The Kawartha Lakes Legends Special Olympics basketball team is proving to be a slam dunk for Theresa Burfield’s son, Steven, and other Kawartha Lakes teens and adults who have an intellectual disability.
When Burfield, her husband Mike, and Steven relocated from Aurora to Kawartha Lakes, they discovered there wasn’t a Special Olympics basketball team.
Today, Steven and other athletes who have an intellectual disability are lacing up their sneakers and shooting hoops.
“Steven participated in Special Olympics basketball in Aurora,” Burfield told kawarthaNOW. “When we moved to the Kawartha Lakes area, he eagerly joined the bowling team, but was disappointed to find that there was no basketball team. My husband Mike and I decided to offer to start a team in this area.”
In March of 2023, Burfield attended a meeting of the Special Olympics Kawartha Lakes council and presented her proposal to start the basketball team.
“They eagerly accepted, and, with their encouragement and administrative assistance, we put everything in place,” she said.
The Kawartha Lakes Legends Special Olympics basketball team was born.
To make it happen, the Kawartha Lakes Civitan Club donated $1,000 so the team could purchase all the equipment necessary to play, as well as pay for the gym rental for the first session, which ran from October to December 2023.
“Lindsay Canadian Tire gave us a discount on the equipment we purchased there,” Burfield added.
The Kawartha Lakes Legends welcomed 11 athletes to its first practice in October 2023. Burfield has been witnessing the team’s growth and the players’ progress ever since.
“We are very excited by the team’s progress. The basketball experience of the athletes ranged from beginner to very experienced. The beginners are gaining skill and confidence, largely thanks to the efforts of the volunteer coaches and the patience and mentorship of the more experienced players,” Burfield said.
Everyone is enjoying the workout, the friendly competition, and the camaraderie of belonging to the team, she added.
“We’re seeing weekly improvement in skill and ability, but the best thing we’re seeing is the development of each participant both athletically and socially.”
Their team is designed as a “recreational” team, meaning that it’s not aspiring to compete at a regional, provincial, national, or international level, Burfield explained.
“We eventually would be interested in challenging other area teams to a game from time-to-time, though. The athletes think we should try to make it to the NBA.”
The team is open to adding more players to its roster. Those interested in possibly joining are welcome to watch a practice underway on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Langton Public School in Fenelon Falls, located at 35 Wychwood Crescent.
Special Olympics is for teens and adults who have an intellectual disability. The athlete must be registered with Special Olympics Ontario. Registration is completed online at specialolympicsontario.com.
There is a cost of $30 for each nine-week session. The current session ends March 14. The next session runs March 21 through to May 16.
“In order to ensure our athletes are appropriately supported, Special Olympics maintains a five-to-one athlete-to-coach ratio,” Burfield noted. “Our programs — whether it be basketball, bowling, softball, curling, or other new sports — can only grow if we have committed volunteers to attend.”
Those interested in volunteering can also do so on the website.
“You do not have to be athletic or know anything about the sport — we just need your patience and enthusiasm in supporting our athletes,” Burfield said.
For further information about the basketball team, contact Burfield at tburfield@hotmail.com.
In general, members of the local Special Olympics programs “are continuing their winning ways with so many great opportunities for athletes to represent Kawartha Lakes this season,” said Special Olympics program consultant Hellaina Rothenburg in a media release.
Local five-pin bowler Steven Pyke has been selected for the Team Ontario team-in-training, heading to Calgary for the Special Olympics Canada National Winter Games. The games start February 27 and run through to March 2.
Last month, the Lindsay Hard Rockers curling club took two teams to the Funspiel hosted by SOO-Muskoka, at the Gravenhurst curling club. Both teams returned home with medals.
Teagan McDonald, who has been swimming since she was an infant, is putting in her training as she prepares for the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Spring Games. Those games are being held from May 23 to 25 in Waterloo Region.
For general information about becoming a Special Olympics volunteer, contact Rothenburg by phone at 1-888-333-5515 ext. 276 or by email at hellainar@specialolympicsontario.com.
