TOPSoccer Club of the Year
This program began as a series of clinics and immediately grew to 50 young athletes and 50 soccer buddies. It was successful from the very beginning. The club continues to add new players and volunteers daily. They secured a large sponsor, McDonalds, which helped defray some of the initials costs and have been successful in getting the club listed with a University internship program. Overcoming field and time issues, the program now operates both on Sunday afternoon and Friday evenings.

Our 2008 TOPSoccer Club of the Year is Gainesville Soccer Alliance.

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year
This year’s TOPS Coach of the Year was instrumental in getting the GSA program off the ground. Patti Atchison has experience with kids and disabilities and a strong desire to provide kids with disabilities the opportunity to play organized soccer. She is being recognized not only for her organizational skills but also her desire and determination to get the program off the ground. She organized clinics, arranged for financial support and enlisted volunteers from a local university adaptive PE program.

Our 2008 TOPSoccer Coach of the Year is Patti Atchison from Gainesville Soccer Alliance.

Publix Parent of the Year
The role of a soccer parent means more than just ensuring your players arrive at the game on time. It means also being the supportive coach, enthusiastic fan and occasional medic. Publix and FYSA would like to recognize the tremendous job parents are doing to keep their kids involved in the great sport of soccer.

The 2008 Publix Parent of the Year has served as a team manager in her club. Chris Emery makes life for coaches simple. She puts forth countless hours towards organizing team functions as well as ensuring all necessary paperwork and documents are up-to-date and accurate. Her devotion has created a strong sense of teamwork and friendship among the boys on the team. She has two boys that play soccer and a daughter to take care of while her husband is defending our country in the Middle East. Despite all the pressures that come from being a parent and a team manager, she comes through 100% of the time!

The Florida Youth Soccer Association 2008 Publix Parent of the Year is Chris Emery of the Gainesville Soccer Alliance.