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Tuesday, December 30 Boy With Challenges Finds Fun in Competition Copyright 2008 Gannett Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Gannett News Service December 30, 2008 Tuesday BYLINE: TOM KUYPER Hey, why is that guy wearing those red, white and blue goggles raising his arms in celebration? He didn't win the race. He didn't even place in the top three. As a matter of fact, he came in seventh place out of eight swimmers. It's because Nick Standerfer gets it. He loves to compete. Actually, he loves to give it his all and to have fun. Believe it or not, he even likes to go to practice. He loves to make friends. He loves to listen to his coaches and do all that they ask of him. He doesn't complain. He doesn't even mind wearing those goofy Speedo bathing suits. "He is so glad to participate and is thrilled to finish," said his mom, Pam. It's because his two coaches get it. Nick swims on the St. Mary's High School swim team in Phoenix. Coach Williams and Coach Sanchez just want him to have fun, make lots of friends and become a better swimmer. They want him to learn the character values of working hard, staying committed, setting goals and striving to reach them, and the importance of developing relationships. It's because Nick watched the Summer Olympics and was encouraged and motivated by USA swimmer Michael Phelps. I guess now I get the red, white and blue goggles. He told me that he even wants to beat Michael Phelps in a race. It's because he wants to be treated like everyone else. He doesn't want, nor does he expect, special privileges. It's because he knows how to balance being on a team and the value of family. He loves hanging out with his brothers. There is nothing that could take the place of his family. That is his priority. That's not to say there's not sibling rivalry, as he does claim to swim faster than his brother and fellow teammate, JoJo. It's because he is self-driven. This isn't his parents' deal, it's his. He is the one who wants to be on the team and work hard and participate in all the practices. He doesn't need to be pushed and/or bribed to stay committed. It's because he doesn't have that false hope that a college scholarship is his for the taking. "Fun" is his motivation, not the pursuit of a scholarship. It's because he has become a friend to all his teammates. They love having Nick on their team. It's because "I listen to my coaches," Nick told me. It's because he has had youth coaches early on who were great role models and understood the definition of success. Oh, did I mention that Nick has Down syndrome? Way to go Nick! Way to be an example to all of us. Way to live out the true meaning and value of youth sports. I'll be there cheering you on in your race against Michael Phelps! ---- If you have questions or comments for Tom Kuyper, e-mail him at tom-kuyper@kidsandsports.com Sunday, February 8 What is Challenger Baseball?
The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities, ages 5-18 or the completion of high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide. To receive information on building your own Field of Hope, or for general information about the Challenger program in Georgia, please email: parentme@bellsouth.net
Peachtree City Challenger Division Imagine an afternoon baseball game. A player hits the ball and heads for first base. Imagine teammates cheering. Now imagine the player is in a wheelchair. Imagine all the players are children with disabilities. Since 1988, Little League Baseball has been offering children with disabilities the opportunity to play youth baseball on a real team, to learn the game and to create lasting friendships. Through the “buddies” program, Challenger League players are often paired with local High School ball players and volunteers from the community. In this way, the community is learning about inclusiveness, increasing their knowledge about children with disabilities and fostering community partnerships. The Georgia Little League Baseball Challenger program spearheaded by Nick Harris has grown into a nationally recognized program. The Challenger Division was established in 1988 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and developmental disabilities, ages 5-22 or the completion of high school, to enjoy the game of baseball in its purest form. Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 10-12 players, who can participate in one of three levels: Tee-Ball, Coach-Pitch or Player Pitch. Each player gets a chance at bat. The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster, or when a pre-determined number of runs have been scored. Our Challenger players wear the same uniforms, shoulder patches and safety equipment as other Little League players. One of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of "buddies" for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make the plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed. The Georgia Little League Challenger Division program is Little League's way of providing new opportunities for children with disabilities so that everyone can get into the game. To sign-up your child for participation in Challenger Baseball, or to volunteer as a "buddy," email the PTCLL Challenger Commissioner, Coleen Romano at romanos4@comcast.net or phone 770-851-0686. All kids deserve to have fun. Monday, February 9 Nick Harris is DAR Community Service Recipient
In 1995 Nick served as Chairman of the Commission of Children and Youth in Peachtree City, which focused on youth related issues. A gathering place was funded and a skate ramp was constructed. His next focus was the need for a community recreational baseball field that children with developmental and physical disabilities could use. As the newly appointed Commissioner for the Challenger Division of Peachtree City Little League, Nick, with the help of others, founded the Fayette Field of Hope, Inc, a 501c3 non-profit organization to raise funds to build an all-accessible baseball complex, which allows children with developmental and physical disabilities to play Little League Baseball in its purest form. The surface of the field is a synthetic, rubberized surface, which allows wheel chairs, walkers, and blind children to run the bases with no assistance and play in a safe environment. This project allows the opportunity for over 30,000 children in the South Metro Atlanta area to play baseball. The Field of Hope Complex is also a community-based instruction opportunity for the school system to train and employ high school students and young adults with disabilities to operate the concession stand and to participate in other vocational work opportunities associated with a sports complex. Nick’s capitol campaign raised over $850,000 in four years. The Field of Hope was dedicated on October 2, 2004. In 2005 the Peachtree City Challenger League All-Star team was selected to play in an exhibition game before the Little League World Series Championship game in Williamsport, PA. Again, fund raising to send 37 children and parents began. Through Nick’s hard work, sponsors for the trip took care of everything from air fare, transportation, meals, lodging, and extras, like bat bags with their names embroidered on the sides and new team uniforms and T-shirts. Realizing that a mentoring group would be an important asset, Nick helped pioneer the pilot program for the Parent Mentor Partnership of Georgia through the GA Department of Education. Nick was selected to chair the Parent Mentor Partnership Alumni Association, a volunteer position. Also, as a volunteer, he mentors parents to help them understand the Special Education maze in local school systems. He was the first full-time Parent Mentor for the Fayette County School system. Nick developed PALS, which is a student-run organization that fosters relationships between students with and without developmental disabilities through one-on-one and group activities. Nick’s son, Ethan, is a PALS club member and the manager for the Starr’s Mill High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team and their Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse team. Ethan hopes to continue in these positions, or one similar in the community, as a paid employee when he graduates from high school. On the drawing board is a project to develop and build a planned community for adults with developmental disabilities. Sycamore Ridge will be located in either Athens or Gainesville, GA. The residents will have real careers, real homes, and life long learning opportunities, as any planned community resident would have. Nick is the goalie coach for the Starr’s Mill High School Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse team in which his daughter is the midfielder. He sits on the Governor’s Council for Developmental Disabilities. He was a member of the Georgia Board of Education State Advisory Panel for Special Education for six years and chaired it for one year. Nick travels over the country talking to groups about the projects he has mentored and implemented in Georgia. He talks about how life for people with developmental disabilities can be like everyone else in the community participating as a productive citizen. Nick is very active in his church and has volunteered on different committees. He has coached the Fayette All Stars Special Olympic Softball Team for the past four years. Nick Harris has been an outstanding volunteer in the state of Georgia and in his local community working to better the lives of youth with developmental disabilities. He has been a pioneer in developing and implementing mentoring programs and in the construction of facilities with multi-use fields for children and adults with disabilities. Nick is very deserving of the James Waldrop DAR Chapter Community Service Award for 2008. We all thank you, Nick, for your efforts in our communities. Sunday, February 8 National Challenger Seminar Held
Little League Challenger coordinators came from across the United States to participate, some as far away as California and Arizona. The Seminar was coordinated by Joe Sagaria, District Administrator of New York's district 18. Jim Ferguson, director of the Challenger Division for Little League Baseball, was key to the discussion process. There were former players in attendance who gave their perspective of how the Challenger program had enhanced their lives and given them the opportunity to grow in self-confidence and to experience the thrill of participation. Parents told their stories of what it was like to see their child participate in America's favorite sport. Honored guest Ann Beardsley and her son David attended to thank the volunteers for keeping the dream alive that her late husband, Ed Beardsley, began in 1989. Then the group got down to business. How to develop effective "buddy" programs and where to find the buddies was discussed. How to organize the Challenger program within your community was discussed including the pros and cons of a district league versus a program run at the league level. The best ways to set up the age structure within the program were discussed: separate players by age/playing skill or form teams from the broad spectrum of ages and abilities. It was determined that there was no set of rules that was correct for every community - the various communities in attendance all had successful Challenger programs and were organized in a variety of ways. What was common was the need for constant review and the ability to change the program when the needs of the players and community change. Another large discussion item was whether a program could be designed to accommodate players who "age out" of the Challenger program. Currently, players may remain in the Challenger program until they complete high school. Some former Challenger players come back to the leagues as coaches, umpires and other volunteers. Several of the communities represented at the seminar have created successful baseball and softball programs which serve as extensions of the Challenger experience for adults with disabilities. It was universally agreed that Little League Baseball provides a total package for all children who want to participate in baseball or softball - whether the child has a known disability or not - and that the inclusion of the Challenger program into the local Little League program provides the best possible opportunities for growth, development, and socialization within the youth community. |
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District 4 Little League Baseball, Softball and Challenger View Our Guestbook | Sign Our Guestbook 11 visitors have signed our guestbook. |
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