Members of the RECing Crew were full of smiles July 16 as they took the football field at North Augusta High School.
They got to wear T-shirts with a number on them, and an announcer read their names over the public address system to the applause of the parents and volunteers. They spent part of the clinic learning a few skills such as running through obstacles, kicking a football and hitting the tackling sled.
MORE: The RECing Crew Provides Programs for Those With Special Needs
“They have not had the opportunity to do this,” said Bella Waters, a recent North Augusta High School graduate and volunteer for the RECing Crew, who spearheaded the clinic. “I know a lot of them love (football). They wear their college shirts.”
And some of them have even taken the sidelines during Yellow Jacket games to work as water boys, Waters said.
July 16 was their turn to shine.
With the RECing Crew’s program, children and adults with special needs have the chance to play other adaptive sports such as baseball, basketball, karate and bowling. Football has never been on the list, said Pam Stickler, who formed the organization almost two decades ago.
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Waters enlisted some of her friends to volunteer under the guidance of North Augusta High School head football coach, Jim Bob Bryant, who quickly came on board with the idea.
“When I was in North Carolina, I taught adaptive P.E.,” said Bryant, who demonstrated modified techniques and encouraged the participants along in each task.
After the skills portion of the clinic, the players took part in a scrimmage. Plus, they had lunch provided by Sno-Cap Drive-In.
While the July 16 workshop was the first for football that the RECing Crew had offered its participants, Stickler said it probably wouldn’t be the last. A coach from another school had heard about what they were doing and wanted to do something similar, she said.
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The RECing Crew offers different types of events year-round. A variety of sports, arts and social activities are available. To learn more, visit recingcrew.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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