OF F T H E S I D E L I N E S - I N T O T H E GA M E

The AAASP Report is published as a public service by the American Association of AdaptedSports TM Programs, Inc. Spring 2005

The Macon Bears have afirm grip on theGeorgia title in wheel-

chair basketball this year.Macon defended the 2004 tro-phy in a match-up against theAtlanta Wolfpack (44-30) inthe 2005 AAASP GeorgiaWheelchair BasketballChampionship , held in con-junction with the GeorgiaHigh School (GHSA) StateBasketball Championships.Macon also holds the champi-onship titles in 2004-05AAASP Georgia IndoorWheelchair Soccer and juniornational indoor wheelchairsoccer.

Last year's basketball eventwas America's first state high

school championship to com-bine traditional basketball andwheelchair basketball competi-tions at the same tournament.Nielsen ratings ranked thechampionship as the fifth mostwatched game of the eventbroadcast by Georgia PublicBroadcasting (GPB). GPB hasincluded it as part of their tra-dition of coverage of highschool sports. Streamed videoof the games can be found atwww.gpb.org.

AAASP'sstate coordi-nator LeslieSweatmanjoined GPB's Herb White andDave Garner as commentatorsfor the broadcast. AAASP's

training director Ron Lykinsalso made an appearance ascommentator after halftime. Lykins is also the head coachfor the U.S. Women'sWheelchair Basketball team,the only U.S. team to takehome the gold at the 2005Paralympics in Athens,Greece.

In addition to the varsitychampionship at The Arena atGwinnett Center, theMuscogee Lions defeated theRichmond Dream Team (18-8)to win the AAASP junior var-sity state title at the champi-onship tournament held onFebruary 26 at Psalmond RoadRecreation Center in Midland,Georgia.

The Macon Bears, AtlantaWolfpack, Muscogee Lionsand the Richmond DreamTeam are four of 12 wheel-chair basketball teams support-ed by school systems as mem-ber programs of the American

Association ofAdaptedSports™Programs (AAASP),the governing and

sanctioning body for inter-scholastic adapted athletics inGeorgia. The wheelchair bas-

May 5-7 GHSA Track &Field Girls’ State Meet

May 8 Georgia ForceHosts WheelchairFootball Passing Contest

May 12-14 GHSA Track& Field Boys’ State Meet

May 26 Atlanta FalconsHost Wheelchair FootballClinic

August 13 Coaches’Training & Certification -ASEP

August 14 Coaches’Training & Certification -Indoor WheelchairSoccer

August 27 AreaCoordinators’ Meeting

September 10 RefereeCertification - IndoorWheelchair Soccer

September 12 IndoorWheelchair SoccerBegins

September 26 2005Adapted Sports CharityGolf Tournament

UpcomingEvents

MACON HAS BEAR HUG ON GA WB TROPHY

Photo: Sue Clites

ketball season is 10 weeks in length and is offered in the winter. OtherAdaptedSports include indoor wheelchair soccer, power wheelchair hockey, beepbaseball, wheelchair football and track and field.

More student athletes with physical disabilities joined their high school trackteams this spring as AAASP and the GHSA celebrate year three of their ini-tiative to expand wheelchair track & field throughout Georgia.

Power Plays

Evan Pearson joins AAASP asDevelopment Director. Most recent-ly Evan worked for the AmericanCancer Society as a marketer,fundraiser and event specialist.

AAASP welcomes four new mem-bers to its board: Terri HickmanGrunduski, Community RelationsManager for the AtlantaFalcons/Georgia Force YouthFoundation; Dr. Frank Brasile,Professor in the School of Health,Physical Education and Recreationat the University of Nebraska-Omaha; Jeffrey D. Hoffman, chair-man and CEO of Black SkyEntertainment; and Dr. DeborahShapiro, Assistant Professor in theDepartment of Kinesiology andHealth at Georgia State University.

AAASP board member Frank Brasilewas inducted into the NationalWheelchair Basketball Association’sHall of Fame. Dr. Brasile acceptedthe honor at the 2005 NationalWheelchair Basketball Tournamentin Phoenix, Arizona.

Ron Lykins, AAASP Director ofTraining and head coach of theU.S.A. Women’s WheelchairBasketball team led them to a goldmedal victory at the 2004Paralympic Games in Athens,Greece.

Wheelchair Football clinches itsplace on the AAASP sports rosterthis spring. The Roosevelt WarmSprings Institute for Rehabilitationhosts the first state tournament inApril.

In June, AAASP’s Bev Vaughn andTommie Storms travel to China withthe Active Lifestyles and Fitness del-egation representing the UnitedStates. The tour is part of the Peopleto People Ambassador Programfounded by Dwight D. Eisenhower.

2005 HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD

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Putting the shot in the wheelchair division at the2005 GHSA Girls’ State Track & Field Meet

800 meter wheelchair race at the 2005 GHSABoys’ State Track and Field Meet

High schools athletes prepare for competition at the 2005 GHSA Boys’ State Track and Field Meet

Photo: Walter A. Pinion

The Georgia Force arena football team welcomed AAASP teamsfrom throughout the state to the Georgia Force v. Tampa BayStorm game at Philips Arena on May 8. Between the first two

periods, the Force hosted the '05 Georgia Force Wheelchair FootballPassing Contest in whichthree AAASP wheelchairfootball players competed towin a 30" Philips Flat Paneltelevision from Aaron Rents.

Each athlete had threechances to throw the football the farthest. Kyle Wriston of the WestGeorgia Wolverines threw the winning pass. The players qualified for thecompetition one week prior at AAASP's state Wheelchair FootballChampionship.

Thank You 2004/2005Sponsors and Donors!

Al KirchnerAtlanta Coffee and Vending

Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Hawks

Baker Land DesignDave and Phyllis Beaver

Lee and Leslie BeitchmanCampbell-Stone North Apartments

Clements and Sweet, P.C., Attorneys at LawMatthew Scott Coleman

Jean DriscollDS Medical

Eagle Sports ChairsEnterprise

Barry EwingExcelso Coffee Company

Financial Network CorporationFlagHouse

Gard, Smiley, Bishop and Dovin, LLP, Attorneys at LawGeorgia Force

Gwinnett Convention and Visitors' BureauGwinnett Sports CommissionHandicapped Driver Services

Steve HensonJ. Frank Burns, Attorney

Onie LawsonBarry Levine

Virginia MagoulasRichard McIntyre

Merritt MisnerPassementerie Europa, Inc.

Plumbers' and Pipefitters' Local Union #72Primerica Financial Services

Quality Handyman Services, Home RemodelingReady Trucking

Roosevelt Warm Spring Institute for RehabilitationSanford Levings, Jr.

Deborah Shapiro, Ph.D.Slappey and Sadd, Attorneys a Law

Foster and Lydia N. SturevantBill and Glenda ThompsonByron and Zana Thompson

William and Sarah TurnipseedLaura Vaughn

Wheelchair GetawaysJoan White

The varsity and junior varsityfirst and second place teamsfrom AAASP’s first wheel-

chair football state tournamentwere invited to the Atlanta Falconspractice facility on May 26 to watchthe pro football players practice,and participate in a football passingclinic with Coach Mora and a fewplayers.

Atlanta Falcons Host WheelchairFootball Clinic for AAASP Players

Georgia Force Brings Wheelchair Football to Philips Arena

Arthur Blank, owner of the Georgia Force and AtlantaFalcons meets AAASP athletes at Philips Arena

Frank Brasile, Ph.D.Professor in the Department of Health, PhysicalEducation and Recreation at the University ofNebraska-Omaha

Terri Hickman GrunduskiCommunity Relations Manager for the AtlantaFalcons/Georgia Force Youth Foundation

Steve HensonGeorgia State Senator

Jeffrey D. HoffmanChief Executive Officer for Black SkyEntertainment

Ron LykinsU.S.A. Paralympic CoachAAASP Director of Training

James (Jay) SaddLaw Firm of Slappey and Sadd

Janet A. Seaman, Ph.D.Executive Director for the American Association forActive Lifestyles and Fitness

Deborah Shapiro, Ph.D.Assistant Professer in the Department ofKinesiologyat Georgia State University

Tommie StormsAAASP Cofounder and Vice President, COO

Ralph Swearngin, PhD.Executive Director for the Georgia High SchoolAssociation

Beverly VaughnAAASP Cofounder and President, CEO

A A A S P B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s

Michael Vick signs autograph for AAASP Athlete

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AAASP provides a professional education program for quality sport training and

certification of coaches, officials and other sport professionals who have directinvolvement with youth athletes who have physical disabilities or visual impair-

ments. This training and certification program ensures that all persons involved

with AdaptedSports™ teams follow the AAASP philosophy and coaching princi-ples.

AdaptedSports™ coaches must become ASEP certified and AAASP certified foreach sport that they coach. Additionally, this comprehensive program is open to

any individual who wants to expand their knowledge of coaching physically dis-

abled youth. It is provided in two parts: (1) the American Sport EducationProgram (ASEP) course, Coaching Principles, and (2) sport-specific training and

certification in any or all of AAASP’s AdaptedSports™.

Contact Ron Lykins, Director of Training at rjlykins@mindspring.com or call the AAASP main office at 404/294-0070 for more info.

Professional Coaches’ Training and Certification

2005 ASPIRE AWARDS

Eight Georgians were named ASPIRE Award honorees for 2004-05 in recognition of their significant contributions in promoting--through sports--the physical, social, and intellectual well-being ofchildren and adolescents with physical disabilities or visualimpairments.

The ASPIRE Awards (which stands for Adapted Sports Programsin Recreation and Education) are presented each year in thespring. This year, the awards presentation was held at theRoosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in WarmSprings, Georgia during the debut championship for AAASP'snewest sport, wheelchair football.

We proudly honor the 2004-05 ASPIRE Award recipients:

Educational ProgramsAtlanta Public School System

Dr. Icey Johnson, Director for Exceptional Students,Atlanta Public School System

PhilanthropyEvander Holyfield, Heavy-weight Boxing Champion

Community ProgramsBill McCoy, Executive Director of the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA

AdvocacyDr. Ralph Swearngin, Executive Director of theGeorgia High School Association

LeadershipRep. Ben Harbin (R), Georgia District 118

Rep. Richard Royal (D), Georgia District 171

MediaTom Vardase - Producer, GPB Sports

Georgia Public Broadcasting - (presentation toNancy Hall, GPB Executive Director)

Gail Hendricks Volunteerism Award Janice Matthews, Decatur-DeKalb YMCA

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Ron Lykins and Leslie Sweatman conduct a training andcertification clinic.

Bev Vaughn of AAASP presents award to Dr. Icey Johnson, APSwhile other recipients look on. Left to right: Tommie Storms, AAASP;Nancy Hall, GPB; Tom Vardase, GPB; Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA;Janice Matthews, YMCA

The 2005 Soccer Shocker Weekend was heldover President's Day Weekend, February 19-21, at the Suwanee Sports Academy in metro

Atlanta. For the second year, the event broughttogether America's best adult and youth indoor wheelchair soccer teams at one venueto compete for their respective national championship titles.

On the youth courts, in theofficial 2nd AAASP/NDSAIWS Junior Nationals, nineteams competed in varsityand junior varsity divisions.The Macon Bears fromMacon, Georgia were thevarsity division victors,score Macon Bears 12,Atlanta Wolfpack 8. TheSan Diego Hammer Iclaimed the junior varsitytrophy, scores San Diego Hammer II 13, San Diego Hammer I 18.

The adult tournament, formally called the IWS Nationals, celebrated its 23rd year with an oft-repeated championshipgame in the Open Division between the Houston Challengers and the New York Chariots. Houston pulled a tight 7-6 winfor the 2005 trophy. In the A Division, the Connecticut Chargers took over the Massachusetts Wild Wheels at 7-1.

More than 100 volunteers were recruited and were largely responsible for the success of the event. Leslie Sweatman,tournament coordinator and State Coordinator for AAASP said, "We are very fortunate to have had the help of so manypeople. Volunteers did everything from transport athletes to and from the airport and hotels to operating clocks andkeeping score. We couldn't have pulled this tournament off without them."

The Soccer Shocker Weekend showcases the athletic aptitude of indoor wheelchair soccer teams nationwide and is aproduct of the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) and AAASP. NDSA governs the adult competitions, whileAAASP governs the youth division, both for this annual tournament and day-to-day on a national level. Their aim is tonurture the growth and sustainability of indoor wheelchair soccer from youth through adulthood.

AMERICA'S BEST AT 2005SOCCER SHOCKER WEEKEND

AAASP is Georgia’s governing body for interscholastic adapted athletics in member schools of the Georgia High School Association.AAASP and GHSA work together to open up opportunities in athletics for students with physical disabilities or visual impairments.AAASP also provides training and certification for coaches throughout the U.S., and is the lead partner in Project ASPIRE, a cam-paign to help communities nationwide build their own interscholastic adapted athletic programs. AAASP is a 501(c)(3) organization.

P.O. Box 451047Atlanta, Georgia 31145(404) 294-0070 www.adaptedsports.org

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Inside. . .Macon Remains StateWheelchair Basketball

Champs .....Cover

GHSA & AAASP HighSchool Wheelchair

Track & Field DivisionGrows .....Page 2

Atlanta Falcons HostWheelchair Football

Clinic....Page 3

ASPIRE AwardsAnnounced.....Page 4

Off the Sidelines - Into the Game

American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Inc.Post Office Box 451047Atlanta, Georgia 31145

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAIDATLANTA, GAPERMIT #365

Join the AAASP Team! A small donation to AAASP will help to continue interscholastic sports for student athletes withphysical disabilities or visual impairments. Learn more at www.adaptedsports.org.

I would like to be a FRIEND OF AAASP.Enclosed is my donation of:

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Please make checks payable to:AAASP, Inc.P.O. Box 451047Atlanta, GA 31145

AAASP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organzation. Donations to AAASP, Inc. are tax deductible. Programs are made possible in part through a grant from the GeorgiaDepartment of Labor.