Disabled Enjoy Volleyball League

Athletes Partner With Able-Bodied

Terry Pourner, center, congratulates teammate Connie Patton, both playing for a team from Pathfinder, after Patton scored a point Thursday during a game against a group from Arkansas Support Network at the Springdale Youth Center.
Terry Pourner, center, congratulates teammate Connie Patton, both playing for a team from Pathfinder, after Patton scored a point Thursday during a game against a group from Arkansas Support Network at the Springdale Youth Center.

— Craig Hunter dived for the volleyball, knocking it back over the net while rolling all the way over and back to his feet.

Hunter’s athletic play didn’t come in front of hundreds of spectators, just his teammates on Pathfinder Thunder, opponents of the Arkansas Support Network Gamepoint team and friends of team members.

At A Glance

Springdale Unified Leagues

For more information about volleyball and softball leagues for the disabled, call:

-Springdale Youth Center, 479-751-7275

-Elizabeth Richardson Center, 479-872-1800

-Pathfinder Inc., 479-254-6717

-Arkansas Support Network, 479-927-4101

Source: Staff Report

Hunter participates in the United Volleyball League at the Springdale Youth Center. The teams in the league include athletes who are disabled in some way and their able-bodied partners. Organizations that work with the disabled, such as Arkansas Support Network and Pathfinder Inc., sponsor the teams.

Karen Mowry, a recreational therapist at Elizabeth Richardson Center, helped start sports programs for clients about 10 years ago.

“It came out of Special Olympics,” Mowry said. “They started pairing some of their better athletes with those without disabilities. The partners become role models and push them to become better athletes.”

Softball was the first sport to bring together the able-bodied and those with disabilities, Mowry said. Volleyball was added later.

Springdale has two unified softball leagues and one volleyball league, said Andrew Proffitt, Springdale Youth Center director and adult sports coordinator.

“We try to keep a level playing field,” Proffitt said. “In volleyball, the partners have to hit underhand. In softball, we are planning to have the partners hit left-handed.”

The athletes enjoy playing with the able-bodied, taking pride in any accomplishment. Connie Patton, who plays for the Thunder, celebrated after her serve fell in following an unsuccessful volley that drifted wide.

Patton scolded the ball after the first shot, much like Tom Hanks did Wilson the volleyball in the movie “Cast Away.”

Becky Kennington, who works for Arkansas Support Network, said all participants have fun. Kennington went to the match to support the athletes with whom she works.

“This gives them the chance to belong to something and learn team play,” Kennington said.

Kenneth Morgan, an athlete with Arkansas Support Network, said playing real games is important.

“It feels good to be able to do something,” Morgan said.

Rickey Glover, a program manager for the Support Network and a coach for Gamepoint, said athletes on his team have epilepsy, autism, Down Syndrome or cerebral palsy.

“Some have one or two,” Glover said. “Some of our people have all of the above.”

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Josh Williams, left, playing for a team from Arkansas Support Network, talks Thursday with referee Mike Geary before a game.

Having the athletes and partners playing side by side helps build respect for each other and the other team, Proffitt said.

“Both sides will celebrate for a good play,” Proffitt said. “It helps build small victories into larger ones.”

The athletes are not discouraged by their problems on the court, said Darin Hunter, a coach for the Thunder.

“I am so impressed that they never give up,” Hunter said. “They keep on fighting.”

The league plays Thursday nights, Mowry said. Anyone with developmental disabilities can participate.

“We’ve got some people on my team that aren’t associated with any of our organizations,” Mowry said. “Come on down. We’ll see if we can work you in.”

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