Unified sports are offered as co-ed athletic opportunities for students with developmental disabilities by the Maine Principals’ Association in partnership with the Special Olympics.
| Drew Bonifant, Press Herald |
BRUNSWICK — Marcy Francoeur couldn’t help but smile.
A Unified bocce match, new to Maine high schools this spring, was in progress Tuesday afternoon between Brunswick and Gray-New Gloucester, and Francoeur loved what she was seeing. There were the athletes competing on the court, their partners congratulating them after each toss, and a gallery of students and adults surrounding the court, applauding with each ball that landed.
And for Francoeur, the Gray-New Gloucester coach, there was the clear sign that Unified sports continue to grow.
“This is definitely a positive step for it,” she said. “It was great, especially this year, just having them play games again. Unified basketball really got the fire burning for more sports to come.”
Bocce is the newest addition to the Unified docket, joining basketball after officially being kickstarted with a match in Kennebunk last Wednesday. Five high schools – Brunswick, Gray-New Gloucester, Kennebunk, Gorham and Scarborough – will be competing in the inaugural season.
Unified sports are offered as co-ed athletic opportunities for students with developmental disabilities by the Maine Principals’ Association in partnership with the Special Olympics. Teams consist of “athletes” (those with disabilities) and “partners,” students without disabilities who assist the athletes during play.
“We’re just happy to get it off the ground,” said principals association assistant executive director Mike Bisson, who oversees Unified sports. “I think what you’ll see is it’s going to grow very quickly once people see it in action.”
There was buzz Tuesday. A crowd of onlookers, including players on other Brunswick High teams who had come over to watch, packed the hill by the Brunswick tennis courts as the Dragons and Patriots began play.
“Bocce has been a big, growing sport in the world of Special Olympics Maine, so we thought what better way to continue to expand and make this more of an interscholastic opportunity?” said Ian Frank, Special Olympics Maine’s director of Unified champion schools. “The main thing is that schools want this (Unified) program year-round, and that’s a goal of ours at Special Olympics. We want activities year-round.” Keep reading
