On Sunday, LA Galaxy hosted tryouts for the LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Unified Team. Tryouts were open to all athletes with and without intellectual disabilities ages 14-22 with participates able to join the LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team and approximately 50 members were selected to travel with the group for various competitions throughout 2015.
Hundreds of participants were on hand for the tryouts in addition to various LA Galaxy staff members. All tryout participants also received two tickets to LA Galaxy II vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 match at StubHub Center’s Track & Field Stadium later that day.
The LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Soccer program is a partnership between the LA Galaxy and Special Olympics Southern California that provides unique training, competitions and social experiences for not only individuals with intellectual disabilities, but for everyone involved. This coed team, made up of players with and without intellectual disabilities ages 14-22, will play matches against other MLS-affiliated Special Olympics Unified Soccer teams from other states. Players will also have an opportunity to interact with LA Galaxy players during the exchanges.
The goal of Unified Sports is to bring people with and without disabilities together to compete, learn and grow on the same team – as equals.
Check out photos from Jon Lorentz below.
