Unified sports for youth with intellectual disabilities are taking root

WEYMOUTH — When the halftime buzzer sounded last week, Weymouth unified basketball athlete Connor Sullivan giddily bounced to the sideline and hoisted both hands in the air.

Sullivan, playing in his first game with the Wildcats, saluted the crowd after drilling three consecutive shots against Duxbury. The fans applauded and let him know the feeling was mutual, then Sullivan skipped back to the bench with a huge grin on his face.

“At the start of the game, you don’t believe in yourself,” said the 17-year-old Sullivan. “Once you get worked up, you start to believe in yourself and make all these shots. It was outstanding tonight.”

Similar scenes unfold daily across the state, both in the fall with unified basketball and spring with unified track & field. In partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts, the MIAA has spearheaded a unified sports movement over the past 12-plus years.

When unified track began in 2012, eight teams around the state competed. That number has skyrocketed to 110 in the spring of 2024. Unified basketball has ballooned from six teams at the start in 2015 to 143 last fall.

More than 2,500 students participated in unified basketball last fall in the Bay State. More than 1,800 competed in unified track and field this past spring.

“It’s pretty incredible to see how quickly it’s caught on,” said MIAA associate director Peter Smith, the liaison for unified sports, “and how quickly the programs have grown across the state.”

For athletes with intellectual disabilities, unified sports are a safe haven and an outlet to express themselves creatively. For those who are cut from a different team, or otherwise wouldn’t have an avenue to exercise, this is an ideal alternative.

Smith attributes the spike in participation to a blend of awareness, strength in numbers, and diligence from athletic directors, principals, and more. Presentations at conferences showcasing success stories have encouraged others to follow suit.

Once teams see programs in their league blossoming, they often jump to launch the initiative themselves. Special Olympics Massachusetts provides $2,000 of funding the first year, $1,000 the second, then the goal is for schools to self-sustain.

Weymouth launched unified sports in 2018, with 14 people on the basketball team. That number has swelled to 46, and the program has earned national recognition for its commitment to inclusion.

Weymouth coach Lisa Stokes said she’s overjoyed by the growth of unified sports, both in Weymouth and beyond. Assistant coach Ginny Disanto said unified sports have been a highlight of her near 40 years working in Weymouth. She called Stokes, who beamed as much as the players as she refereed, the “heart of the program.”

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” Stokes said. “You just smile.”

Duxbury unified basketball coach Rachel Files Goulding said the program has grown so much the Dragons had to cap it at 24 to keep playing time manageable.

That’s a good problem to have, as it shows just how much involvement and buy-in there is around the school and community.

“We have so many kids that come back,” Files Goulding said. “They’re excited to be part of it.”

While the action is competitive and high-intensity, it’s even more so about collaboration and joy. At halftime, players grooved to the “Cha Cha Slide,” showing off their hops and coordination. Madeline Farrell invigorated the crowd for Weymouth, and Emily Keller did the same for Duxbury.

Then it was back to business, as the matchup featured dramatic twists and turns until the very end.

In a packed gymnasium, with coaches, fans, and Weymouth dance and cheer team members behind their every move, the Wildcats and Dragons put on a dazzling display. Lily Budak poured in 32 points for Duxbury, and after an epic battle with several lead changes down the stretch, they ended in a 52-52 tie.

In a sport that prioritizes inclusivity, teamwork, and fun, it was a fitting finish.

“We’ll take that,” Stokes said. “We both leave winners.”