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Parkland Basketball Club Basketball Buddies Program
Basketball Buddies, a program which pairs special needs children with volunteers called Buddies. Each player is matched with their own Buddy for the entire season which runs from January 11 - March 9. Games are on Sundays only with the Buddies arriving at 11:45 and the players arriving at 12 noon and activities ending at 1pm. All activities are held at Terramar Park, on Hillsboro Blvd. in Parkland.
The program services all special needs children regardless of physical or mental impairment. Through the shared encouragement of all Buddies, the players and their families are able to experience the joys of their athletic endeavors. Through positive reinforcement and a message of never quitting and always trying your best and always having fun doing so, the players achieve new levels of success each time they come out to the field. The majority of Buddies are area high school students (who receive community service hours for their participation) and mature middle school and elementary school students however there is always a need for adult volunteers as well. Knowledge of the game of Basketball is not a requirement in order to be a Buddy. The number of players that the program is able to enroll is dependent on the number of Buddies who volunteer for the program. However, this is not a casual commitment. All Buddies are required to attend at least 80% of the Sunday afternoon sessions. This is critical because it is important to the player that his or her Buddy will be there for them.
Each Sunday activity is divided into 4 parts. The first part is a group stretch and run. The second part is running through a series of training stations. The third part is one on one work with their buddy. These 3 parts take approximately 30 minutes. The fourth part and final 30 minutes of our session is devoted to the game. This game is unlike a standard Basketball game. During this time the players and Buddies are on the court and each player has the opportunity to control the ball and shoot a basket. In addition to being encouraged by the Buddies and their families, the players are also taught to encourage each other's efforts. In Basketball Buddies, winning occurs when a player steps on the court, overcomes his or her own perceived limitations through their hard work and efforts and does so with smiles and laughter.
The end of the season is celebrated with a picnic where the players receive trophies from the Parkland Basketball Club Board, the Mayor and commissioners of the City of Parkland.
If you have any questions, please contact Program Director Kevin Tyrie by e-mail at Kevin_Tyrie@yahoo.com or by phone at 954-752-4540.
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