SPECIAL FOCUS

What's Hot in adaptive Sports

BY CINDY HOUSNER, MS, BS, NCTRC, CLP

The adaptation of sports, whether on a recreational or competitive level, is to offer the activity, as close to its traditional counterpart. Wheelchair tennis for example, is played virtually the same as able bodied tennis. The exception is that the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces instead of one bounce in which to hit the ball over the net.

What are the most popular and the hot adaptive sports today? Ask ten different athletes or coaches and you will receive ten different answers. One thing for sure is that today individuals with physical impairments certainly have more choices than the traditional wheelchair basketball, one of the oldest and most established adaptive sports. One only has to pick up the latest issue of Spokes 'N Sports or Palaestra—the leading publications on disabled sports—to realize the offering of adaptive sports wide and diverse.

The myriad sports one can provide in their own community is endless, whether it be sledge hockey, road racing, quad rugby, scuba, boccia, adaptive aerobics, aquatics or goalball. Unfortunately, the equipment and training of coaches and instructors can be quite costly and difficult to obtain. However, Illinois has some of the best disabled sport programs in the nation, which allows for the provision of the collaborative resources of highly respected coaches, elite disabled athletes, and sharing of equipment and training tips.

As throughout the nation, the Paralympics have assisted in the states increased visibility, recognition and respect of our disabled community's athletes. There is no better time than now to capitalize on the positive effects of this elite international competition where 3,500 athletes with physical and sensory impairments competed on the same athletic level as their able-bodied counterparts this past August in Atlanta.

The adaptation of sports, whether on a recreational or competitive level, is to offer the activity, as close to its traditional counterpart. Wheelchair tennis for example, is played virtually the same as able-bodied tennis. The exception is that the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces instead of one bounce in which to hit the ball over the net.

Lake County Adaptive Sports (LCAS), a cooperative extension of the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County, takes an innovative attitude when providing sport and recreation opportunities to northern Illinois' disabled residents. Family members and friends are encouraged to participate with or alongside individuals who may have a physical or visual impairment. Entire families partake in Saturday adaptive sport programs. Parents work out on fitness equipment or walk for exercise while their children participate in sport activities such as wheelchair basketball, hockey, boccia and more. Extra wheelchairs and volunteers are available to enable siblings to compete along with their disabled siblings.

The same situation is present in the offering of goalball or beep baseball for the programs of visually impaired athletes, where family members and friends routinely suit up in protective equipment and blindfolds to compete in these sports. Special events such as adaptive skiing or wheelchair square dancing are also targeted to able-bodied friends and family members. LCAS attempts to provide an atmosphere of acceptance where staff encourages non-disabled individuals to also attend adaptive sport activities.

Nowhere was this more apparent than the Nike Sports Camp, presented by LCAS in the summer of 1996, which was the first integrated sports day camp for youth with physical disabilities. Adaptations were implemented to allow all campers to fully participate in their innovative curriculum where Nike's philosophy "For the love of sport-for kids of all abilities" was best demonstrated. A number of older children who utilize a chair on a daily basis taught various sports (such as wheelchair basketball, boccie and floor hockey) to their able-bodied peers. It is not uncommon for visitors to the LCAS

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programs to often ask "which participants have a disability?"

It is not uncommon for visitors to the Lake County Adaptive Sports programs to often ask "which participants have a disability?"

Just as essential as these integrative opportunities, so are the sport specific training programs which enable juniors and adults to pursue sports on a competitive basis. It is crucial these athletes have appropriate coaching in relation to their disability, along with proper training and equipment. Athletes and their coaches are encouraged to attend local, regional, and national competitions such as Windsor Games for the Physically Challenged, WSUSA Junior National Games, and other competitions. LCAS has recently begun to work closer with their athletes' school athletic departments to educate physical education teachers and coaches as to the continuation of training opportunities during and after the school day. An example which combines both the inclusion and adaptive sports is one of the program's elite visually impaired runners who trains with Condell's Liberty Track and Road Club, with the consultation of a United States Association Blind Athlete (USABA) coach and mobility teacher.

Examples of other disabled sport offerings throughout the state include:

• Chicago Park District Sledge Hockey and Sports Program for the Visually Impaired

• The Wirtz Sports Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, providing 15 activities from wheelchair basketball to snow skiing to strength and conditioning

• The cooperative sports programs of Northwest Special Recreation Association, Western DuPage Special Recreation and Northeast DuPage Special Recreation sponsor the Junior Wheelchair Bulls Basketball and the Windy City Warriors Track and Field Sports Team

• The Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association's wheelchair tennis, adaptive aquatics, boccia, and road racing

• The Rockford Special Recreation's wheelchair road racing, tennis, basketball and other adaptive sports.

• South Suburban Special Recreation Associations junior wheelchair basketball team.

• Southwest Special Recreation Associations wheelchair floor hockey and Winners on Wheels.

• Chicago United Cerebral Palsy Association's sport program

• University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign collegiate road racing and men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams

Photo credits: Adaptive golf is played at Steeple Chaw Golf Course in Mundelein. Bottom: Lake County Adaptive Sports teamed up with Nike to provide summer youth camps. The Paralympic Congress, a internationally recognized sports and recreation conference, conducted in correlation with the Paralympics has stirred some strong discussion among the top elite disabled athletes and leaders of the nation's "Disabled Sport Organizations," regarding the inclusion of disabled athletes into local, regional, and national competitions. The verdict is still out regarding this hot topic, however park districts and adaptive sport programs need to be aware of this controversy and formulate plans on how both entities can work closer together. Last spring, the Illinois Games for the Physically Challenged had close to 100 athletes compete in an all day long track and field event. Inclusion in an already existing park district Hershey Track Meet could possibly mean both able-bodied and physically disabled athletes might be competing for two days at least. However, that all athletes might be competing in stands filled with spectators and fans would be an asset, as this is not always the case for disabled competitors.There are many other pros and cons when considering combining adaptive sport activities with non-disabled events.

Cindy Housner, MS, 85, NCTRC, CLP
is the coordinator of Lake County Adaptive Sports. For further information regarding these or additional sport opportunities, contact Housner at 847.566.9344 or any other programs listed.

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