Is your child eager to compete in one of the 22 Olympic-style sports offered by Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ), but not yet 8 years old? How about the Young Athletes (YA) program? Athletes aged 2 through 7, with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), can participate in the program, which introduces them to SONJ.
Curriculum
YA’s focus is on inclusive sports play that teaches foundational skills like strength, flexibility, body awareness, walking and running, balance and jumping, and sports specific skills like trapping, catching, throwing, striking, and kicking.
Additionally, athletes will have the ability to learn and improve their social skills like taking turns and playing with teammates, build their self-confidence, and the opportunity to play as a family and meet new friends. Sessions run from 6 – 8 weeks, and are held in many areas throughout the year. Usually the first week of each session is a sampler of different activities, and then every following week centers on one specific sport. The emphasis is on sports that Young Athletes will be eligible to compete in once they reach official competition age.
Coaches
YA coaches have a varied background, some are special education teachers, siblings or parents of children with ID, or have been coaching other SONJ programs in the past. “I volunteer in honor of and in memory of my brother Danny, who was a SONJ athlete.” says coach Julie from the Lawrenceville program. “I saw the profound impact the program had on his life.” Some of our coaches have been involved with SONJ for 20+ years!
The Morristown Young Athletes program was started last year by Coach Rachael Cheren, who wanted to continue working with children after returning from college. “In 6th grade I started coaching swimming in the Kids to Kids program, and in college I joined Best Buddies” Cheren says. “When I returned from college I started working in pediatrics, and knew I wanted to continue working with younger children, where I could focus on their developmental skills.” When she learned that there was no program in her area, she decided to start her own with support from SONJ, and with a group of enthusiastic volunteers, most of whom she grew up with or went to high school with. The program has been very successful, drawing families who live more than an hour away!
“While pre-school helped our son Chip with socializing and becoming more comfortable among others, SONJ has helped him become more active and develop gross motor skills” says Michael Salitas. “Chip has the opportunity to try different sports and see what he likes, all in a low stress environment, without having to commit to one sport. At YA events kids can just interact with each other. As a soccer fan I hope he will also like the sport, but so far he seems to prefer track and field over other sports.”
Unified
Young Athletes programs also put emphasis on interplay between athletes with and without ID, which is continued in SONJ’s Unified programs. When participating in YA programs, athletes have to be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian. It all comes together to create a warm, family-friendly atmosphere where siblings and parents can connect, share experiences, and begin building their own supportive communities.
“It is exciting to know there is a community for Chip, for as long as he wants to be part of it” says Salitas. “There are so many volunteers taking care of the kids that we can make friends with other parents. It is a space for athletes and parents that is safe, inclusive, and fun. It’s an uplifting setting, where we can talk about the soccer clubs we support, as much as talk about our kids and our daily lives. We interact with people who understand our child and us, and the things we are going through. For example, when Chip had to undergo a medical procedure last December, we were able to talk with some of the other parents whose children had similar experiences.”
Young Athletes doesn’t just impact children – it uplifts volunteers and coaches, igniting purpose, joy, and a deeper connection to the power of inclusion. “Coaching YA has changed my perspective on kids with special needs. Seeing them learn and absorb information all the time is rewarding” affirms Cheren. “The athletes get out of their comfort zone and push themselves. They make eye contact for the first time, or reach for another athlete’s hands, or even introduce themselves in front of others. It has increased my emotional intelligence and understanding of what people go through and taught me to do the same with my life. If you are thinking about getting involved with SONJ: Sign up to become a volunteer, figure out which sports you like, and show up to an event.” Cheren continues. “Push yourself out of your comfort zone, these athletes do that too!”