children with special needs.

The program, which will be open to all Fair Lawn and Saddle Brook children with special needs, ages 5 to 16, is intended to promote an active lifestyle and provide an opportunity for special needs kids to engage in athletics in a safe, organized and non-competitive environment.

Program discussions started when Saddle Brook's recreation director Lou Verile contacted  about the possibility of starting a joint soccer league that would draw children from both communities. 

Pettineo, who knew Verile from his involvement with Saddle Brook's Challenger Baseball program, reached out to All-Sports president Jeff Mazzola about the idea and a meeting of the minds was scheduled.

Following the meeting, Mazzola pitched the idea to All-Sports to see if the association would be willing to offer support and field time for the program.

"Everyone agreed this was a great idea," Pettineo said. "We even have people who are willing to coach and help out."

The league, which is scheduled to begin play this September, will cost $35 per child, which includes t-shirt, shin guards, soccer ball, end-of-year pizza party and trophy. Registration forms are available on the ADA website under Events.

“Municipalities are always talking about 'shared services'  and how it is beneficial for towns to work together to share costs and resources," Pettineo wrote in an email to Patch. "This new joint soccer program between Fair Lawn All-Sports and the Saddle Brook Soccer Association is a shining example of how something positive can come about when neighboring towns work together and open their hearts and fields to children with special needs.”

For more information on the program, please contact Ed Aig from Fair Lawn All-Sports at Aigman@aol.com, or Monica Maniscalco with the Saddle Brook Soccer Association at 917-992-7904 or at saddlebrookangels@gmail.com. 

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