BC Special Olympics-Powell River summer sports are starting up again and the organization is looking for volunteers to help out and more participants to play.
As a grassroots, volunteer-based organization, Special Olympics BC relies on the support and dedication of more than 2,900 volunteer coaches. Volunteers need only to have an interest in the sport and a desire to help teach it to others.
Special Olympics is not to be confused with the Paralympics. Special Olympics is an organization for people with disabilities who want to participate in sports. The Powell River branch runs programs year round and currently has about 60 participants in a variety of sports from swimming to golf and bocce.
Larry Wuthrich started coaching the golf program in Powell River four years ago.
This season’s first practice is on Saturday, May 4, and usually goes for a couple of hours, he said. The season runs through to the end of June.
Wuthrich and his coaches will teach the team the fundamentals of golf. “We start at the Myrtle Point [Golf Club] driving range and do some drills,” he said. “Then we go out to the green and practice putting.”
Wuthrich said that over the years he has been coaching golf he has seen the players’ skills improve.
“We go out to Nootka Dunes to play nine holes,” he said. “If we’re slow we let people play through and with additional coaches we can split up the groups more.”
Wuthrich said the players have been asking him to do an out of town trip this year, so he is looking at setting up a tournament with the Campbell River Special Olympics golf team.
For more information about how to volunteer or participate in golf, readers can contact Wuthrich at 604.483.4587.
Special Olympics bocce has already kicked off its season and is looking for more coaches and players.
“The more players the better, if you ask me,” said volunteer Elio Cossarin, whose son Peter plays on the team. Cossarin has been helping out with the team for the past three years. Cameron Reid, one of the bocce team’s coaches, called Cossarin, “the coach behind the coaches,” for his dedication to setting up the pits and organizing the players.
Powell River players Angela Seeley and Dale Eckert with their coach Reid will be joining the Campbell River Special Olympics bocce team to participate in the Special Olympics provincial games held in Langley this July.
Bocce is one of the more recent sports added to the Special Olympics roster and has become increasingly popular. “Bocce only started three years ago at provincial level,” said Cossarin.
Weekly practices are scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30 pm Mondays at Larry Gouthro Park on Manson Avenue. Instead of using the bocce pits, the team uses stakes with ribbons and can play anywhere that is relatively flat with grass.
“We’ve been lucky the last three Mondays, the weather’s been great,” he said. If it is raining, the team moves its practice to the basement of the Italian Club in Wildwood.
For more information about volunteering to help coach bocce or just to play, readers can contact coach Susan Storry 604.458.2133.
