FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: ROLLVERINES REFLECT ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Today, basketball games were originally scheduled to tip-off across the country as part of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
But even though the games were canceled, Headlines still has your March Madness fix — as the employee newsletter takes a look back at the successful second season of the Michigan Rollverines, Michigan Medicine’s pediatric wheelchair basketball team!
Crisscrossing the region
Over the past few months, the Rollverines — a team made up of players between the ages of 6 and 18 — traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, Frankfort, Illinois and Grand Rapids, Michigan, to face other youth programs in three different tournaments. All of the teams are part of the junior division of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.
“Our games served as great opportunities to teach teamwork and the value of working together,” said Daniel Ellman, a communication specialist at Michigan Medicine and head coach of the Rollverines. “But even more importantly, they were chances for our kids to spend time and compete against hundreds of athletes who they can relate to.”
That’s the basis for the program, which gives players an outlet to spend time each week with their peers.
“Often, kids with disabilities may only have one or two friends like them in their school,” Ellman said. “But when they come to practice, everyone is in the same boat and understands each other. It’s the perfect way to make life-long friendships.”
Open to all
The program, one of multiple adaptive sports provided by the University of Michigan Adaptive and Inclusive Sports Experience (UMAISE), is open to individuals of all ability levels.
Read the full article and see their photo gallery by going to https://mmheadlines.org/2020/03/for-the-love-of-the-game-rollverines-reflect-on-another-successful-season
