ACHaD players compete on the hard court with heart of champions

Coach Eric Newman (kneeling) and wife Linda (fourth from right), with the ACHaD Basketball Team. The team of special needs individuals plays every Monday at the Katz JCC. Eric Newman, a middle school teacher who has coached his son Harrison’s basketball team knew that there had to be a way for his older son Max, who has special needs, to enjoy the same camaraderie and team spirit that Harrison enjoys. “Max had played Special Olympics basketball and loved it, but the season was short and when he changed high schools, the Special Olympics opportunity ended. I knew there was something special about being part of a team and I wanted Max to continue playing a sport he loved,” said Newman.

A JCC member who has worked at the JCC Camps at Medford, Newman and his wife Linda, a pharmaceutical rep., approached Eileen Elias, JCC director of special needs, to see if together they could organize a basketball program for teens with special needs who need a minimal to a high level of support. With the help of Elias, The Newmans, along with their son Harrison, who all participate as mentors and coaches; put together a basketball program at the Katz JCC.

“This program was a natural fit for our ACHaD program,” said Elias. “It fits perfectly with our philosophy to strengthen social skills through recreational activities in a natural setting.”

What started as an experiment blossomed into a yearround basketball league for middle and high school aged students with special needs. According to Newman, the program began with simple drills and skill development for a handful of kids who had an interest in basketball, but were unable to handle the rigors of a structured team. Today, there are 14 players ages 11-20 who have formed a cohesive team that competes in game play. Max spoke for the team when he said, “I love shooting the ball into the basket and I love to win!”

The team started from scratch with only a few participants with basketball experience. “We knew we had to wait until they were ready. We had about 8-10 weeks of teaching basic drills—how to dribble, pass and shoot,” said Eric. Linda agreed, “It was even more than just basketball skills. They had to work on how to listen, focus and play like a team.”

“Eric is amazing how he brings the kids together as a team,” said parent Sandy Klein, whose son Wyatt attended the JCC preschool. “As a coach, he is so instrumental in having them feel important and be supportive

of each other. Even though every player has a different level of functioning—some have trouble holding the ball—they are cool with that. Even if someone makes a mistake, they won’t tell him; they are truly a team.”

And play like a team they do. Every Monday evening, the ACHaD basketball team puts on their jerseys and plays in the JCC gymnasium with a scoreboard and a buzzer. At the end of the season, there will be a banquet with trophies. Currently, the team plays against typically developing teens who volunteer to come together as a team.

“We have played against BBYO kids, students from Paul VI, and look forward to including JCC Maccabi kids,” said Eric Newman. “Our ultimate goal is to grow this program and have four teams so we can form our own league.”

According to Klein, Wyatt, who is classified with high functioning autism and aspergers, is athletic and coordinated yet didn’t have the social skills to feel a part of his middle school team. “Even though he was a good athlete, the kids didn’t include him in the social aspect,” said Klein. “As a parent, it is great seeing that he is engaged in something he wants to do and getting him away from the computer, the TV, and his own self. It is exciting watching him—he likes the competition, wanting to win—I am really proud of him.”

When asked how rewarding this experience has been, Newman replied, “Seeing how far each player has come, how they are in tune as a team and the smiles on their faces when they make a shot, makes this so worthwhile.” Harrison added, “Seeing the guys now and how good they’ve become amazes me. It’s incredible what they have achieved. It is awesome to be a part of this program.”

Linda Newman summed it up: “There are times when you look over and see a tear of joy in the eye of a parent—because when their child is on the court, at that moment—they feel typical. We started this for our son Max, but the team has become family now.”

For more information about ACHaD programs at the JCC or how to lend support to this program, contact Eileen Elias at 424-4444, ext. 114 or Eelias@jfedsnj.org. .