inclusion soccer

[Guest guest]

I read your post with interest although I don't know any answers regarding the

law or inclusion issues. My first impression was that all the team players need

to be able to follow the rules and instructions from the coach. You can't have

a " difficult " child breaking the rules or causing problems on the field of with

team mates regardless of their disabilities. In my opinion if you can't control

your behavior than you need to be taken out of the situation or else everyone

would be coming up with excuses for their behavior. Some things just aren't

acceptable and I don't think the coach should be responsible for having to

concentrate on behavior modification.

As far as your child participating with his CI, I would think that that is

something that you would have to be responsible for and take the risk if

something were to happen to your son or his equipment. The other kids on the

team also have the same chance of getting hurt on the field as your son. As far

as the equipment goes I think that would just be a personal decision as to

whether you were comfortable with taking that risk, but it shouldn't be the team

coach's responsibility if something happens. Aren't there forms to this effect

that are filled out when the season starts?

K

's mom, 3.11 yrs, CI 7/30/02

www.caringbridge.org/va/ryanbay

[Guest guest]

Hi Lydia - I talked with my husband about this. He coaches for our local rec

dept and of course, both our boys are deaf (he coaches our youngest) so I was

interested in his perspective.

Hugh - that's my husband (we just had our 25th anniversary!) - volunteers his

time as a coach and doesn't get much training to coach - also the rules about

inclusion have never been reviewed with him and the other coaches. The head of

our town's rec league - while nice - just isn't very effective or organized and

is very hands off in handling coaches so it can be a real pot shot in who you

get as a coach. Hugh works in Athletics at Dartmouth so has training for

coaching but not all parents do. I know we had a nightmare coach in basketball

- he'd play the three best players all the time and the 7 other kids might get

to play 5 minutes a game. It's just not the way it should be for 3rd and 4th

graders. My point is - at least in our town - coaches aren't consistent and are

for the most part parents of kids on the teams. It's wonderful that they take

the time to volunteer - but the oversight above from the rec dept is scanty at

best. And of course most parents don't have experience working with special

needs kids unless they have one of their own - that's why Hugh coaches!

As others have expressed, the behavior of the one child was based on the kid's

behavior and I don't think because he was being discriminated against in some

way. Behavior like that - to the point of a child having their tooth chipped -

just isn't acceptable and the kid and mom should understand that. Hugh would

have talked with the child first, then with the child and the parent to let them

know what the problem is and the consequences.

Hugh ended up this year with an austistic child on his team. The child doesn't

do well in new situations and unfortunately, none of his friends were on our

team but on another team. She was very angry with Hugh that that happened, even

when Hugh offered to talk to the coach of the team where the kid's friends are

to see if maybe they could swap but the mom refused. Hugh told her that in the

future, she should let someone - the rec dept or one of the coaches - know her

child's situation so that perhaps he can be with friends in the future.

Sorry this is so long - it's a difficult situation on all sides but think the

ultimate responsibility lies with the rec dept or whoever is organizing teams.

Good luck!

Barbara

*******************************

Barbara Mellert

Manager, Social Science Computing

Kiewit Computing Services

Dartmouth College

13A Silsby Hall; HB 6121

Hanover NH 03755

Telephone: 603/646-2877

URL: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ssc

[Guest guest]

Hi Lydia - I talked with my husband about this. He coaches for our local rec

dept and of course, both our boys are deaf (he coaches our youngest) so I was

interested in his perspective.

Hugh - that's my husband (we just had our 25th anniversary!) - volunteers his

time as a coach and doesn't get much training to coach - also the rules about

inclusion have never been reviewed with him and the other coaches. The head of

our town's rec league - while nice - just isn't very effective or organized and

is very hands off in handling coaches so it can be a real pot shot in who you

get as a coach. Hugh works in Athletics at Dartmouth so has training for

coaching but not all parents do. I know we had a nightmare coach in basketball

- he'd play the three best players all the time and the 7 other kids might get

to play 5 minutes a game. It's just not the way it should be for 3rd and 4th

graders. My point is - at least in our town - coaches aren't consistent and are

for the most part parents of kids on the teams. It's wonderful that they take

the time to volunteer - but the oversight above from the rec dept is scanty at

best. And of course most parents don't have experience working with special

needs kids unless they have one of their own - that's why Hugh coaches!

As others have expressed, the behavior of the one child was based on the kid's

behavior and I don't think because he was being discriminated against in some

way. Behavior like that - to the point of a child having their tooth chipped -

just isn't acceptable and the kid and mom should understand that. Hugh would

have talked with the child first, then with the child and the parent to let them

know what the problem is and the consequences.

Hugh ended up this year with an austistic child on his team. The child doesn't

do well in new situations and unfortunately, none of his friends were on our

team but on another team. She was very angry with Hugh that that happened, even

when Hugh offered to talk to the coach of the team where the kid's friends are

to see if maybe they could swap but the mom refused. Hugh told her that in the

future, she should let someone - the rec dept or one of the coaches - know her

child's situation so that perhaps he can be with friends in the future.

Sorry this is so long - it's a difficult situation on all sides but think the

ultimate responsibility lies with the rec dept or whoever is organizing teams.

Good luck!

Barbara

*******************************

Barbara Mellert

Manager, Social Science Computing

Kiewit Computing Services

Dartmouth College

13A Silsby Hall; HB 6121

Hanover NH 03755

Telephone: 603/646-2877

URL: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ssc

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

Try not to get too upset about the situation. It will probably work itself out

on it's own. My daughter started playing soccer when she was 5, and is now on

her third season (she is 6 1/2 now). She is a horrible soccer player, but she

likes to play most of the time, and I figure it is good physical activity as

well as socially. She doesn't understand what the coach is telling her to do

most of the time, but she manages. I'm surprised that you all have goalies at

age 5, in our area I don't think we get goalies until they are 8. And the box

thing, we just started that this year as well. And my daughter has a hard time

with that too. We've seen many children (all hearing) on opposing teams that

have girls that are busy pulling the flowers (weeds) from the field, or running

the other direction from the ball and the rest of the children, or twirling

their hair, etc. Now a year later, those same players have gotten so much

better. I feel like it would be helpful if the coach delt with the goalie thing

(because you know, Moms don't know anything!

And as far as the other parents, most know what it is like to have a " spirited

child " (aka strong-willed), or know someone that has one, so don't worry about

them.

Good luck.

Robin, mom to Brittney, 6, SNHL, , 4, hearing