Sports have long been a powerful tool for bringing people together. Unfortunately, athletes with disabilities can face significant challenges in accessing competitive play. But The Marple Unified basketball team is proving that every player deserves a shot at greatness.
Thanks to a dedicated group of coaches and volunteers, Marple’s Unified basketball team kicked off its first season this past fall. Not only did players learn skills and improve their physical health, most importantly, they had fun. “It was so rewarding to see both the players and volunteers have fun on the court,” said Joe Chilberti, coach and founder of the team. “It brought a smile to my face.”
Unified Sports was created by the Special Olympics more than 20 years ago to foster an inclusive culture that extends beyond playing fields and gymnasiums. The mission behind Unified Sports is to create a bridge between people with and without disabilities, fostering new friendships and social networks. It creates an inclusive experience where athletes with and without disabilities train and compete together. Athletes with disabilities (known as Unified athletes) are paired with athletes without disabilities (referred to as partners) to create balanced teams that work together for a common objective.
Joe learned about Unified Sports through some friends from neighboring schools Radnor and Haverford. A freshman at Marple Newtown High School (MNHS) and an active member of several clubs including track, football, lacrosse and the Best Buddies club, Joe was looking for a way to give back to the community. “There were already some established teams in Delaware County, so this sounded like a perfect fit,” he said. “I wanted to
give my classmates of all abilities a shot at competitive sport.” By recruiting some fellow students to volunteer and getting the word out to athletes, they formed a team comprised of an equal number of athletes and partners, all middle or high school students in the Marple Newtown community. The Unified league runs on donations and fundraising so there is no cost for families to join.
Marple Unified played weekly Saturday games at The Haverford School for boys against schools such as Springfield, Radnor and Haverford with the end of season playoffs at Radnor, Haverford, Springfield and Strath Haven high schools. Thanks to the generosity of the Marple Recreation Center, the team was able to hold weekly practices in their gym. Joe explained that most of the rules are the same, but traveling and fouls aren’t called. “The rules are looser,” he said. “It’s more about making connections and having a whole lot of fun.”
For athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities, being included in a team and achieving success in a sport can significantly boost their self-esteem and confidence. “It was great to see some of the players form friendships with classmates they may not see at school,” Joe added. Joe’s mom, Liz, said that not only do the athletes feel like winners, so do their parents. “To see your kids put on their uniforms and get a chance to play on a varsity team is really special,” she added.
For the Unified partners, they get to experience the satisfaction of contributing to the success of the team and witnessing the growth of their Unified teammates. ”It really allowed people to get to know each other better and strengthened friendships,” Joe recalled.
Congrats to all of the players and volunteers and thank you for Bringing People Together in the Marple Newtown community! Joe and his team look forward to returning next fall and he also plans to start a Unified Handball team this April. Stay tuned! For more information, visit the Marple Unified Basketball Facebook page, Instagram (Marple_unified) or email marple.unified@gmail.com and to learn more about Unified Sports visit Mission5and2.org/ unified-Sports-League.