UCAN Sports

It was a perfectly sunny day out on the pitch last Saturday at the premier of South East Consortium’s UCAN sports league. Athletes, parents, staff and volunteers made their way out onto the grassy field to kick around the soccer ball, get some exercise and just have fun.

UCAN sports league is the first of many new programs in a monumental initiative to redefine the way we approach and manage special needs athletics. UCAN, along with several other new and revamped South East Consortium athletic programs, combines co-operative play between participants and inclusionary participation with volunteers to create the optimal social and athletic experience.

Athletes arrive to practice and are paired up with their volunteer buddies for some down time before practice. Once the majority of players have arrived practice commences. Practice consists of two main components; straight physical exercise that helps develop and improve balance, strength and coordination (all integral foundations for sports) and a systematic expansion of sport specific skills that is built upon each week.

The volunteers provide support to our athletes while modeling and reinforcing taught skills. The volunteers also serve as a vehicle for social interaction between athletes with the intent of building confidence and interpersonal skills in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.

The staff on hand possess a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to children and athletics. Teachers, firefighters, lifeguards and Eagle Scouts make up the exemplary staff South East Consortium has running the UCAN sports program.

Other sports program South East Consortium is currently running include TriSports, Partners in Sports, Cottle Crew Elementary After School, SEC Sluggers Fall Ball baseball clinic and Eastchester Eagles basketball camp. All of which work on incorporating aspects of the UCAN program.

“What we are trying to do here has never been done. We are looking to develop individual sports leagues throughout the area with the goal of one day having Rye play Eastchester or Harrison play Larchmont in a fun and competitive setting,” said Executive Director of South East Consortium Jerry Peters.

UCAN sports meets every Saturday at the Quaker Ridge School in Scarsdale. The fall season will focus on soccer, basketball in the winter and baseball in the fall. For more information about UCAN sports please contact the South East Consortium offices at 914-698-5232.