Youth, Veteran & Education Program Guide FALL / WINTER 2017 ® MULTI-SPORT ORGANIZATION www.blazesports.org LIFE HAS NO LIMITATIONS EXCEPT THE ONES YOU MAKE! BlazeSports America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. Our mission is to change the lives of children and veterans with physical disabilities through adaptive sports. We offer a variety of sport and recreation programs for kids and veterans with physical disabilities. These include spina bifida, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, amputations and visual impairments, among others. All of our programs provide participants the opportunities to increase physical activity, create new friendships, develop new skills and increase independence. We serve a wide range of ability levels from recreational beginner to competitive Paralympians. As the legacy organization of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, we carry on the tradition of quality programming, experienced and knowledgeable staff, and the best practices within adaptive sport. BlazeSports America is the 2016 recipient of the United States Olympic Committee’s Rings of Gold Award for Youth Program Excellence and a Paralympic Sports Club—Gold Level. BlazeSports AmericaTM www.blazesports.org 404.270.2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS ADAPTIVE YOUTH PROGRAMS 4 BASKETBALL (Wheelchair) 5 ARCHERY (Indoor) 6 SOCCER CLINIC (Ambulatory Adaptive) 6 SWIMMING 7 TRACK & FIELD 8 ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH & VETERANS 9 ADAPTIVE ROWING 9 ADAPTIVE FENCING CLINIC 9 ADAPTIVE VETERAN PROGRAMS 10 ARCHERY 10 GOLF 11 TRACK & FIELD 11 BOWLING 12 CYCLING 12 ROCK CLIMBING 13 SWIMMING 13 GA AQUARIUM IMMERSION 13 TRAINING & EDUCATION & PROGRAM SUPPORT CERTIFIED ADAPTIVE RECREATION & SPORTS SPECIALIST 14 BLAZEDAYS (SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM) 15 ATHLETICS FOR ALL 15 BOCCIA LEVEL 1 - COACHING TRAINING (FREE) 15 EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM 15 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 16 GREAT APPS TO DOWNLOAD 16 EVERYTHING ELSE WAYS TO GIVE 17 FALL/WINTER PROGRAM & EVENT CALENDAR 18 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS 19 BlazeSports AmericaTM www.blazesports.org 404.270.2000 ADAPTIVE YOUTH PROGRAMS BlazeSports America believes that every child should have the chance to play, to live a healthy lifestyle, to make friends and to enjoy the benefits of sport and recreation. Growing up should be filled with fun, friends and memories, and our mission is to enable kids with physical disabilities to have those experiences. We’ve developed our Youth Programs with that in mind! 2017 FALL YOUTH NOW SERVING YOUTH PROGRAM LINE UP AGES 6-22 BlazeSports provides a variety of sport BlazeSports America is expanding the age and recreation programs for kids and range of our youth programs to 6 - 22. teens with physical disabilities. We Now more youth with disabilities can offer activities designed to fit the continue participating with BlazeSports in needs of everyone from the programs like swimming, track & field and recreational beginner to the serious archery - including competing in the Dixie athlete. Games, Jr. Nationals, etc. Invite a friend! All of our programs provide the *The age range of 6-22 applies to all BlazeSports opportunity for our participants to Youth programs with the exception of Wheelchair socialize, create new friendships, Basketball. develop new skills and increase independence. Plus, we provide YOUTH PARTICIPATION athletes with training, support and the ELIGIBITY opportunity to increase independence and improve health. Youth with physical disabilities, ages 6 to 22 (varies per program). Some programs • WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL allow for family members to also register. • INDOOR ARCHERY Please contact [email protected] for • SOCCER CLINIC more details. • SWIMMING • TRACK & FIELD Disabilities may include spina bifida, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, • ROWING cerebral palsy, dwarfism, amputations, • FENCING CLINIC muscular dystrophy, stroke and visual impairments. 4 | BlazeSports AmericaTM www.blazesports.org 404.270.2000 WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL YOUTH PROGRAMS The BlazeSports America Jr. Wheelchair Hawks Basketball program is one of the nation’s fastest growing and most successful youth wheelchair basketball programs. Youth athletes can participate in this seven-month sports program and be a part of the BlazeSports Atlanta Jr. Hawks Wheelchair Basketball team, part of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). Our program includes skills clinics, leadership training, academic support, strength and conditioning and guidance on healthy eating. IMPORTANT DATES LOCATION Season: August, 2017 - April, 2018 Shepherd Center MANDATORY Parent Meeting: Sat, 8/19 2020 Peachtree Rd NW Atlanta GA 30309 Practices Begin: Sat, 9/9 COST $35 per season PRACTICES - DAY/TIME VARSITY (Boys & Girls ages 13-19) PREP (Boys & Girls ages 6-14) Saturdays, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Saturdays, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm The varsity team is a competitive team that practices Prep Team athletes can be on a Development/Rec- 1 day per week and competes in 5-7 tournaments reational Level or Competitive Level for the season regionally and nationally throughout the season. based on skill level. The Prep Team practices weekly. Tournaments vary based on level. Register for varsity Register for Prep • All athletes play using a wheelchair. If needed, athletes may borrow a sport chair from BlazeSports America’s Equipment Loan Program. • Athletes must be able to push themselves down the court and transfer themselves to their sport chair unassisted. • BlazeSports America covers registration fees for tournaments as well as a team uniform for each athlete. All other tournament expenses are the responsibility of the athlete/parent/guardian. 5 | BlazeSports AmericaTM www.blazesports.org 404.270.2000 ADAPTIVE INDOOR ARCHERY YOUTH PROGRAMS The BlazeSports Youth Adaptive Archery Program is designed for boys and girls ages 9-22 and has something for everyone from the beginner to more advanced archer. This unique program is designed to build self-esteem while developing participants skills in sportsmanship and archery. No experience is necessary! BlazeSports Archer - Coach Patricia Bowen is a Certified Level II USA Archery Instructor and an adaptive archer herself. SESSION September 7th - 28th DAY/TIME: LOCATION Waller Park Recreation Center Thursdays, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm 250 Oak Street COST Roswell, GA 30075 $45 per month/session Learn more & register here (includes equipment fees) ADAPTIVE SOCCER CLINIC BlazeSports America is proud to partner with the City of Roswell to bring our athletes this exciting new Ambulatory Soccer Clinic for boys and girls ages 6 -22. The BlazeSports America Ambulatory Soccer Clinic, is designed to teach the “ins and outs” of ambulatory soccer. The clinic is a great opportunity for our youth to engage in one of the most celebrated sports worldwide and to work as a team developing critical collaborative and communication skills. DAY/TIME LOCATION Saturday, September 23rd 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Waller Park Extension Rotary Dream Field COST: FREE 160 Dobbs Drive Learn more & register here Roswell, GA 30075 To learn more or register for our youth programs, go to www.blazesports.org or email youth@blazesports. 6 | BlazeSports AmericaTM www.blazesports.org 404.270.2000 ADAPTIVE SWIMMING YOUTH PROGRAMS BlazeSports America’s Adaptive Swimming Program is designed for boys and girls ages 6-22 of every skill level from the beginner learn- ing the basics, to the more advanced swimmer training to compete. Coach Fred Lamback’s 30+ years of adaptive coaching experience includes our own McClain Hermes, a member of the 2017 USA Paralympic Swim Team! REGISTRATION Register by the quarter or for the entire year. Cost is $60 per quarter, or $200 for the year. Register here for July- Sept Register here for Oct - Dec For more information, email [email protected]. SCHEDULE LOCATION #1 (Decatur) LOCATION #2 (John’s Creek) DAY/TIME: Saturdays, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm DAY/TIME: Saturdays 9/9, 9/16, 10/14, 10/21, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm 11/11, 11/18, 12/9, 12/16 9/30, 10/28 Woodruff Physical Activities Bldg Dynamo Swim Center Agnes Scott College 5075 Abbotts Bridge Rd. 141 E. College Ave. John’s Creek, GA 30097 Decatur, GA 30030 To learn more or register for our youth programs, go to www.blazesports.org or email youth@blazesports. For more information, go to www.blazesports.org or email [email protected]. 77 || BlazeSportsBlazeSports AmericaAmericaTMTM www.blazesports.orgwww.blazesports.org 404.270.2000404.270.2000 FALL TRACK & FIELD YOUTH PROGRAMS BlazeSports America’s Track and Field Program offers training and participation in competitive events for athletes ages 6-22 who are ambulatory or use a wheelchair. If you are looking to stay active, keep fit or work towards a greater goal, our training program will teach you the proper techniques to enjoy the sport safely. There’s no better cardio program than Track & Field for athletes who are ambulatory or use a wheelchair! Athletes can participate in a range of events from track to discus to shot put to the long jump that cater to their specific ability and interests. FALL SESSION September 18TH - - December 11th (no practices October 9th or November 20th due to holidays) DAY/TIME Mondays, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm LOCATION Centennial High School 9310 Scott Road Roswell, GA 30076 *Park in gravel lot closet to Eves Rd. & Scott Rd. COST $25 per session REGISTER HERE or email youth@blaz- esports for more infomraiton 8 | BlazeSports AmericaTM www.blazesports.org 404.270.2000 ADAPTIVE ROWING YOUTH & VETERAN PROGRAMS BlazeSports America is excited to be official partners with theAtlanta Rowing Club! Through our partnership, Youth and Veteran athletes ages 6 and up can take advantage of weekly rowing classes and clinics to learn more about and experience the sport of adaptive rowing. ADAPTIVE & PARA CLASSES Adaptive & para classes are 2X/week for members of the Atlanta Rowing Club (ARC). l Saturdays, 10:30 am -12:30 pm ADAPTIVE & PARA MEMBERSHIPS The Atlanta Rowing Club offers two discounted membership options for para/adaptive rowers. 1. Therapeutic memberships - $50 annually, includes on-the-water To register or for more information about support.