For The Love Of The Game

by Sara Sawyer

The rhythmic sound of the ball hitting the smooth wooden floor, the swoosh as the ball goes through the net, the smell of popcorn and peanuts from the stands, the crowd cheering - sounds you wouldn't normally associate with handicapped children.

In the 1980's, Doug Garner of Hot Springs originated a program in Arkansas where children and adults confined to wheelchairs could have the opportunity to beat the odds and play the sport of basketball. The program, which is no longer funded by the state, allows for handicapped children to join a league and be part of a team. "The best thing about this is that the sport makes the kids feel normal," Brian Graham, who volunteers for the program as an assistant coach, explained. "I have a son who isn't in a wheelchair and when I brought him to the gym, he felt out of place because he was one of the only people not in a wheelchair. It makes being in a wheelchair normal."

There are three different age groups for the teams, and they are divided up by the height of the basketball goal. The 8-1/2 foot team is for children ages 5-13, the 10-foot team is for children ages 13-18 and then there is also an adult team, with some exceptions made depending on the severity of the handicap. There are tournaments in Hot Springs, AR. Birmingham, Al. and Dallas, TX each year that children and adults from all over the United States attend, and they work very hard to get there. "Our team practices every Thurs. night in the Bill Harmon Complex in Sherwood, AR.," Brian said. "We have kids from all over the state - West Helena, Cabot, Devalls Bluff, Bryant and Searcy."

The teams practice from September to March for the tournaments and, according to Brian, work extremely hard to keep their lives on track as well. "These kids give up a night of homework every week to come and practice. They already, being handicapped, have to work extra hard to keep their grades up to par and do just as much if not more than those who can walk."

Brian loves to be a part of this program and says that the atmosphere is "amazing." "It's not like a regular basketball game atmosphere - all of the parents cheer for all of the kids and all of the kids are winners. It's really something I can't explain, it's just better to see the looks on the kids faces and get the true feeling of what it means to these kids."

The funding for the program used to come from the state, but since that was cut, the parents are now responsible. Brian explained that they do have some fundraisers from time to time, but for the most part the funds come from the parents pockets. "We had a fund- raiser last year to go to Birmingham, where we raffled off a shotgun. We did raise enough to pay for all of our hotel rooms." Some teams in the league have special matching basketball chairs purchased by surrounding communities, but due to lack of funding the Arkansas Jr. Rollin' Razorbacks members provide their own wheelchairs.

Brian said the teams are actually quite good, and last year the adults placed in the top three in the nation at the national tournament in Las Vegas.

The rules for wheelchair basketball are different in some aspects. "You can only touch your wheels twice and you have to dribble the ball," Brian said. Also, some of the referees are in wheelchairs as well.

Anyone can volunteer or donate to this program. If you want to make any donations or volunteer at all, you can contact Brian at 501-268-9370 or Doug at 501-525-4503. Brian said this is a wonderful way for kids and adults to come together and the joy of helping out is a great feeling. "It's really a one-on-one type thing - right now we only have seven children on the team and it's amazing to see their faces when they shoot at the basket. It's really overwhelming."