Sign Up Now for Holmdel's Unified Intramural Sports League

HOLMDEL, NJ - With the support of a grant from Special Olympics New Jersey, the Holmdel Unified Intramural Sports League (HUISL) is heading into its spring season at the district’s four schools.

HUISL joins students with and without disabilities on the same team. The league is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. This spring, the Holmdel Unified Intramural Sports League will head outdoors to take part in track and field events. Online registration begins March 30th for the spring season.

During the winter months the league took on basketball, with players focusing on shooting, passing and dribbling skills.

“We really like seeing how we can do the same things,” said Holmdel seventh grader Nick DiBlasi.

But the students aren’t the only ones who get involved. Patrick Gross, a seventh grader, said one of the things he likes most is “practicing passing with Mr. Saler.” Daren Saler, a special education teacher, is one of the adults involved with helping keep the HUISL moving. The Unified Sports Program Co-Coordinators are high school teachers James Gelpke and Elliot Cohen.

Indian Hill teacher Leslie McMahon is one of the district’s Unified Sports Coaches. She has seen first-hand how these experiences are beneficial for all children.

“The hope is that the acceptance and appreciation of people’s similarities and differences are reflected in their everyday lives,” said McMahon. “When children of different abilities play together, all are learning valuable lessons of respect and understanding."