Jordan Revuelto, 18, loves any kind of sports, but there are few places he can play with others.

He has physical and mental disabilities and doesn't talk, so he is usually left out, sitting on the sidelines, said his mother, Geraldine Revuelto.

But he fits right in with the VIP (Very Important Player) Program of Hawaii's American Youth Soccer Organization, whose core philosophy declares, “;Everyone plays.”;

Both joined the program almost 10 years ago, he as a player and she as an assistant coach in the Leeward League, based at Kapolei Regional Park.

“;Everybody needs a chance to be normal, even if they're not,”; Geraldine Revuelto said. “;It's their own special time and space.”;

Becoming involved with VIP “;made me whole,”; she added. “;I always used to feel left out because Jordan couldn't play. But when he started playing soccer, even though you're disabled, you can still enjoy it. ... You should see how they get so excited and how much fun they all have!”;

Kelly Anderson, mother of Brendan, who has cerebral palsy, concurred: “;This is so good for self-esteem — for him and all the kids. They're excluded from so much stuff.”;

Brendan, 8, uses a walker on wheels to play soccer on Sundays at the Kailua High School gym. His can kick the ball with his left foot, and beams when he lands a solid one into the goal.

His mother said, “;He's always asking me, 'How many more days till soccer, mom?' He can be proud of it and be independent of me and just be a kid. It's great to see him. He's very proud of what he can do because a lot of times it can be very frustrating for him.”;

The VIP Program is open to kids at least 4 years old and adults, regardless of mobility.

Established in Hawaii in 1991, the program has nine leagues statewide with about 150 members, said Pearl Bayes, an AYSO organizer for 21 years. Each league has its own season, which varies from six to 10 weeks, so some members move from one region to another throughout the year, she said.

Revuelto said weekly two-hour meetings include drills and a short game, with lots of volunteer aides around to offer encouragement and give hand-over-hand demonstrations.

Accommodations are made for any kind of disability. For example, people in wheelchairs can use tennis rackets to control the ball, and if a person is hearing-impaired, the aides use sign language, she said.

Parents are asked to write down the things that scare or distract the players, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to get them to refocus, Revuelto said.

Tammi Ho said her daughter Kristina, 16, “;improved dramatically from the first year, with having tantrums in the middle of the floor”; to making goals and lots of friends in the 10 years she's been playing. One of her regular aides is Caitlin Hooker, an all-star soccer player at Kailua High School.

“;I really like helping people,”; Hooker said. “;It's also a good way to honor Wil Kimura, who was head varsity coach at Kailua for 17 years (and who died recently). He came here all the time, too.”;

John Nakagawa, boys varsity soccer coach at Kalaheo High School, has been assisting with the Kailua league for 10 years.

“;These kids should get a lot of credit for their determination and motivation,”; he said. “;To me they display no limits. They're giving their all, giving their best. …We get so much in return.”;