Under the direction of the Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA) Board of Directors, the Technical Department is pleased to announce Sarah Smith as the TOPSoccer Chair for UYSA. TOPSoccer is the outreach program that is designed to meet the needs of children with physical and or mental disabilities through soccer. Sarah replaces Paul Skinner. During Paul's service UYSA saw an overall awareness for the program increase as well as the TOPSoccer website content put into place. Scott Maxfield, UYSA President said, "Paul spent a tremendous amount of time in furthering the development of our TOPSoccer program. As a State Association we were sorry to see Paul step down, and wish him well with his future endeavors."

Sarah comes to UYSA well accomplished in education, coaching, and in service to within various communities. Sarah has been directly involved with Utah Youth Soccer as a volunteer coach for ages 4-9 with the Firebirds Club. Her coaching experience extends far beyond UYSA, as she has been involved in coaching baseball, cycling, Junior High and High School Varsity volleyball, track and basketball since 1992. In addition to her coaching experience, Sarah has been an elementary educator for over 15 years. Sarah has given back to her community everywhere she has been by volunteering/participating in events such as: "Walk for a Cure", "Walk for Autism", "Walk for Diabetes" and various golf events.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in both Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Carlow University, (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and is currently completing her Masters Degree at the University of Utah in Sport Pedagogy/Exercise and Sport Science - Special Physical Education and Secondary Physical Education.

Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. She is dedicated in building UYSA's TOPSoccer program to become an effective tool to further the physical, mental, emotional growth, and development of all kids through the sport of soccer in our community. She will bring her fabulous track record of fostering appropriate, individualized and group student-learning atmosphere that are stimulating, encouraging, and adaptive to the varied needs of TOPSoccer.