Sports clinic offers recreation for athletes with visual impairments

4:20 p.m., Oct. 1, 2003--Archery, rock climbing, golf and a dozen other athletic activities drew 30 athletes with visual impairments to the Mid-Atlantic Sports Day clinic, held from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Carpenter Sports Building.

UD junior Eddie Bliem, EG ’05, belays while Derren Daly works his way to the top of a rock climbing wall.

Currently in its fourth year, the clinic, which was attended by athletes ranging from age 8-64, included both individual and team events and drew participants from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.

“The purpose of this clinic is to introduce blind and visually impaired people to as many recreational activities as possible,” Stephen Goodwin, UD professor of health and exercise sciences and co-chair of the event, said. “Often, not a lot of sports programs exist locally for visually impaired athletes, so we’re hoping that by providing this clinic participants will be able to take what they learn back to their schools and communities.”

Goodwin, who recruited students from his Adapted Physical Education class to assist with the event, added that the clinic also provides a good experience for coaches, teachers and community volunteers.

“One of the courses offered to physical education students is the Adapted Physical Education survey course, so this clinic provides an opportunity for students to put into practice what they learned in class,” Goodwin said. The event, which drew approximately 40 volunteers, provided athletes with a high degree of individual instruction and guidance.

President of PABA (Pennsylvania Association for Blind Athletes) Heidi White, who together with her husband, Sandy White, and Goodwin organized the event, agreed that volunteer involvement was key to the clinic’s success. “This event is based entirely on volunteer effort, so it’s important that we get as much community support as we can,” she said.

Citing coaches from Widener and West Chester universities and the Mortar Board Scholars Association, White added that professional instruction also was key to the clinic’s mission. “Most of the coaches are experts in their sport, which is necessary for the clinic to meet its goal,” she said. “But, volunteers from every level of experience make the day a success. “

Another factor contributing to the clinic’s popularity, White said, is its location in the state-of-the-art Carpenter Sports Building. “In addition to providing professional instruction and opportunities for athletic exploration, the clinic offers a convenient setting for athletes from throughout the East Coast region,” she said. Saturday’s turnout included participants from as far afield as Virginia; past events have drawn athletes from upstate New York and western Pennsylvania.

The clinic, which was broken into five hourlong sessions, included archery, rock climbing, golf, swimming, wrestling, powerlifting, tumbling, basketball, tandem cycling, soccer, track and field events and various sports designed specifically for athletes with visual impairments. Using audio feedback as a means to guide athletes, these modified events included beep baseball, goalball and audio darts.

“Last year I tried golf and rock climbing,” Stanley Smith said. “But my primary role this year has been to demonstrate the audio darts. The best thing about the day is that there is no pressure. It’s a learning process, not a competitive event. People who come can explore as many—or as few—recreational events as they want. It’s an opportunity to acquire knowledge and skill and the possibility of a lifelong pursuit.”

The clinic was sponsored by the Delaware Association for Blind Athletes and PABA, with support from UD’s athletics department. For more information on next year’s clinic, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call (800) 596-5146 or visit [www.pablindsports.org].

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photo by Duane Perry

E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.