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Aiden Brooks scores a homerun!
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By Alysse Whatley
alysse@gwinnettcitizen.com
SUWANEE - INSPIRE, Peachtree Ridge’s athletic program for special needs children, was founded in 2006 by Wayne Schmitz, a parent of a special needs child, along with Derrick Hutchins and Renee McClendon who worked for the Gwinnett County School System with special needs children. The INSPIRE program is part of the Peachtree Ridge Youth Athletic Association. INSPIRE stands for Intramural Sports that Promote Inclusion, Respect and Excellence in athletics for individuals of all ages with special needs.
Current Co-Directors of INSPIRE, Karen and John Brennan, have been actively involved for the past two years as a volunteers and parents of, Michael Leicher, who actively participates in INSPIRE's flag football and baseball. Karen says, “I think this program is wonderful on so many levels. My son Michael has gone from a lack of confidence in his athletic abilities to really looking forward to playing each week. I don't know sometimes who is having more fun, the parents and volunteers or the kids. “
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Christina Schmitz and her father Wayne Schmitz raise the flag at opening day ceremonies.
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Opening Day was on April 19 at the Peachtree Ridge athletic fields. Ceremonies were hosted by INSPIRE athletes, followed by a game at 12:30.
She continues, “For all of the volunteers working with INSPIRE, it has been exciting to see the INSPIRE program evolve from concept to reality. It was like building this fancy aquarium over time. Selecting the best decorations and filtration system. Then you find and add the fish and you wonder. How will it work out? We opened the field and these kids literally took to it like fish to water! They had smiles on their faces. They couldn't wait to play and all of the volunteers couldn't wait to see the smiles on their faces when they scored their runs.”
For the three weeks following Opening Day, INSPIRE will hold "pick-up" games on Saturdays at 10a.m. at Peachtree Ridge Park weather permitting. There will be no official registration fee for the abbreviated spring season.
In addition to baseball, INSPIRE offers flag football and cheerleading in the Fall. As a coach of the usual 20 kids in attendance, John says, “It’s just a fun game of pickup football.”
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Felipe Lara and friend up to bat!
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Playing on a 60-70 yard field, the game starts off at the 20-yard line and the kids advance 5 yards. “We just keep going until a touch down is made and then we turn around and go back the other way.”
Helpful local kids come to the fields along with enthusiastic parents to support kids of various ages and talents have fun with a game of football. The “buddies” assist the INSPIRE players throughout the game providing as much or as little assistance as each individual player needs. The “buddies” are assigned to a specific player for each game which helps to develop relationships between the players and their buddies. The buddies come from various places: Peachtree Ridge Recreational programs, friends and families of the players and also from neighboring schools. “This program couldn’t exist without our buddies. We find it hard to find the words to say thank you to all volunteers and buddies.”
Karen worked with five cheerleaders last Fall; half of them were non-verbal. She says, “It was exciting to see them learn the cheers and go out during half time with their pom-poms. Last Fall's flag football and cheerleading award ceremonies were a very proud and emotional moment for all involved when you saw these children hold up their plaques over their heads with a huge grin on their face.”
Brennan, a former recreational league coach says this league is an interesting comparison. “With a rec league, the competition is greater. Parents and players are worried about making sure you get to every practice and make it to every game. These INSPIRE kids just come out and have fun.”
“It’s the opposite extreme from the usual sports team. Instead of being ball hungry, these kids are saying, ‘little Billy hasn’t had the ball yet.’ There’s not a selfish bone in their bodies.”
This fall, INSPIRE will offer a full season of baseball along with flag football and cheerleading.
For more information, please visit INSPIRE's webpage at http://www.pryaa.com/site/INSPIRE/tabid/190/Default.aspx
