Free Community Program Offers Four Sports Sessions Throughout the Year
The Special Olympics Young Athletes™ Pasadena program at Professional Child Development Associates (PCDA) is hosting a kickoff celebration for its 2016 season on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Parents and children of all abilities are invited to learn more about the program while enjoying fun sports activities and games.
Special Olympics Young Athletes™ Pasadena is a free year-round, sports-play program for young children, two to seven years old, with cognitive and developmental challenges. Using the DIRFloortime®approach, fun activities and games are designed to teach fundamental sports skills in which young athletes can practice in a supportive and non-competitive environment. Through play, young athletes are introduced to the exciting world of sports and Special Olympics Southern California.
The kickoff celebration will mark the beginning of the 2016 season, which will offer four sports sessions throughout the year. The season includes basketball from Jan. 30 to April 2, baseball from April 16 to June 18, soccer from July 9 to Sept. 10, and kickball from Sept. 24 to Dec. 3. All sessions take place on Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the PCDA outdoor play yard. Each athlete receives a free t-shirt as their team uniform and participates in a skills demonstration on the last day of the session.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Special Olympics Southern California and launch our third year of Young Athletes Pasadena at PCDA,” said Dr. Diane Cullinane, PCDA’s executive director. “This program provides a unique opportunity for younger athletes to develop sports skills, build confidence, and enjoy social interaction with other children. We hope that the program continues to grow and that we can be a model for others to start similar programs in the community.”
For more information on Special Olympics Young Athletes™ Pasadena, please visit www.pcdateam.org/youngathletes. To sign up for the program, please email YoungAthletes@pcdateam.org or call (626) 793-7350.