Transition through Sports Participation
by Arleen Sand, PT and Sandy Smith, MSPT
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Tampa
For many children with a physical disability, therapy visits can be a part
of a weekly routine. Eventually, therapy may no longer be an option leaving
many parents concerned on what, if any; alternative activity can replace
or enhance therapy. The transition away from the medical system to community
based programs may turn out to be a positive step. From our experience,
exposure to sports and recreation programs not only meet the goals of fitness
and function but also help foster many other important life skills.
What are the options?
Parents of children with physical disabilities should consider having their
child join a community-based recreational/competitive program. Participation
in team sports provides a venue to develop or reinforce values which are
important to survive in life which help to develop an appreciation of personal
health and fitness and a positive self image. In addition, interaction with
peers teaches a child the social skills needed to work within a team, to
respect others and manage the positive and negative feelings associated
with competition. This impact varies as we move from one phase of life to
another but are most important in the developing school age children.
An example in the West Central region of Florida is the local Paralympic
Sport Tampa Bay club, a program of Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation,
and Conservation which offers a range of recreational and competitive youth
sports programs throughout the year. Other options include starting a team
in their area through the local county parks department, city recreational
program, or local YMCA’s. Athletes can join their school team which
offer more individualized sports such as swimming, track and field, or power
lifting where it is easy to offer inclusion for athletes with physical or
visual impairments. A benefit of inclusion is athletes provide diversity
amongst the team plus they are able to train on a daily basis.
Why participate?
Doug Garner, University of Texas at Arlington’s Wheelchair Basketball
Movin’ Mavs coach and father of a former junior wheelchair athlete,
published study results that students who participated in sports versus
those who did not were:
• almost six times more likely to participate in other school related
activities or clubs
• more likely to rate their school experiences as “pretty good”,
“great”, or “absolutely greatest ever”
• more likely to go to college (or plan on going to college)
• more likely to participate in their school physical education programs
• more likely to continue being physically active after high school
graduation.
Well-run competitive sports programs set expected academic performance requirements
which allow ongoing participation. At higher levels support systems exist
for the athlete to ensure success in academics. The life skills that are
learned are not only important in the academic setting, but will prepare
the athlete for the future in other social and work situations.
What are the venues for competition?
National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) for youth with physical
disabilities have been available since 1984 for those with cerebral palsy,
spina bifida, amputations, visual impairments, spinal cord injury, and other
birth or acquired physical or visual impairments. Because these disabilities
can be so variable the athletes are grouped into classes of similar capability
for fair competition. Athletes are assessed considering strength/motor control,
range of motion, medical limitations, and the movements required to perform
a particular sport. Each sport has its own functional classification system
and competitions are divided by age and gender. A few of the sports available
include swimming, track and field, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, archery,
weightlifting, wheelchair basketball, and boccia. Top athletes could qualify
to compete in the Paralympics which are held immediately following the Olympics.
Comments from parents and junior athletes:
“I love sports my favorite is wheelchair basketball. I feel regular
just like everyone else. I have made a lot of friends. I have learned that
I can do whatever I want I just have to work hard at it. Sports is my life.”
Emily Clarke, current NJDC athlete
“My daughter, Emily is 11 years old with Spina Bifida. Emily plays
wheelchair basketball, tennis, table tennis, swimming and so much more.
She has been through a lot with her health and being apart of her sports
program has made all the difference in the world not only physically but
emotionally. No matter what is going on with Emily's health she always looks
forward to playing. Emily has participated in 3 National Junior Disability
Championships.” Marsha Nickerson
“A lot of time people put barriers between them and you, because of the wheelchair, but with athletics it tells people that the wheelchair is not a barrier.” Sarah Castle, Paralympian Swimmer and former Junior Athlete
How do you get started?
Attending introductory sports clinics or camps for children with physical
disabilities or visual impairments such as the annual No Limits Sports (NLS)
event co-sponsored by Shriners Hospital for Children Tampa and Paralympic
Sport Tampa Bay is an excellent way to introduce adaptive sports. Shriners
Hospital has held this free event for the past ten years and is now partnered
with Hillsborough County where it is held at the state of the art All Peoples
Life Center {see insert for next years event information}. Participants
choose from a list of recreational and competitive sports and depending
on the sport, may receive group instruction from a current or former Paralympian.
The sports offered in the past include hand cycling, wheelchair basketball,
boccia, karate, field events, wheelchair tennis, table tennis, weight lifting,
and dance.
Feedback from 2009 No Limits Sports event:
“{It} was a nice time to spend with my son other than appointments and therapy, etc.” Parent response from survey
“I was shown that I could do anything – just a little differently” Brittany Barrett, USTA junior wheelchair tennis player
When just one child discovers their “inner athlete” from a camp or clinic the goal of the event has been met. No Limits Sports has been a stepping stone for several local athletes who return to pay it forward and mentor newcomers at the event.
To learn more about sports opportunities for the physically disabled please
visit the following websites:
• National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, www.ncpad.org
• National Junior Disability Championship, www.njdc.net
• Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay, for information contact dsportshcprd@aol.com
• US Paralympic Committee, www.usparalympics.org