Special Olympics begin pre-season training

While coaching special Olympic basketball, Tyler Ferguson noticed that many athletes were struggling with the very fundamental basics of fitness, such as balance and foot work. Ferguson, Monroe County Parks and Recreation programmer, designed a Fitness, Agility and Speed Training class to help the athletes work on general conditioning skills during the off-season period.\n"I developed the F.A.S.T. program in order to present the athletes with new challenges and opportunities," Ferguson said. "The class adapts to each individual's skill level and helps them get a workout and stay in shape for basketball during the winter."\nThe F.A.S.T. program is held once a week for an hour, and is an opportunity for Special Olympic athletes of all ages and ability levels to develop and improve self-confidence, balance, posture, flexibility, strength and coordination through fun and challenging activities. \n"In addition to learning new skills, the athletes also develop a sense of accomplishment by cheering each other on and supporting one another," Ferguson said.\nVolunteers from the community also attend the F.A.S.T classes to provide the athletes with one on one interaction. Each volunteer works with one athlete for the duration of the general conditioning program, and helps coach them on their skills and motivate them for each activity. Many volunteers are students who hope to earn community service hours, develop new leadership skills in a variety of areas and expand their resumes. \n"All of the athletes are wonderful sports and are very pleasant to work with," senior Valerie Schaefer said. "They seem to benefit from the special attention that we give them."\nMany of the class activities are designed to help the athletes train by focusing on more than one area. After learning new stretches, a popular activity for the athletes to complete is ladders. Volunteers support the participants by holding their hands or by giving them motivation to keep trying to succeed. Ladders helps the athletes master basic balance and foot work skills by encouraging them to quickly trot through boxes on the balls of their feet, putting only one foot in each square. After they successfully complete this technique, the difficulty level becomes more intense as they then must perform these actions backwards, or in a two-footed hop with a delicate landing.\n"It is an unbelievable feeling to know that you are helping these athletes achieve the goals they never thought they could accomplish," Schaefer said.\nJustin Brown, a 22-year-old athlete for the Special Olympic basketball team said he participates in the F.A.S.T. program because it is a good way to practice certain skills with his coach and fellow teammates. Brown plays defense for the team and has some difficulty with balance.\n"My favorite thing to do at the F.A.S.T. program is to run back and fourth on the ladders and learn to balance by holding one leg up in the air," Brown said.\nThroughout the program, Ferguson will develop new activities that challenge the athletes in different ways. She said hopes to expose athletes like Brown to new concepts such as raising body awareness and promoting fitness and health as a way of life.\n"I am going to try to focus and keep my balance, so that I will not lose it during basketball season," Brown said. \nFerguson said she is pleased with this years F.A.S.T program turnout, and she is looking forward to a successful basketball season in which these athletes can show off their new and improved skills.\n"It's so rewarding to work with these athletes who have so much potential," Ferguson said.