LETHBRIDGE – Twice a week Shelby Sawers heads to the YMCA, swaps from her normal wheelchair into an athletic version, and rolls into action.
“It’s fun,” says the Lethbridge College student. “I look forward to it every single Thursday and Saturday.”
Sawyers is one of the newest players to join the pick-up basketball league. No prior experience is needed, so even though she had only played once before, she was more than willing to give the sport a shot.
“Just that vibe of being on a team and wanting to do this, it just got my energy going,” says Sawers.
The sport is now in its third full season after finding a permanent home at the Lethbridge YMCA. It’s the brainchild of University of Lethbridge Kinesiology instructor Mary Dyck who fell into the sport somewhat by chance.
“We started with just some people being interested in it and I had them come out to my class and demonstrate to my class three years ago,” Dyck remembers. “And then I said ‘well, let’s see if there are more people who are interested.’”
It turns out there was plenty of interest. The game now draws more than a dozen players to each outing, encompassing all ages and skill ranges. It also appeals to more than just those who rely on wheelchairs, as many able-bodied people come out to each game.
“Where we want to get is – it’s just a sport. We’re not a disabled sport – it’s just a sport,” says Dyck who is also adding a competitive team with an eye towards joining a province-wide wheelchair basketball league.
A step in expanding a sport that has already provided so much enjoyment to those who wheel out every week.
“The best part of wheelchair basketball is making good, new friends,” says Sawers. “And just having fun!”
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