Flag Football, Anyone? Tryouts In Wellesley

WELLESLEY, MA — The Charles River Center, a nonprofit that aims to help provide employment and job training, residential homes, day habilitation, and recreational programs for children and adults developmental disabilities is looking for a few teen athletes - with or without disabilities - to help build a flag football team.

It's the first year the organization is putting together such a sports team for young people to compete in Special Olympics style programming in the area, but center officials have a sense it's not going to be the last.

"We've had a lot of interest so far from our clients," said Nicole DeMarchena, family support program coordinator at the center, which is based in Needham, but serves people across the region including in Wellesley.

"It's going pretty well, so far. The first tryout had eight people show up. And a lot are super interested that we're starting this up. I've noticed a lot of parents are really looking for that active component in their children's lives," she said.

DeMarchena is a former athlete and coach, so putting together the unified flag football team comprised of seven individuals with a disability or unified partner athletes and seven athletes is a natural fit.

The next tryout will be at Warren Field at 90 Washington Street on Sept. 12 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Anyone older than 15 is encouraged to come try out and though space is limited, even try outs are fun, she said. The center is also looking for any volunteers interested in helping to coordinate.

The team, once it's built, will meet every Tuesday for an hour for practice between 5 and 6 p.m. until the tournament. The first tournament will be Oct. 29 and the center's team will be up against other unified athletic teams across the area. There will be a second tournament on November 11. And these will be held either at Franklin High School or possibly Gillette Stadium.

"I'm mostly just hoping it gives the clients the sense of a team. I know that's difficult for people - especially those with disabilities - I just want to provide the best experience for them," said DeMarchena.

"Hopefully that we can turn this into something that Charles River is really known for,"

Founded by a group of parents of children with special needs in 1956, the mission of Charles River is to empower and support people with developmental disabilities by offering individualized opportunities that foster independence and community inclusion.

For more information contact Nicole DeMarchena, family support program coordinator.
Email: ndemarchena@charlesrivercenter.org or call: 508-651-5911.

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