Our sports programs are open to players, both male and female, ages 8 and up with special needs. We currently have athletes participating in the following sports: Basketball, Bocce Ball, Bowling, Flag Football, Golf, Power lifting, and Track & Field. Our sports programs teach the basic skills and fundamentals of each sport and gives every athletes the opportunity to learn and participate in each sport at their skill level. Come out and join us and have some fun!
L.E.A.R.N. SPORTS PROGRAMS: Below is information about our sports programs. In December we will hold our End-of-Year Celebration and Dance. All LEARN family and friends are invited to come to this event and join us as we honor our athletes, coaches and volunteers for their participation in our sports programs. We will also pay tribute to all the volunteers who have helped LEARN in its efforts to provide activities, classes and events throughout the year!
L.E.A.R.N. STARS BASKETBALL: Our basketball programs begins the first Saturday in January and runs though the mid March. At our first practice we register athletes, ask for volunteer coaches and helpers, and have a general meeting for families to explain our program. Practices are held in the First Baptist Church gym from 10:00am -12:00pm on Saturday mornings and beginning in February we will add a Thursday evening practice from 6:30pm -8:00pm. Athletes will have the opportunity to play in scrimmage games with other athletes who are preparing their teams to compete in the Special Olympics Regional and State tournaments, which are held in March. In the past, we have had two L.E.A.R.N. STARS teams compete in both these events.
L.E.A.R.N. SUMMER SPORTS: Our Summer Sports Program begins the week after our Basketball Program ends. We will have a meeting to register athletes and coaches who would like to participate and coach the following sports: Bocce Ball, Golf, Power lifting, and Track and Field. Dates, times and location for practices for these sports varies and coaches will give athletes and their families the practice information. Athletes who participate in Bocce Ball, Unified Bocce Ball, Power lifting and Track and Field have the opportunity to compete in the Special Olympics TN State Summer games, which are held in May. We have had many athletes attend and compete in these events at the Summer Games.
Golf athletes and their partners can compete in the Special Olympics golf program which runs from May to September each year and their program includes seven tournaments throughout the state. Athletes and their partners first compete in Individual Skills Competition and once they pass this level they advance to Level 2 - Alternate Shot Team Play competition ( 9 hole). We have several athletes who have competed in the Individual Skills Competition and three athletes and their partners who have competed in Alternate Shot Team Play (9 holes) at many of the tournaments including the State Golf Tournament, which is held in September at the Smyrna Golf Course. In 2011 one of our Level 2 athletes and his partner competed in the National Invitational Golf Tournament in Port St. Lucie, FL.
L.E.A.R.N. FLAG FOOTBALL: Our Flag Football program begins the 2nd Saturday in July. We will have a registration meeting and provide information about our program in the gym at First Baptist Church. Practices are held each Saturday morning at our practice field at Sports Com in Murfreesboro. We will add an additional Thursday evening practice, from 6:30pm-8:00pm in the gym at First Baptist Church, beginning in late August or early September. Athletes will have the opportunity to play scrimmage games with their family members and with other athletes who are participating in the Special Olympics State Flag Football Tournament. This competition is held in Nashville in September or October and our L.E.A.R.N. STARS team has competed in the tournament each year since 2009.
BOWLING: Our bowling program begins in September and runs through the first week in November. Families meet at the Smyrna Bowling Center each Sunday afternoon and athletes and their families can bowl two games . The time and price per game TBA. Athletes also have the opportunity to participate in Area 16's Special Olympics Bowling tournament, which is held the end of October at the Smyrna Bowling Center. Many of our athletes enjoy competing with their teammates and friends at this event.
L.E.A.R.N./M.T.S.U. CLINICS: We have had the opportunity to host basketball and flag football clinics with the Blue Raiders sports teams. The L.E.A.R.N./M.T.S.U. Basketball Clinic is held in November at the Sports Com gym and our Flag Football Clinic is held in July at our practice field at Sports Com. These clinics are free and opened to all youth and adults, ages 8 and up with Special Needs. Participants have included athletes from Maury, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties. We thank M.T.S.U. Basketball Head Coach Kermit Davis and Football Head Coach Rick Stockstill, their players and staff for their support and appreciate all that they have done to make these clinics a success.
