This was the first year since Covid that Brett managed to get in a real full season of flag football. He decided to play with the Blazing Stars. Lydia got recruited to be a unified partner.
Some Special Olympics sports are unified sports. Unified sports are designed to encourage inclusion by providing opportunities for disabled and non-disabled peers to enjoy sports together. Using the avenue of sports, people of varying abilities can come together, learn from each other, and build community through relationship. The mission is bigger than just playing games and giving people with disabilities opportunities...it's revolutionary.
Unified Flag Football is played five-on-five on a 40 yard field. At all times there are 3 athletes and 2 unified partners on the field. It is the unified partners' goal to uplift the athletes. There are lots of rules like a unified partner cannot throw the ball to the other unified partner.
We were set up in a bracket of four teams. The first game was a good matchup. It was close, but the Blazing Stars won. The second game was for the championship. While our team had two unified partners who were teenagers with average athletic ability, the opponents' unified partners looked like they were college athletes! The Blazing Stars were up against goliaths and didn't stand a chance. But they played hard, had fun, and built community.
Mission accomplished!
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