SuperSports encourages challenged athletes

Photo/Courtesy Lifetouch YMCA staff and participants in the SuperSports program.

Saturday is a busy day at the Whitehouse YMCA. Kids of all ages fill the gym for basketball at various times during the day. Everyone in encouraged to do their best.

There is a very special group of children that now gather to shoot hoops, sharpen their skills and have a good time. They are the kids of the SuperSports program.

The SuperSports program is an adaptive sports program for children with special needs. This program is a joint effort of many at the YMCA including Stuart Gilpin, C.E.O. of YMCA; Brandon Salisbur y, Tyler YMCA's Sports Program director; Stephen Pine, YMCA coach; and Holley Stiefer, Whitehouse YMCA program coordinator.

Each year YMCAs across the country host a National Healthy Kids Day Event. "We host one every year rotating between the Tyler YMCA and the Whitehouse YMCA," said Stiefer. "I was the event coordinator last year. When I was getting together activities for the children, I realized that there were not any adaptive games or activities for children with special needs." Adaptive activities and games were researched and developed for that event.

"My feeling is this ... just because a child has a disability, doesn't mean they can't play sports," said Stiefer. "I want to see every child included."

Gilpin and Stiefer met about getting an adaptive sports program together. It was then proposed to Mr. Salisbury and to- gether the program was formed.

Salisbury said, "When I was younger I played for a youth baseball association that had us volunteer to help with a similar program. I still remember that opportunity and how fun and rewarding it felt. I wanted people to have the same chance, and also to give individuals with special needs the chance to play sports that they love."

Salisbury is very pleased with how the program is going. "So far the feedback we have received has been the best indicator of how the program is progressing. The participants all seem to enjoy themselves. The smiles on their faces when they make a basket are priceless. We have had numerous complements from parents and spectators in general who love the concept and philosophy of the program."

The goal for the program is that it will continue to grow and that the YMCA will be able to provide these services to an increased number of people. "Hopefully this will become a program that will be well known throughout the community as one that helps not only the participants, but also their families and those who help to make this program successful," said Salisbury.

Stiefer says there is no other program like this in the area as far as they know.

"We are very proud to be able to aid in helping these children have a positive experience with sports," said Stiefer. It's very hard on some to play with other children and therefore are benched and not able to play. In our program, all play."

Stiefer went on to explain, "Every child is paired with an adult. Depending on the disability we may need two or more helping us."

As a non-profit organization, the "Y" is trying to raise funds to staff this program as it grows. They are hosting a Valentine Dance sponsored by Boogie Butt Productions on Feb. 10 from 7-9pm for the Holloway Middle School students. All proceeds will directly go to the SuperSports program.

"This is a dream come true for me. This program directly puts our YMCA principles into action," said Stiefer.