Confidence, Connection and Courage: CP Soccer Midwest Showcase 2026

Over the weekend of 14–15 March, the Mount St. Joseph Fieldhouse in Cincinnati came alive with smiles, connection, friendship and football as the CP Soccer Midwest Showcase took place. We spoke with CP Soccer Cincinnati organisers, Brenna Lonneman and Christy Heinrich, about the event and how this initiative supports players with cerebral palsy.

How It All Started

Dear Brenna, dear Christy, what inspired your organisation to organise the CP Soccer Midwest Showcase? How often do you organise it?

The first CP Soccer Midwest Showcase began in Chicago, IL, hosted by the CP Soccer Chicago team. CP Soccer Chicago and Cincinnati partnered together with a shared vision: to create an event that would give these athletes the opportunity to travel and compete in a soccer showcase just like any able-bodied player would experience in the club soccer world. This showcase was designed to give players a space where they could truly be themselves while connecting with other athletes who share similar experiences. It provided an opportunity not only to compete, but also to build friendships, confidence, and a sense of belonging within the game they love. The CP Soccer Midwest Showcase celebrates these players for who they are. While they face unique challenges every day, they continue to show resilience, determination, and passion for the sport, never allowing those challenges to hold them back.

What are the main goals of the showcase?

The CP Soccer Midwest Showcase aims to give athletes with CP the opportunity to travel and compete in a showcase environment similar to able-bodied club soccer, while providing an inclusive space where they can be themselves and connect with others who share similar experiences. It fosters friendships and a sense of belonging, supports growth in both soccer skills and personal confidence, and celebrates the resilience, determination, and passion of each player, showing that their challenges do not define or limit them.

Who Are the Players?

The showcase is designed for ambulatory kids aged 5-17 years old who are affected by cerebral palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury. All skill levels welcomed. We had 39 players participate this year with ages ranging from 5 to 17 years old.The players who are younger focused on basic soccer skills in fun game formats. The older players were challenged through technical drills/skills and small sided games. Both groups scrimmaged to display what they learned.

Impact on the Players

What does this football tournament event mean for young athletes with cerebral palsy or similar neurological conditions?

This tournament means the world to these players.

It gives them the opportunity to meet and play soccer with other athletes who experience many of the same challenges every day. For many of them, it is a rare space where they can simply be themselves, playing the game they love alongside teammates and competitors who truly understand their journey, without fear of judgment. The connections formed on and off the field are just as meaningful as the matches themselves.

What skills or experiences do players gain by participating in the showcase?

Players are met exactly where their skill level is. We provide foundational drills for those who are newer to the game, while offering more advanced challenges for players who are ready to take the next step. More than anything, this experience is about building confidence not only in soccer, but in themselves both on and off the field.

Growing CP Football

How important are events like this in creating pathways for players in CP football?

These events get a lot of attention due to the use of social media to attract new players. They increase overall participation within each CP Soccer program across the country. Once identified, these players can continue participating at a recreational level or strive to be invited to the newly formed CP Soccer National Team program and eventually to the extended US Soccer CP National Team.

How does the CP Soccer Midwest Showcase help grow CP football in the region/state?

The CP Soccer Midwest Showcase helps grow CP Soccer not only in the state it was hosted but beyond. For Cincinnati, it has allowed new players who were previously unaware of CP Soccer Cincinnati to sign up for our upcoming seasons. For out of state players, it has allowed other chapters like CP Soccer Louisville to spread the word about their inaugural season and players from Michigan who do not have a CP Soccer team to participate in CP Soccer events.

What role does the community play in making the event successful?

Our coaches, volunteers and families are the reason we can make events like this possible. Our coaches put in endless hours to ensure these players are going to receive the best experience possible. Our volunteers allow us to bring as many players as possible without having to limit the number of participants that sign up. And our families sacrifice many hours at the event and even more time driving to make sure their child gets to experience events like these.

Looking Ahead

What are your hopes for the future of CP Soccer in the Midwest and the United States?

CP Soccer is consistently adding new programs across the country. For our state of Ohio, we have Cincinnati and the newly formed Columbus team. We hope that at some point in time, we will be able to form multiple teams in the area to compete against each other in a league format. Across the United States, we hope more teams are inspired to create their own regional showcases to continue expanding CP Soccer and offering more opportunities for these players.

Personal Reflection

What did organising this event mean to you personally?

For us, hosting this event directly supports our mission to continue growing CP Soccer and expanding opportunities for our players. Our goal is to provide as many meaningful experiences as possible, not only for our own athletes, but for CP Soccer players across multiple states.

The showcase brought so many new faces to CP Soccer. Seeing the smiles on every single player and pure joy this experience brought them will forever touch our hearts. We saw prior players become more active with participating and other players truly show off their skills that continue to improve each new session.

Changing the Game

In one sentence, how is CP football changing the world of football?

CP Soccer is transforming football by proving that no disability can prevent someone from playing the beautiful game, as these athletes continue to show up, overcome challenges, and inspire us daily with their resilience and grit.

Confidence, Connection and Courage: CP Soccer Midwest Showcase 2026