Sports+Ability

media type="youtube" key="9sC3_3P0sBQ" height="349" width="425"

Sports Ability is exciting new program developed the Australian SportsCommission (ASC) to encourage people with a disability to actively participate in activity whether it’s competitive or recreational. Sports Ability is designed to provide us as teachers the tools to deliver physical education lessons with an inclusive theme. The sports utilized within the Sports Ability program are appropriate and enjoyable to both students with and without a disability, and is appropriate for participation by all age groups. There are three elements of the Sports Ability inclusive games program including:
 * __equipment__ for a variety of inclusive games, three of which are Paralympic sports.
 * __resource materi__al, consisting of easy to use activity cards and instructional DVDs that detail game rules, equipment required and suggested modification for all abilities
 * __hands-on training__ in each state and territory through the Sports CONNECT network. Sports Ability training provides participants with an opportunity to learn about all the activities and how they promote inclusion. Work shops are easy to organise, inexpensive, practical and fun.

The Sports Ability program includes the following games, these games canbe used developmentally or to provide new pathways in disability sport:
 * **Boccia** - A bowls-type target game played at the Paralympics suitable for all abilities, and provides an ideal vehicle for inclusion.
 * **Goalball** - An exciting invasion game developed for players who have a vision impairment that introduces new challenges to both sighted an vision-impaired players.
 * **Sitting volleyball** - A sport for players who cannot participate in standing volleyball. As all players remain seated during play, sitting volleyball is an excellent inclusive game.
 * **Polybat** - An accessible version of table tennis, particularly useful for young players who have coordination and control impairments. Polybat can also be used to introduce younger children to table tennis.
 * **Table cricket** - A dynamic table version of cricket for players of all abilities, but specifically those with complex or higher support needs. It retains the three main elements of cricket - batting, bowling, and fielding - as well as most of the rules.
 * **Tee ball** - A striking, fielding, throwing, catching and movement game easily modified for a range of abilities.
 * **Hockey** - A dynamic invasion game with adapted rules and equipment.
 * **Targeting and bean bag games** - A range of individual, cooperative and competitive games.
 * **Traditional Indigenous games** - Traditional Indigenous games that can be adapted and modified.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sports Ability can be utilised in a variety of different ways, including: > <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was lucky enough to participate in a SportsAbility program through the Skills Acquisition 3 unit here at UC. I found ithighly enjoyable and it was clear that a lot of time had been spent intodeveloping the program to allow maximum participation from all participants,all the while being challenging and engaging. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">AustralianSports Commission, (2010), retrieved from http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/disability/get_involved/sports_ability
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">curriculum support for the delivery of physical education programs and sport
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as the basis of out-of school hours learning sessions based around physical activity
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">inter-school sports day competitions and inclusive games festivals
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as a vehicle for the creation or expansion of inclusive games in community clubs