Springfield High School introduces Unified Sport

As winter sports come to an end at Springfield High School, the students who love basketball don’t have to say goodbye just yet.

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2016-03-23 / Springfield Springfield High School introduces Unified Sport BY ERICKA SCHOFF Participants on the unified basketball team practicing at Springfield High School. ERICKA SCHOFF Participants on the unified basketball team practicing at Springfield High School. ERICKA SCHOFF SPRINGFIELD — As winter sports come to an end at Springfield High School (SHS), the students who love basketball don’t have to say goodbye just yet. On Monday, March 7, SHS athletic director Timmy MacDonnell announced a new addition to the athletic department, the unified basketball team. Enlarge Map “While at Mt. Mansfield Union I coached both unified soccer and basketball, so I had some experience with the program,” he said. “The unified basketball team will benefit the Springfield population because it will bring more students together. The unified sports program is based on inclusion and helping teach students how to engage with one another.” The team has been meeting for practices on Wednesday’s and Friday’s during the student’s advisory period. A typical practice is just like any other team practice. The students warm up and stretch, improve skills, and have controlled scrimmages. Brooke Willey, a senior at SHS, and former varsity basketball player joined the unified team to help students develop their skills. “I joined the team to mainly help out the players that have never played before and to keep being involved with the sport,” said Willey. “Having the unified teams will give kids that don't feel comfortable enough to join during the regular season an opportunity to enjoy the game. I personally enjoy watching kids that have never played before make a basket.” Willey favors having the practices during school hours that way more students have the chance to participate. Although the practices are spent developing basketball skills, many more skills can be developed with the help of this program. Students who have never been a part of a team are given the opportunity to step up as leader and represent SHS in a positive way. Dakota Bushey, a sophomore at SHS, and varsity/unified basketball player hopes to see the program expand to other sports and continue to grow. “I wanted to join the team partly because it's more basketball and partly because I wanted to be involved with people in the school I don't interact with a lot,” he said. “I think it’s great that students with disabilities have the chance to play a team sport that they normally wouldn’t try.” The program is still young and has a lot of growing to do, but by incorporating a unified team, it will be a step in the right direction for SHS. The unified basketball team played in their first game on March 22, away at Brattleboro.