Sunshine Coast father Trevor Picken wins award for all abilities football program

A father of five’s incredible work running an all-abilities football program for children is only the first step in a massive dream to make the sport accessible for anyone who wants to play.

Manager Trevor Picken and his members of the all abilities program at the Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association. Photo: contributed.

A Sunshine Coast father of five has given children a “place to belong” through an all-abilities football program welcoming players of all ages, size and abilities.

Trevor Picken has run the Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association’s special abilities program for almost three years.

His role in facilitating the program includes everything from coaching and ensuring the game remains fair to handing out hugs when the children need some encouragement.

Mr Picken said one of his children had already been participating in the mainstream program a few years ago and the association reached out to him when they desired to create an all-abilities offering.

After brainstorming and researching in the first year, they “took the bull by its horns” and gave it a go, delivering a program for anyone not fitting the mainstream profile to go out on Saturday for a game.

Manager Trevor Picken and his members of the all abilities program at the Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association. Photo: contributed.

Mr Picken said the children enjoy the challenge, camaraderie and competitive atmosphere they would normally never be able to experience.

The children do not attend training sessions and come along to participate whenever they can, whether it be once a week or once a month.

His favourite part of running the program “has to be the smiles” of the members.

“It’s just irreplaceable, you can see they’ve been waiting all week to play a game of soccer,” Mr Picken said.

Hearing children and their families telling him they have found a place to belong also gives him great joy.

Mr Picken said it can be challenging to keep a game fair while ensuring everyone is enjoying the sport.

Having players of all ages, size and abilities, it can be hard to keep the strong players feeling challenged while not letting the less strong or smaller players feel intimidated or excluded.

Trevor Pickens and two of his children who both participate in the all abilities soccer program. Photo: contributed

Many players also have older siblings in the mainstream program with overlapping games, meaning several of the program’s members can only participate according to their family’s schedule.

The program encourages a flexible walking game with modified rules to respect all players, ensure a level playing field and move at a slower pace.

Mr Picken said he had members in wheelchairs, walking frames, children on the spectrum, even a legally blind girl and any child who may be physically or mentally challenged.

“We accept them all,” he said.

Being family-oriented, parents, relatives and carers are also welcomed and involved helping their children in the game to keep the match flowing.

“There’s a boy whose grandma comes with him and she’s the star of the match,” Mr Picken said.

Two of his own children, one being in a wheelchair, also participate in the games.

“It has inspired me to keep pushing ahead with the program and keep making it evolve to bigger and better,” Mr Picken said.

Growing the program has been quite difficult with more than 20 kids registered this year as parents often have to sign up not knowing whether their children will stick with the sport and enjoy it.

“I want anyone that reads this, make contact to see if they want to try it out,” Mr Picken said.

“We’re here and our reach as been a bit limited.”

Trevor Picken at the Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Awards 2024. Photo: contributed

Mr Picken said he was surprised and felt quite honoured when he won the Healthy People Award at the Sunshine Coast Biosphere Awards in June.

He had been nominated by a mother of one of the members who wrote “really lovely words” about how the program has helped her child have a sense of belonging, regulate their emotions and move forward.

“It’s quite heartwarming to know our program is making that much of a difference even just in one person,” he said.

“I didn’t realise just how much of a difference it can make in people’s days.”

With his son due to join high school next year, Mr Picken hopes to have more time and energy to improve the program such as splitting members into size groups and grow its teams.

“There’s so much more I’d like to do with it.”

He has also had inquiries about adult times, which has formed an aspiration and a dream to truly involve everybody in the program in the future.