All-inclusive multi-sports mash up

Netball

Run by Netball SA

Tricia, Head Coach of the South Australian Rubies, who will be coaching the Netball Program in the All-Inclusive Multi- Sports Mash Up explains that as a coach of athletes with intellectual and physical disability, it is important to work with a person’s ABILITY, and not focus on the DISABILITY.

"I coach our players like I would other mainstream teams. As with all athletes, levels of ability differ. I work with each player as an individual whilst still including everyone as a team.

In game play, the rules remain the same. The players learn better when the rules are umpired strictly. These athletes are fiercely competitive."

Tennis

Run by Tennis SA

Tennis SA have modified and will be able to adapt Tennis to individuals as required to support people of all ages and abilities by:

• using softer and/or larger balls to make hitting, catching, and throwing activities easier
• using alternatives to rackets – hitting hands
• using rackets with shorter handles, but large hitting areas to enable young people to quickly achieve success
• using tape or straps to assist young people with limited grip to hold the racket
• using additional grips to make it easier for young people to hold and control the racket
• changing the size of the court/playing area
• ensuring each activity is practiced from a static position, before introducing movement
• giving pupils more time to react, by allowing more than one bounce before the ball is caught/hit

Athletics

Run by Athletics SA & The Farm

The Farm and Athletics SA will be focusing on three event types - Running, Jumping and Throwing. Athletics is very easily modified to support anyone to be active and have a go which makes it a great gateway to other sports.

Running - we will be working with participants to feel good about running by using small hurdles and hula hoops to entice them to take those extra steps further to fitness.

Jumping - through the focus of jumping we will be looking at what it takes to jump further and higher through activities such as standing jumps and hopping.

Throwing - this is the part of the program where we see who has the biggest muscles! This event is always fun as we get to use things such as a Vortex to see how far the participant can throw.