The LHS Sporting Life
The Sport and Extracurricular Features of Loveland High School
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The Impact of Unified Sports
The Impact of Unified Sports
LHS students and staff unify with basketball
LHS students and staff unify with basketball
By Kyla Schroetlin and Ellie Heiser - January 24th, 2023
Athlete, Jack Byloo, dribbles the ball down the court of the Nuggets halftime game.
"Unified basketball allows students with special needs to be a part of a team with their peers. It creates teamwork and school inclusion and it allows these athletes to demonstrate their basketball skills and passion for the game to peers, family, and the community." (Heidi Abrahamson - LHS Unified Basketball Head Coach)
Unified Basketball - A moving organization much more than a game. Yet, many students at Loveland High School are unaware of the organization. The impact of unified sports often goes unnoticed within the community.
Angel (athlete) shooting the ball during the half time of the nuggets game.
Unified sports were created in 1989 by the Special Olympics. The idea was created to promote inclusion through shared competition. The Special Olympics explain that ”Unified Sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability.”
In unified basketball, the students with intellectual disabilities are referred to as the “athletes” and the players without intellectual disabilities are referred to as the “helpers.” Typically, there are 3 athletes and 2 helpers who play together on during the 5 verses 5 game. Everyone plays on the same team, has the same coaches, and everyone works together as teamates.
The Loveland High unified basketball team get some amazing oupportunity to share the sport. Recently, unified basketball got an amazing opportunity to play at halftime during the Nuggets NBA game along with watching warm-up at a courtside view. It was a great experience for the team and the audience.
The Loveland High School Unified Basketball team plays consistently on Wednesdays, typically at 6pm. All of the games take place at Loveland High, or are an easy drive to a school near by. Attached to below is the current LHS Unified Basketball schedule.
Ethan, a partner in unified, takes a selfie with athlete, mason on the court before the Nuggets game starts.
LHS Unified Basketball Schedule
Many athletes use unified basketball as an outlet from the struggles of public school. For many athletes, even making a basket in a game is the highlight of their days. It's a heartwarming experience for parents, teachers, friends and other community members to watch the excitement from the team and the positive enviornment the sport creates.
Unified basketball isn't about the wins and losses. Frankly, most athletes don't care if they win the game, it's all about the experience and making a diffenerce in athletes and families lives. So, next time you hear about an upcoming unified basketball game, consider the difference you could make in the community - simply by showing up.
"Even if it just made a change in one person, that one person would go out and advocate, and then maybe they would affect somebody that would go out and advocate. It’s definitely a chain reaction. (Kristina Taylor )"
To listen to a interview, touching on the impact of unified with Devynne Byloo, sister of Jack Byloo (athlete pictured in article cover) - stream the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play or anywhere you stream your audio. (link below)
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