Soccer has at all times been a big a part of Jamey’s life. As a longtime Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis athlete, Jamey grew up enjoying soccer in school and in his local people. He additionally was a member of the Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis nationwide soccer crew and traveled across the Caribbean competing in soccer tournaments.
Now, at age 33, time constraints stop Jamey from enjoying soccer as he did throughout his faculty days. As a Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis board member, a consultant of the Particular Olympics Caribbean Athlete Management Council and a mechanic for the Saint Christopher Air and Seaport Authority, Jamey has an array of tasks that restrict his time for having fun with the sport. Nevertheless, just lately, Jamey created a solution to apply his ardour for soccer by main a mission that supplied new alternatives for the following era of athletes by means of Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Jamey is a graduate of the Cotton Thomas Complete College, a particular schooling faculty within the capital metropolis of Basseterre. In collaboration along with his mentor, Clive, a fellow Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis board member, Jamey organized a Caribbean Athlete Management mission that introduced collectively 8 college students from Cotton Thomas and 12 college students from the close by Irish City Major College for a 6-week-long Unified soccer program.
Jamey’s inclusive thought for the Unified soccer program was to offer college students at his alma mater the prospect to develop their soccer abilities whereas concurrently making new mates. Jamey knew the scholars with mental disabilities at Cotton Thomas had by no means performed in a soccer recreation with college students with out mental disabilities at Irish City. Jamey hoped his mission would assist individuals in his group break down the stigma hooked up to individuals enrolled at particular schooling faculties, and as an alternative encourage individuals to develop bonds by means of their frequent curiosity in soccer.
The scholars from Cotton Thomas and Irish City got here collectively twice every week after faculty to take part in power and conditioning coaching, soccer drills and crew constructing classes. Jamey led every observe with two fellow coaches and because of a partnership with the Saint Kitts and Nevis Soccer Affiliation, the Unified soccer gamers had entry to ample sports activities gear.
As with all new expertise, it took a while for the scholars from the 2 faculties to develop friendships with each other. Jamey found that the tasks of being a mission chief have been fairly difficult as he led the classes and deliberate actions for college kids with completely different ability ranges and personalities.
After 12 classes, the mission was accomplished. Reflecting on his work, Jamey was happy with the scholars’ improved soccer abilities and new-found friendships. “[My favorite part] was seeing the friendships develop; on the enjoying area they have been one crew,” he stated. “It was good seeing the scholars present up and observe and play with one another. It was difficult, however enjoyable! They have been very energetic girls and boys who by no means appeared to tire,” Jamey added.
The scholars from Cotton Thomas and Irish City celebrated the tip of the mission with a Unified soccer match and an awards ceremony, however the crew members are desirous to proceed enjoying video games with each other. With the current launch of its Unified Champion Colleges program, supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis plans to work with its native companions to increase Unified soccer not solely in Cotton Thomas and Irish City, but additionally in different faculties across the nation.
In an deal with to the scholars and their households on the mission’s awards ceremony, Ivor Blake, the Nationwide Director of Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis, shared that Jamey’s work will help the nation in reaching extra college students of all talents. “We’re right here due to Jamey’s dream, which is now a actuality… the teachings discovered from this mission might be put in place for the [Unified Champion Schools] program,” Ivor stated.
Jamey’s mentor, Clive, shared his pleasure in witnessing Jamey’s management talents thrive through the Unified soccer classes. “[Jamey’s] progress was evident in his communication, independence, and self-confidence,” stated Clive. “He’s a real ambassador for Particular Olympics and for Saint Kitts and Nevis,” Clive added.
Transferring ahead, Jamey hopes this profitable mission will encourage youthful Particular Olympics athletes to share their skills—not simply in school, but additionally with different native soccer groups of their communities. He believes that when the message of Unified soccer is put into observe, individuals can present how a typical love of sport can convey everybody collectively, it doesn’t matter what their talents are. “I encourage my fellow Particular Olympics athletes to turn into extra concerned of their group groups. I feel beginning [Unified] Applications in faculties will pave the way in which for extra inclusion in group and nationwide groups,” he stated.
