The Kings Open Up
The Blacktown based club, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is the home of Special Needs Soccer within the western Sydney area. With a specifically modified soccer program called ?Open Goals?, the club is responsible for the development of footballers aged 5 ? 16 who have an intellectual disability.
The aim of the program is to provide an opportunity for participants to experience soccer in a safe and fun environment as well as increase the player?s confidence, fitness and their interaction with fellow peers.
President of Kings Langley Soccer Club, Craig Baird, stresses that Open Goals is all about giving kids a sporting opportunity and allowing others within the community to see that they are able to participate in daily activities like everybody else.
?What we are trying to do with the Open Goals program is to show that these players are capable and should not be labelled as special or disadvantaged, but instead as kids with abilities, skill and determination.?
The sessions, which will continue every week, will run for an hour and a half with players focussing on different drills for about 15 minutes at a time before finishing up with a game at the end. The ongoing program kicks off on the 18th April from 10:30am ? 12:00pm, at Lynwood Park, Stephen Street, Blacktown.
Lisa Thorn, the club?s Publicity Officer and former social educator with a background in working with children and adults with disabilities, is excited for the program to begin.
?We want the kids to enjoy themselves, be part of a team, increase their confidence and basically have a good time.?
The program will cater for all skill levels, with experience not playing a role.
?Kids are encouraged to feel welcomed and not intimated by their level of play. Players can be the next Ronaldinho or be seeing a soccer ball for the first time, it really doesn?t matter.?
Players will be supervised at all times with accredited coaches and caretakers on board to monitor activities. ?We hope to have one coach to every four players plus experienced caretakers on hand to make sure the sessions are safe and fun at all times? stated Baird. Parents can feel relaxed as the President of Kings Langley is more than just a caring coach; like Thorn, Baird has a background in working with kids with intellectual disabilities for over five years.
The club is currently looking for community sponsorships and have already attracted some attention. ?There are some corporate organizations and businesses throughout the community who like what we are doing and we will be in further discussions with them in the near future? said Baird.
Registrations for players aged between 5 and 16 who have an intellectual disability are being taken now to join the Open Goals program for 2009. It is important to note that players must turn 5 prior to 31st December.
For further information or to register, please call Lisa Thorn on 0408 216 457 or the club?s Registrar, Tracy Turner, on 0448 903 559. Additionally, further information can be found at www.kingslangleysoccerclub.com.au
-By Caetano Lima
