The first-ever Unified Soccer league in the District is building community through team.
In the new league, student athletes with disabilities or diverse abilities play alongside youth leaders. Support is provided by coaches and Education Assistants.
Jarett Richardson is a coach and teacher at Burnaby Mountain Secondary. The school started Unified Soccer in the District last year with an intra-squad school team and launched the league this fall.
Richardson explains how the soccer game plays out.
On each side we have four Unified athletes and one leadership student who typically comes from the varsity soccer program. They're there to facilitate the play, so they take the ball, dribble up the court and pass to one of their teammates."
The hallmarks of Unified Sports include building inclusion, friendship, and understanding through sport.
Richardson says the games are meaningful for both the players and students who are spectating.
"When we get together it's a celebration and the atmosphere in the gym feels like a big family. It's special. It's a feeling. Everybody's got a smile on their face. There's friendships and significant bonds that are being formed in the hallways - not just on the pitch."
The Unified Soccer playoffs were hosted by Burnaby Mountain with medals and banners before Winter Break in December. The league also included Alpha, Byrne Creek, and Cariboo Hill Secondary schools. It built on the success during the 2024-25 school year of the Unified Basketball league in which those four schools participated.
Watch a Student-Created Video Capturing the Magic of the Unified Soccer Playoffs
This year's Unified Soccer team at Burnaby Mountain had more than 15 students with disabilities or diverse abilities on it. Richardson says the benefits have been exponential for the whole school.
"This is something that we're doing for the students. It's for the youth in the Access Program, the Pre-employment Program and our wider school community, as well. They get to spectate and feel what it is to be part of inclusive athletics."
Unified Sports began in the District during the 2023-24 school year when youth at Burnaby Mountain became the first to have an intra-squad school Unified Basketball team.
This spring, the Unified Basketball League will expand to every high school in the District - including students at all eight secondary schools.
Read More
Unified Sports Break Down Barriers at Burnaby Schools - Freshet News, January 2026
