As a sports fanatic since I was just a young child, I spent most of my formative years on an ice rink, soccer field, tennis court, or baseball field. My involvement in sports has been an integral part of my social life and has also provided me with the opportunity to learn leadership skills and develop camaraderie with my teammates. Sports can teach us lessons that extend into our everyday lives, such as perseverance, communication, and integrity, among others. Isn’t it important, then, to make sports accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, socioeconomic status, or skill level? This is why I have gotten involved in multiple organizations that promote sports advocacy.
Sports advocacy is “the act of supporting the rights and responsible practices of athletes, and the fair treatment of all participants in sports.” It can include raising awareness, supporting human rights, campaigning, and promoting fair play. Fortunately, there is a growing number of organizations that are focusing on sports advocacy and making sports available to everyone. Specifically, two organizations have stood out: Northern Bravehearts Hockey, and AYSO EPIC (American Youth Soccer Program, Everyone Plays In our Community).
Northern Bravehearts Hockey is an organization whose mission is to create a safe and nurturing environment for special needs individuals to develop their hockey skills while fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. The aim is to promote inclusivity, boost self-confidence, and provide valuable resources to support the growth and well-being of all members. Bravehearts was founded by Max Maksimyadis, a hockey goalie who has cerebral palsy. Max is passionate about making hockey available to everyone, no matter what their disability may be. I have been an on-ice coach with Bravehearts for four years, and it has been a wonderful experience. Bravehearts includes both children and adults, and we provide all equipment for participants. There is no charge for ice time or equipment, so it is truly accessible to everyone! Each participant is paired with a coach and given the opportunity to develop their skating and hockey skills.
I spoke with Kyle Helm, a Chappaqua resident whose 17-year-old son Jabril is a Bravehearts participant with special needs. Kyle said that “the Bravehearts program has been an excellent experience for Jabril, as he is adventurous and enjoys doing activities that are challenging, such as ice skating. Jabril thrives with structure, so having Bravehearts to look forward to has been a very uplifting experience for him”. Helm also said Jabrill enjoys working with the caring volunteer coaches within the Bravehearts program. Jabril, who is a Greeley student, also participates in modified basketball, bowling, and wrestling at school. As a friend of Jabril’s since elementary school, it is always a blast to spend time with him on the ice at the Bravehearts practice sessions.
AYSO EPIC is a program whose mission is to provide athletes with disabilities the additional support they need to fully participate in a quality soccer experience. Volunteer buddies help the athletes not only participate but excel in this wonderful sport. The goals for all players are the following: Have fun playing soccer, increase positive self-esteem, become more physically fit, meet and be comfortable with new people, understand the fundamentals of the game, and learn teamwork and fair play. I began volunteering as a buddy with AYSO EPIC in the fall of 2024 and was thrilled to see many of my peers from school also participating as volunteer buddies.
Danielle Gootzeit, another Chappaqua resident whose 20-year-old son Spencer participates in AYSO EPIC, had a lot of positive things to say as well. Spencer started doing this program with a friend when he was only four years old, so he has been involved for over 15 years! Danielle noted that Spencer loves the program, and that it’s very nice for kids with disabilities to have this opportunity. Spencer enjoys playing soccer with the volunteers and has expanded his social circle as a result of AYSO EPIC. The program has allowed Spencer to meet more kids, with whom he can spend time with outside of school. Danielle emphasized the importance of opportunities like AYSO EPIC, as many special needs kids would be unable to play sports without programs like this. Based on the smiles I see at the AYSO EPIC soccer sessions, it is clear that a good time is had by all.
Josh Lurie, a local father with three daughters, founded the AYSO EPIC program here in Chappaqua about 15 years ago. Josh’s middle daughter has special needs, and the traditional AYSO model of soccer wasn’t the most appropriate fit for her to learn the fundamentals. So, Josh went to the board in Chappaqua and asked for AYSO EPIC to be approved. He noted how incredibly supportive AYSO in Chappaqua has been throughout the years: many people have made the time for their kids to participate and volunteer, thereby allowing the program to be offered to absolutely everybody who wants to play, regardless of their disability.
Lurie emphasized how the program has changed over time – namely, how quickly it spread throughout the community. For the players, this program spread through word of mouth. It has even expanded into other sports (basketball, tennis, and dance, for example). Originally, Josh didn’t realize how impactful it was on the volunteer buddies, because initially he was only focused on getting his middle child involved. Many of the volunteers interact with the special needs players at school, which is very meaningful. The buddy system has even led to many great careers involving disabilities. As Josh explained, “The earlier one volunteers, the more open and better they’ll be in the future with people with disabilities.” Although the program began with just high school buddies, it has since expanded to middle school buddies as well as younger kids getting more exposure to volunteering, which is a great thing for everyone. For anyone who is considering enrolling their child in the AYSO EPIC program, Josh has the following advice: If it’s time to see your kid play a sport in a healthy and social environment, come to VIP.
I highly encourage anyone who has a special needs individual in their life to consider having them participate in the Northern Bravehearts Hockey Club and AYSO EPIC; both programs are remarkable, as you have heard from parents of participants. By making sports accessible to all people, we can not only build confidence, but create new friendships along the way!