14th ANNUAL SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA For Blind and Visually Impaired “Because We Can…Because We Care” October 19-20, 2012 Sponsored by: REGION 10 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER and LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 2-X1 & 2-E2 2012 APPLICATION PACKET Hosted by Irving ISD Friday & Saturday, October 19 & 20, 2012 Nimitz High School 100 West Oakdale Road, Irving, TX Mission Statement Sports Extravaganza serves to provide opportunities for students with visual impairments to participate in a variety of activities that encourage a more active lifestyle and lead to participation in lifelong leisure, recreation, and competitive sports. Goals Provide a venue where: students with visual impairments acquire skills, competence, and confidence to become more fully engaged in physical education friendships and relationships are formed and fostered opportunities arise to educate family, friends, and community about the athletic abilities and success of children with visual impairments students and families expectations for success in physical activities can be increased students with visual impairments can showcase their athletic ability parents and families have an opportunity to network with one another students with visual impairments develop skills to participate in community sports activities students with visual impairments develop the motor abilities to become independent adult travelers in order to fully participate in their communities Date: August 12, 2012 To: Parents, V.I. Teachers, O&M Specialists, PE Teachers, APE Teachers From: Randy Foederer and Christy Householter, Region 10 ESC Consultants Re: 14th Annual Sports Extravaganza for Blind and Visually Impaired on October 19-20, 2012 Your student or child is invited to participate in the 14th Annual Sports Extravaganza for Blind and Visually Impaired Students, “Because We Can…Because We Care”. The Sports Extravaganza is sponsored by Region 10 Education Service Center and The Lions Clubs International District 2-X1 & 2-E2, and will be held at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas. There are no entry fees but families will need to pay their own expenses for transportation and lodging, if needed. The Lions Clubs will provide lunch on Saturday. If your student or child would like to participate in the Sports Extravaganza, please complete and fax/mail return the enclosed Athlete Entry Form and Release Form by October 5, 2012 to: Region 10 Education Service Center Attention: Christy Householter 400 E. Spring Valley FAX: 972-348-1677 Richardson, TX 75081-5101 PLEASE adhere to this deadline, as late entries will not be guaranteed. For those of you who need to make additional copies, you may download this packet from http://www.region10.org/SSVI/VI_Sports_Extravaganza.html. Additional information about Sports Extravaganza may be found at this site. PLEASE carefully read Instructions For Completing Entry Form as accurate entry forms are needed in order to ensure a well organized event. If you have any questions, call Randy Foederer at 972-348-1570 or Christy Householter at 972-348-1634. It is the policy of Region 10 Education Service Center not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Region 10 Education Service Center will take steps to ensure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational programs and services. 400 E. Spring Valley Rd. Richardson, TX 75081-5101 972.348.1700 FAX 972.761.9665 www.region10.org Don’t forget these updates/reminders/changes! To cut down on postage costs and expedite the process, Event Handbook will be EMAILED to registered athletes unless you do not have an email address (then it will be sent via regular mail). Please print your email neatly! NEW EVENT: Non-competitive Sports and Leisure Skills will be offered to athletes ages 6-22 with visual, in addition to physical and/or intellectual disabilities, who need physical assistance to throw, strike, and move/propel forward. More details in application information. Beginners Goalball Tournament on Friday night at Nimitz High School will be for ages 10 and up and include beginner and intermediate players. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have been added to the regular meat and vegetarian sandwich lunch menu. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch if you have dietary restrictions that don’t allow sandwiches. General Information – 2012 Locations of Event Nimitz High School, 100 W. Oakdale, TX 75060 (See map at back of application) Athlete Eligibility & Awards All athletes’ ages 0-22 must be receiving V.I. services through the IEP/IFSP process. Five categories of participation are available: A. Non-competitive: Specially designed medals will be awarded to all participants 1. Ages 0-5 - Low Organized Games: Youngsters with visual impairments. Special recognition will be awarded to 4 & 5 year olds who participate in the 25 meter practice run. 2. Ages 6-22 - Sports and Leisure Skill: Athletes with visual, in addition to physical and/or intellectual disabilities, who need physical assistance to throw, strike, and move/propel forward. B. Competitive: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals and 4th & 5th place ribbons will be awarded to 6 – 22 year old age groups in divisions created by visual classification (see Vision Classifications under Instructions page), and, where applicable, by sex, and age. 3. Ages 6-11: Athletes with visual impairment. 4. Ages 12-22: Athletes with visual impairment. 5. Ages 6-22: Athletes with visual, in addition to physical and/or intellectual disabilities who can independently throw, strike, and move/propel forward. Housing - HOTEL SPONSOR If you are traveling long distances, Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriot in Irving has agreed to be our hotel sponsor. A room with 2 Double beds for up to four people will be only $79 a night and include a full hot breakfast. In order to receive the special $79 a night rate, please call 214-441-9969 or you may book online: Fairfield Inn & Suites Dallas DFW Airport South/Irving >> and mention that you are with the Sports Extravaganza. Rooms are being held at this rate until Friday, October 5th, and cannot be guaranteed for availability, or at this rate, after this date Hotel Location: Fairfield Inn & Suites 4210 West Airport Freeway, Irving, TX 214-441-9969 or Fairfield Inn & Suites Dallas DFW Airport South/Irving >> Event Handbook Event Handbooks with specific event schedules will be emailed to each “Coach” and/or parent the week prior to the event. Please carefully read the Event Handbook before you arrive. It will contain important schedule information. It is critical that students are on time to each event and that the coach and/or parent supervise them at all times. 14TH ANNUAL SPOR TS EXTRAVAGANZA FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS Friday Evening, October 19, 2012 – Nimitz High School (Registration at 5 p.m.) BEGINNERS GOALBALL TOURNAMENT -- AGES 10-22 Students who are age 10 and up and who have had little or no experience or who have a 1-2 or 2-3 skill level according to guidelines outlined on the Goalball Entry Form may participate in the Beginners Goalball Tournament. Participants may sign up either as a member of a team or as a single participant. Single participants will be placed on a team upon arrival at the event. All participants must be willing to wear a blindfold, kneepads and elbow pads. Games will be played under modified official goalball rules. Tournament format will be determined after the entries are received. The goalball tournament will take place at Nimitz High School. Tournament information will be included in the Event Handbook to be emailed out 1 week prior to the event. Saturday, October 20, 2012 - Nimitz High School (Registration at 8 a.m.) A. NON-COMPETITIVE 9:30 am – 11:30 am 1. AGES 0-5: LOW ORGANIZED GAMES From 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 0-5 year olds have the opportunity, along with their parents, to participate in every kind of motor and sensory activity imaginable! There will be sports stations, obstacle courses, switch activated toys, a ball pit, crawl tunnels, and many other fun and engaging activities for infants, toddlers and preschoolers of all abilities. Parents also will have the opportunity to network with other parents and observe the athletic activities of the older children in the track and field events. At 11:30, 4 and 5 year olds are encouraged to run a 25 meter exhibition as a means of building readiness skills for future track events. A specially designed medal will be given to each child participating in the 0-5 events. After a morning full of fun and activity, families are invited to join in for lunch at 11:30. 2. AGES 6 – 22: SPORTS AND RECREATION SKILLS Athletes with visual, in addition to physical and/or intellectual disabilities, who need physical assistance to throw, strike, and move/propel forward. Events will include modified bowling, grasp and release activities, kicking skills, mobility movements, sensory awareness and ball striking. All activities will have several levels of skill sets to allow for all participant abilities. This NEW program will be located in the main gym Saturday morning and will give students who have more severe physical limitations an opportunity to participate in a variety of fun and age appropriate activities and where physical assistance can be given. These students will receive a newly designed Sports Extravaganza participation medal for their overall participation in this program. After a morning full of fun and activity, families are invited to join in for lunch at 11:30.