Soccer in Federal Way has been synonymous with success. There has been a high level of talent in the area for decades now.

The high schools in the area have had numerous state playoff appearances and state titles. The Federal Way FC has brought home championships locally and nationally. Kelyn Rowe, Lamar Neagle and Sean Okoli grace our televisions during Major League soccer games.

So it should come as no surprise that the local Special Olympics team adds to that rich Federal Way soccer tradition.

“Last year, I believe we totaled four gold medals and two bronze medals at regionals and state,” team head coach Stuart Snow said.

Snow has been the head coach of the program for the past eight years. He is also the head coach of the girls soccer team at Green River Community College.

Originally the program was run by King County. Once Federal Way became an established city, control was given to the city.

Sharon Boyle has been coordinating the soccer program and other Special Olympic sports for many of the years it has been in existence. She helps with paperwork, transportation and other logistical needs for the team.

Currently, the program has three different teams within it, all with varying skill levels. The blue team is the top skill level, the white is the intermediate level and the red is the beginner level.

Since taking over, Snow’s blue teams won seven gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals. The white team has won three golds, two silvers and two bronzes.

Amy Wallsmith coaches the red team and has been with the program only three years. In that time, the team has won two gold medals at regionals and two bronze medals at state.

The blue team has won the state championship four times.

The team is for ages 19 and up after they finish playing for their high school teams. Currently, the oldest player is 51 and the youngest is 21.

When Snow took over, they barely had enough players for two teams. Now the program is growing at a tremendous rate.

“We barely had two and now we have a full three,” Snow said. “I try not to have more than seven players per team, but we’re at 25 players now. We lose a couple each year, but we gain even more. We’re now starting to think about putting together a fourth team. Which is great, we’re doing something right.”

The season starts with about a month-and-a-half worth of training before they play their first games in the sorting tournament, which is usually in Redmond. That tournament gets all of the teams separated into groups of similar skills.

They then have the regional tournament at Starfire Sports. This is where teams earn their way to the state championships, which is not guaranteed.

Finally, the teams meet in the state championship tournament at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The Summer Games tournaments begin on May 29.

Beyond the results on the field is something more important to the coaches. The bond they build with the players has a lasting impact on them.

“They’re an amazing group of athletes,” Snow said. “There’s no bad day. They’re all just full of joy and happiness every time we’re with them. They have probably taught me 10 times what I ever taught them.”

Snow got involved in the program through his family as his half sister-in-law is special needs. They signed her up for soccer and found that the team was going through a transition period.

His prior time he spent involved with soccer made him a natural fit for the team.

Dave Remmem is another member of the coaching staff who has been closely linked with the special needs community. He has been involved with the program for a year.

“I came out as a parent after we got my daughter involved in Special Olympics,” Remmem said. “She wanted me to help coach, so they were gracious enough to let me help.”

Remmem’s daughter is 28 currently and was unable to join the Special Olympics program when they previously lived in California due to lack of access. She was interested in sports as she watched her older brothers play.

“It’s rewarding working with the kids,” Remmem said. “It’s like a big family, every time you come, they’re happy to see you. They have smiles and they’re excited. It makes everyone feel good.”

A short amount of time spent at one of the team’s practices reaffirms the family-like atmosphere all three coaches enjoy. Players and coaches all joke and laugh with each other constantly. Encouragement also comes from all over the field.

They all still remain focused on getting better at soccer through it all.

“It’s impossible to not enjoy doing this because of the way that they are,” Snow said. “The neatest thing about working with this group is that they’re as good as they are, and they’re fine with that. How could you do better than that? Just be happy with who you are. It’s a special thing you don’t get very often.”

The teams’ next games will be at the King County Regional tournament at Starfire Sports in Tukwila on Saturday, May 2.

Coaches Amy Wallsmith and Dave Remmem look on as Coach Snow gets players in line to begin a drill. Players began working on passing and defensive drills shortly after. Terrence Hill, the Mirror

Players preform passing, dribbling and defense against each other in teams to learn skills to apply in game. Terrence Hill, the Mirror