The first sanctioned, special needs lacrosse club in Canada has opened in Halifax, borne from the same idea that brought HRM the first special needs hockey club, last winter.
Ian Readey, president and founder of the special needs hockey league, is a 27-year-old city resident with autism. After years of planning and teamwork with volunteers, the hockey club took off in the winter, with nearly 30 members showing up at the Shearwater rink each week.
Lacrosse was next on Readey’s list of special needs clubs to offer to athletes in the area.
“I had the idea for years,” he says. “Before this there was no special needs lacrosse program here. It was inspired by a few in the U.S., on the East coast. It was three years of careful planning to get the coaches and the structure.”
To get things rolling, Readey reached out to Lacrosse Nova Scotia, where he joined forces with KJ MacNeil, technical director for the organization, who helped get the program off the ground. Readey says it wouldn’t exist without Lacrosse Nova Scotia’s help and expertise.
“I thought it was a fantastic idea,” says MacNeil. “(Readey is) driven, this is his baby. We help with the technical aspect and teaching the fundamentals. It was Ian’s legwork that got this going.”
Special needs lacrosse had its first session on July 27, at the Gorsebrook Park field.
The program will run every Thursday for 10 weeks. It only costs the athletes $5 for the whole program, thanks to a donation to cover field costs from Chateau Properties of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Lacrosse Nova Scotia is also lending some equipment to the athletes, and is helping out with insurance, and providing volunteer coaches.
Steve Coates, volunteer administrator for the special needs hockey club, has been helping Readey set up the lacrosse program as well. He says the athletes in both clubs get more than sports training out of the experience.
“I know it’s been successful when they say they want to come back,” says Coates. “Just getting out for the physical activity and the social aspect makes life better.”
Readey agrees and says the foundations for special needs lacrosse are the same as for hockey: “fun, friendship and participation is what it’s all about.”
He adds that lacrosse is also an excellent way to develop hand-eye coordination, and feels as though it’s a great match for athletes with special needs to hone those skills.
Ten people showed up for the lacrosse practice on July 27, and more are expected each week as the word spreads. Participants can sign up any time throughout the season.
For more information about special needs lacrosse, or special needs hockey, visit the club’s website at: http://www.novascotiaspecialhockey.com/home.
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