“Can I drive your car when I turn 16?”
“I want to be a teacher when I grow up.”
“When I get to the NHL I want to play for the Leafs.”
This is the world of most young kids growing up. It’s natural and for most kids these things
are all possible. But what if you’re
developmentally challenged. You have autism, or downs syndrome, or aspergers,
or some other developmental challenge… You ask those same questions, you
have those same dreams. But when the time comes you might have other
questions
“Why can’t I get a driver’s license?”
“Why can’t I go to work?”
“Why can’t I play on my brother's team?”
Then you realize that you are in a different world. And you are always looking in.
You live in this world but you’re not always really a part of it.
Society
has changed a great deal in how it deals with the developmentally
challenged. Our kids are now integrated into regular classrooms in most
cases. They get jobs. They even get married and have kids. Will they ever play
in the NHL? We can all dream. But can they play on their brothers or
sisters hockey team. In most cases the answer is no. And even if they were
allowed to, they would almost certainly not be able to compete.
Minor hockey leagues are divided up into age categories. It
is up to the athlete to keep up in ability. And the rules do not allow them
to play in a lower age group that might be more appropriate for their
abilities . The developmentally challenged cannot flourish under such a
system. They learn and develop at their own pace, but they do learn and they
do develop. They simply need the structure to do so. And they usually have
the one thing that any other athlete has. Desire. Desire to play. Desire to
succeed. Desire even to make it to the NHL.
That’s where Special Hockey comes in. There are no age
groups. There are no tryouts. They don’t even need to be able to skate. All
they need is what they already have…desire. They will learn how to skate,
how to hold a stick, how to handle a puck, how to make a pass, how to take a
shot, how to make a save. Some may learn by the end of their first season,
others may take years. What they will all do immediately is participate…at
every practice and at every game. That’s because they don’t have to meet
anyone else’s expectations, only their own. Special Hockey allows the developmentally
challenged to achieve their own goals on their own schedule.
They will learn about teamwork. They will gain
self-confidence and self esteem. They will learn from their coaches, but
more importantly they will learn from their peers. They will see and imitate
the better players. A seven-year-old may play on the same
line as a seventeen-year-old or even 27-year-old. They will be matched by
ability but the coach may also include a better player as a positive role
model. And these more experienced players look forward to be being mentors
for the “rookies”. This may mean laying back a bit to let a “rookie” skate
with the puck without being checked. Or it may mean a goalie may “not try
too hard” to stop a shot. And they love doing this, because they too were
“rookies” once and they too like seeing the smiles as much as we all do.
The rules of the game are also modified. There is no icing,
no offside and definitely no body checking. Male and female, young and old
all play together. Coaches are allowed on the ice during games to assist
players that need it. If one teams line has a player with very low skills
then they will be allowed to add an extra player to compensate. But they all
still participate.
There are over 20 clubs in SHI and while their approach or
techniques may vary a little from team to team, the basic concept remains
the same. Some may have as few as a half dozen players while some are much larger
organizations and have several complete teams. Much of the time
teams play within their own organization with a lot emphasis placed on the
players’ own development. But they also play against other nearby teams
throughout the season wherever this is possible. These are all 'exhibition'
games. There are no standings and no championships. Then all the teams come
together for the SHI annual tournament. Hosted by a different team every
year it is 4 days of hockey, special events and just plain fun. (Also see
Tournament). If this approach to hockey is what
you are looking for, then simply contact the SHI member club in your area to
find out more.
Starting Your Own Program
If there is no team close enough to you then consider
starting a program in your own community. Remember that the first program
started with just two players. To help you get started you can download a
document called
"Ice Hockey Programs for Special
Athletes." This document was written by Colorado Special Hockey
Association President and Head Coach, Tracy Tucker, for his Master Level
coaching certification from USA Hockey. It is very thorough and very well
written and while it contains specific references to American regulations
and requirements, you can very easily find the Canadian or other
equivalents.
You also need to contact the
SHI commissioner about what
is required to join Special Hockey International.
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