USABA and LA Recreation & Parks Expand Visually Impaired & Blind Soccer Clinics for Youth Through PlayLA Adaptive Program
LOS ANGELES – For the fourth consecutive year, the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is teaming up with the City of Los Angeles Department Recreation and Parks (RAP) to host free Visually Impaired & Blind Soccer Clinics as part of the PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program (PlayLA).
Open to blind and visually impaired youth ages 5 to 17 of all skill levels, the clinics will provide participants with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of blind soccer—including drills, gameplay, and communication—from coaches and members of the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team.
Clinic Dates and Locations:
Hubert Humphrey Rec Center (Pacoima, CA)
- October 4, 9:00–10:30 am
- October 11, 9:00–10:30 am
- October 18, 9:00–10:30 am
- October 25, 9:00–10:30 am
Martin Luther King Jr Rec Center (Los Angeles, CA)
- November 1, 9:00–10:30 am
- November 15, 9:00–10:30 am
Mar Vista Rec Center (Los Angeles, CA)
- November 22, 9:00–10:30 am
- December 6, 9:00–10:30 am
“PlayLA is thrilled to partner with USABA once again to host a blind soccer event for visually impaired and blind students in Los Angeles,” said Austin Dumas, PlayLA’s Chief Operations Officer. “With the Paralympic Games less than three years away, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop skills and foster a love for the game. PlayLA Adaptive Sports Division is dedicated to ensuring access and opportunity for all youth in LA.”
Blind soccer has been a Paralympic sport since 2004, yet it remains the only Paralympic discipline without prior U.S. representation in the Paralympic Games. That will change at the LA28 Paralympic Games, where the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team will make its historic debut as the host nation.
“As we get closer to the LA28 Paralympics and the debut of our USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team, we are so excited to be back for our fourth year of building blind soccer in Los Angeles,” said Molly Quinn, USABA CEO. “Through our continued partnership with RAP, we are creating access to sport and recreation for blind and visually impaired youth—and perhaps even inspiring the next Paralympian to wear the red, white, and blue at the LA28 Games.”
USABA was named the official National Governing Body (NGB) for blind soccer in January 2022 by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Since then, the organization has launched Building Blind Soccer sites nationwide, including Los Angeles, to grow participation in the sport. In 2022, USABA announced the first-ever USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team, which went on to secure victories against Canada in a pair of international friendlies in 2023.
PlayLA offers children of all abilities free access to adaptive sports at their local recreation centers, helping to remove barriers to participation while fostering inclusion and contributing to the lasting legacy of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
About U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
The mission of USABA is to empower Americans who are blind or visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation. A member organization of both the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and U.S. Soccer, USABA is certified by the USOPC as the national governing body for the Paralympic team sports of goalball and blind soccer. The U.S. will make its Paralympic debut in blind soccer at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Since its founding in 1976, USABA has reached more than 100,000 individuals through its multi-sport programming. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. Learn more at www.usaba.org/.
About the PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks PlayLA Youth & Adaptive Youth Sports Program is a city-wide initiative that provides access to quality sports programming for youth of all abilities between the ages of 3 – 17. Made possible by an investment from the Los Angeles Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028 (LA28) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), PlayLA is the single largest commitment to youth sports development in California with up to $160 million which serves as a legacy before, during and after the LA28 Games. Learn more at LAParks.org and stay connected for updates and announcements on Instagram at @laparks.playla and @lacityparks.