Around the Schools
Pilot sports program bridges gap for special education athletes; Rainier Beach takes gold medal in Unified Soccer League competition in April
Seattle Public Schools, in partnership with Special Olympics Washington, launched the Unified Soccer League this year – bringing players with and without intellectual disabilities together to train and play.
Eric McCurdy, Athletic Director of Seattle Public Schools, said 100 student athletes comprising seven District high schools competed in the Unified Soccer League in April. Rainier Beach High School won the gold medal during a series of round-robin games at Interbay Stadium.
Participating schools included West Seattle, Chief Sealth, Rainier Beach, Cleveland, Nathan Hale, NOVA and Ingraham high schools.
McCurdy said the pilot program is in line with interim Superintendent Susan Enfield’s AGREE (Attacking Gaps/Raising Expectations Everywhere) initiative.
“The program helps close the academic achievement gap by giving student athletes with special needs the same athletic opportunities of other student athletes,” he said.
McCurdy said he hopes to have 300 student athletes and ten high schools participate in the Unified Soccer program this school year, eventually including ten middle schools and at least ten elementary schools.
Special Olympics Unified Sports brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. In addition to soccer, the athletes compete throughout the year in other sports, such as basketball, soccer, golf and skiing.
Robert Kunold, board chairman of Special Olympics Washington said the partnership between Seattle Public Schools and Special Olympics has been perfect. “It’s a pilot program, but we want to keep it going. It really does make a difference in those young athletes,” he said.
Photo above: The Rainier Beach High School Unified Soccer Team celebrates their gold-medal win during league competition at Interbay Stadium in April.
Robert Teodosio/Seattle Public Schools