International Alliance For Youth Sports

Approximately 100 children with intellectual disabilities from the East Port of Spain region participated in the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Sport’s first-ever Camp Adaptation at the Woodbrook youth facility in the Port of Spain.

The highly successful six-day camp was conducted based on the principles of Game On! Youth Sports, the signature program of the International Alliance for Youth Sports (IAYS).

Game On! Youth Sports addresses issues that hinder sports programming for children and gives them the opportunity to participate in sports, and experience a healthier lifestyle, with less chance of choosing negative activities.

Twenty-two coaches and 20 volunteers attended a training workshop conducted by the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education at the St. George Street Sports Complex in Port of Spain in late March. The coaches were from national sporting organizations representing tennis, football, hockey, equestrian and basketball..

The two-day training, which featured visual presentations and practical simulations, focused on the principles of Game On! and how they can be used to benefit children with disabilities.

The coaching contingent that took part in the training and worked with children at the Camp Adaptation included 28-year-old Barry Khan and 24-year-old Doniel Reyes, members of the Trinidad and Tobago wheelchair basketball team as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee. .

During the camp Khan and Reyes had the chance to learn technical sports skills from other basketball coaches who participated. They also shared their knowledge with the coaches and volunteers about how to successfully work with children with disabilities.

During the training workshop the two made significant contributions by discussing with the other participants both their experiences as athletes and as coaches working with individuals with physical, visual and intellectual impairments.

For more information visit www.iays.org or www.ttaspe.org.