Adaptive Sports New England’s Sport Club programs bring together athletes with a visual or mobility impairment to develop skills and confidence in a safe, supportive environment. Paralympic medalists and other experienced coaches lead specialized training, emphasize personal development, and foster camaraderie among peers from across the region. The sport club programs welcome athletes at all levels of skill and competitiveness. They are designed to support athlete involvement in school and/or community based programs. Programs are designed for youth with typical social and cognitive development. Sport Club Programs include swim team, swim lessons, wheelchair basketball, rowing, sailing and track & field.
To learn more about any of these programs, contact Joe Walsh at 617-690-9103 or email hidden; JavaScript is required
Swim Team
The Adaptive Sports New England swim team meets weekly and brings together competitive swimmers from across the region. Many team members also participate on a club or school swim program. The team is coached by Paralympic medalists Mike Prout and Anna Johannes who design specific programs for each athlete, focussing on technical skills and mental preparation.
Swim Lessons
The swim lesson program is offered in partnership with local YMCAs. Lessons are staffed by YMCA professionals with oversight provided by Mike Prout and Mary Gawron. Mike is an experienced swim teacher and Paralympic medalist while Mary has over 25 years swim instruction experience. Lessons are generally taught at a 1 to 1 student to teacher ratio.
Rowing with Community Rowing, Inc.
Community Rowing in Brighton offers a number of Para rowing programs including open Para rowing, a high performance Para rowing training group and a teen Para rowing program run in partnership with Adaptive Sports New England. Outdoor programs feature training on the Charles River, while the winter season is held indoors at the Community Rowing facility
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Track and Field
The Adaptive Sports New England track & field program meets weekly to practice running and wheelchair racing. In the future,, the program will expand to add jumping and throwing events. Track & Field accommodates athletes with visual impairments, Cerebral Palsy, spina Bifida, spinal cord injury, amputations, dwarfism and various other physical impairments.
Wheelchair Basketball
The wheelchair basketball program meets once per week and brings together youth and young adults for drills, pick-up games and fun! Participants must have good use of their arms and upper bodies to fully enjoy this sport. Players include youth affected by Spina Bifida, spinal cord injury, Cerebral Palsy, leg amputations and other impairments.
Sailing
Adaptive Sports New England partners with Boston’s Community Boating on the Charles River Esplanade to teach youth who have a visual or mobility impairment to sail. Youth focus on building confidence and strengthening their communication and teamwork skills while simultaneously becoming better sailors.