Soccer has all the time been a big a part of Jamey’s lifestyles. As an established Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis athlete, Jamey grew up taking part in soccer in school and in his area people. He additionally used to be a member of the Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis nationwide soccer staff and traveled across the Caribbean competing in soccer tournaments.
Now, at age 33, time constraints save you Jamey from taking part in 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 duties that prohibit his time for taking part in the sport. On the other hand, just lately, Jamey created a approach to follow his hobby for soccer by way of main a mission that introduced new alternatives for the following technology of athletes thru Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Jamey is a graduate of the Cotton Thomas Complete College, a different training faculty within the capital town of Basseterre. In collaboration along with his mentor, Clive, a fellow Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis board member, Jamey arranged a Caribbean Athlete Management mission that introduced in combination 8 scholars from Cotton Thomas and 12 scholars from the within sight Irish The city Number one College for a 6-week-long Unified soccer program.
Jamey’s inclusive thought for the Unified soccer program used to be to supply scholars at his alma mater the danger to broaden their soccer talents whilst concurrently making new pals. Jamey knew the scholars with highbrow disabilities at Cotton Thomas had by no means performed in a soccer recreation with scholars with out highbrow disabilities at Irish The city. Jamey was hoping his mission would assist other people in his group damage down the stigma connected to other people enrolled at particular training faculties, and as a substitute inspire other people to broaden bonds thru their not unusual pastime in soccer.
The scholars from Cotton Thomas and Irish The city got here in combination two times per week after faculty to take part in energy and conditioning coaching, soccer drills and staff development periods. Jamey led every apply with two fellow coaches and because of a partnership with the Saint Kitts and Nevis Soccer Affiliation, the Unified soccer gamers had get right of entry to to plentiful sports activities apparatus.
As with all new enjoy, it took a while for the scholars from the 2 faculties to broaden friendships with one any other. Jamey came upon that the duties of being a mission chief have been moderately difficult as he led the periods and deliberate actions for college kids with other ability ranges and personalities.
After 12 periods, the mission used to be finished. Reflecting on his paintings, Jamey used to be happy with the scholars’ stepped forward soccer talents and new-found friendships. “[My favorite part] used to be seeing the friendships broaden; at the taking part in box they have been one staff,” he mentioned. “It used to be great seeing the scholars display up and apply and play with every different. It used to be difficult, however amusing! They have been very vigorous girls and boys who by no means perceived to tire,” Jamey added.
The scholars from Cotton Thomas and Irish The city celebrated the top of the mission with a Unified soccer fit and an awards rite, however the staff participants are desperate to proceed taking part in video games with one any other. With the new release of its Unified Champion Faculties program, supported by way of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis plans to paintings with its native companions to increase Unified soccer no longer simplest in Cotton Thomas and Irish The city, but additionally in different faculties across the nation.
In an cope with to the scholars and their households on the mission’s awards rite, Ivor Blake, the Nationwide Director of Particular Olympics Saint Kitts and Nevis, shared that Jamey’s paintings will lend a hand the rustic in attaining extra scholars of all skills. “We’re right here on account of Jamey’s dream, which is now a truth… the teachings discovered from this mission will probably be installed position for the [Unified Champion Schools] program,” Ivor mentioned.
Jamey’s mentor, Clive, shared his delight in witnessing Jamey’s management skills thrive throughout the Unified soccer periods. “[Jamey’s] enlargement used to be obvious in his conversation, independence, and self-confidence,” mentioned Clive. “He’s a real ambassador for Particular Olympics and for Saint Kitts and Nevis,” Clive added.
Shifting ahead, Jamey hopes this a hit mission will encourage more youthful Particular Olympics athletes to percentage their skills—no longer simply in school, but additionally with different native soccer groups of their communities. He believes that after the message of Unified soccer is put into apply, other people can display how a not unusual love of recreation can carry everybody in combination, it doesn’t matter what their skills are. “I beg my fellow Particular Olympics athletes to develop into extra occupied with their group groups. I believe beginning [Unified] Techniques in faculties will pave the best way for extra inclusion in group and nationwide groups,” he mentioned.
