Teen’s Program Allows Children With Disabilities To Play Soccer

OSWEGO – In the seventh grade, Claudia Chetney was a Junior Girl Scout considering what she would do for her Girl Scout Silver Award. Chetney brainstormed on paper all the areas that she saw a need in her community and came up with helping kids with disabilities play sports; and it seemed only natural to pick the one she knew best.

And so, for the past five years, children of all skill levels have been hustling up and down the fields of the at the Richard Benjamin Sports Complex located behind Oswego Middle School, with Chetney as the organizer and coach. Hundreds of goals have been scored.

But no one is keeping score. There’s no pressure — it’s all for fun.

Kids of all ages and abilities can participate. Usually they have between 10-15 kids a week with about the same number of volunteers.

Chetney told Oswego County Today that she wants all kids to enjoy the game of soccer as she has had the opportunity to do so for the more than 12 years.

“I know it’s hard for kids with disabilities to play sports,” she explained. “There are too many rules, regulations, penalties and a whole lot of pressure to win!”

Chetney heard about a program called “Doing it Our Way” organized out of the Parents of Special Children Office in Fulton. The program was developed to allow special needs individuals participate in sports.

“The program was already helping kids play basketball, dance and cheerlead. I figured, why not soccer?” Chetney said.

With the help of the Oswego Youth Soccer Association board of directors who has made its facilities available, many adult coaches, and youth soccer players, children of all ages with disabilities enjoy soccer sessions in the spring and fall. It’s every fall for five weeks.

“I want the community to know that it takes place so that other families may want to bring their kids to participate,” Chetney said.

“This soccer program Claudia has put together for the last 5 years has given children with special needs the chance to learn how to play soccer, where they wouldn’t be able to handle the pressures that come with organized sports,” said Jill Allen, the parent of one of the athletes. “My son, Devin, looks forward to it every year.”

Volunteers include several members of Chetney’s girls’ soccer team and some members of the boys’ team as well.

Around 10 -12 kids took part in Saturday’s session. Attendance grows as the season continues, Chetney noted.

“We’re all seniors,” Chetney said of her cadre of volunteer helpers. “We’ve got to find someone to step up and keep the program going. I’ll do it in the spring. We’ll find someone to do it.”

“It’s an amazing program,” another participant’s mother added. “The kids look forward to it. They love it. Having fun with soccer. No worry about rules, scoring, winning or losing. Just having fun.”

“It’s fun playing soccer when you don’t keep score,” one of the players said. “It’s fun. It’s just fun.”

Chetney said she’s thankful for the help of her teammates (Oswego Varsity Girls’ as well as Oswego Boys’ Varsity soccer teams) along with many other student athletes who come to help out.

For more information about the soccer clinics or other “Doing It Our Way” programs, call Parents of Special Children at 315-207-2741 or email [email protected].

Print this entry