The Challenger Baseball program that was in Estevan for the first time this spring proved to be a hit with the athletes who participated and the “buddies” who helped them.
Challenger, which was offered in conjunction with the Estevan Minor Baseball Association, is for young people with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Christine Jones, who was one of the organizers, said they had 16 players registered and 10 buddies, who are able-bodied people that can assist the kids with the game.
It might mean helping the kids catch and throw a ball, or pointing them in the right direction to run the bases.
“They also keep them safe, so if somebody hits a really hard ball, they’re not going to get work, because they might not have the reflexes to catch the ball,” said Jones.
Parents who brought their kids to Challenger Baseball were “astounded” with how their children have grown, Jones said. Basic motor skills, baseball fundamentals and social skills have all taken a step forward.
Challenger Baseball was offered for one hour each week at Lynn Prime Park. For the first half-hour, young people played different games, learned baseball skills and had a warmup. The next 30 minutes were an adaptive game of baseball.
“It’s usually three innings,” said Jones. “Everyone gets to hit. Everybody runs the bases. The last person up runs all the way home.”
She described it as a game where nobody is out. If they can throw a ball to first base, they will. If not, they do their best to get it to the closest player.
“It’s teaching them the skills of baseball without having the expectations or the demands of ‘you have to get this done’ or you have to do this right,’” said Jones.
Parents and other people in the community have been thrilled with the Challenger Baseball program. They have told Jones that Estevan needed a program like this, and programs for other sports.
“I had one parent say that their daughter’s basic motor skills, learning baseball and socializing have changed drastically through programs like this, and just seeing her excitement when she hit her first home run was enough to see how important these different sporting activities are, and the need for them in this community,” said Jones.
The program was at the pace of that young girl, Jones said, and the instructions were simplified, so she could understand and follow through on them.
It also helped her gain confidence and a love for physical activity.
During the coaches’ training session, Jones said they learned that children with disabilities are more prone to obesity than those without disabilities, and that 25 per cent of those with cognitive and physical disabilities had not taken part in any sports, in or out of school, compared to six per cent in the general population.
Also, 12 per cent on the autism spectrum disorder were physically active but pursued solitary forms of play.
“This is a program designed to get these kids out and get them more socialized and more physically active,” said Jones.
Businesses sponsored different activities, and a company paid for the medals for the kids at the end of the year. Another company paid for jerseys for the kids.
A barbecue at the Southern Plains Co-op in the spring raised more than $650.
Jones is excited for the future of Challenger Baseball in Estevan. Not only will it be back in the city next spring, but they are also offering a fall session on Sundays at the Estevan Alliance Church’s gymnasium from mid-September to mid-December, to keep the kids active, motivated and ready to learn.
