Exceptional Athletes

Purpose

To provide rules and safety guidelines, understanding and specialized training for coaches and assistants of exceptional athletes; to enhance the benefit of their positive life experiences through All Star Cheer and Dance.

Goals

  • Provide athletic training to children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
  • Create a program that gives exceptional athletes the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and determination, experience joy and success, and participate in the social aspects of friendship, and teamwork in a safe and encouraging environment and foster independence.
  • Review the current scoring process annually to continue to provide the best evaluation tool for this division, as well as the landscape to determine if rules need to be adjusted for safety and compliance requirements

Definition of Exceptional Athlete

The USASF follows the definition of disability as defined by the American Disability Act:

An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.

GUIDE TO STARTING AN EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETE TEAM

Road Map to Starting and Exceptional Athlete Team

We know you have questions about starting an Exceptional Athlete team. This guide was designed to give you answers to the most frequently asked questions about how to start a team productively. It will provide details on what is required and recommended, as well as, answer questions concerning everything from how to market the program, to ideas about routines, costumes and uniforms, competitions, and more.

Rules

Score Sheet

Score Sheet Training Webinar

Handbook

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To provide rules, safety guidelines, understanding and specialized training for coaches and assistants that will foster positive life experiences for athletes with disabilities in All Star Cheer and Dance.

Assessment Form

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PLEASE NOTE: This form is provided as a resource for USASF members and is not intended to be fully inclusive of all considerations for working with people with special needs. Members should further consult doctors and/or other professionals for advice regarding additional concerns that might affect a program for athletes with special needs.

People First Language

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by Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com
To ensure Inclusion, Freedom, and Respect for all, it’s time to embrace.