High Five Basketball League for Youth with Autism Aged 6-13

Hi!

I’m Ben Schwartzman and I’m a 3rd year PhD student at UCLA in the Special Education program. This summer I am starting a new basketball league for kids with ASD called High Five Youth Basketball League. Through our mission Friendship, Focus, Fitness, Fairness & Fun, our goal is to provide children on the spectrum aged 6-13 with athletic opportunities, social interactions and friendships, an accepting environment to just simply have fun, and that fundamental sense of belonging one gets from being on a team. Our organization consists of dedicated UCLA PhD students and mental health professionals who are experienced in both basketball and working with children with special needs. Furthermore, we are dedicated to creating an environment not just of tolerance, but compassionate and understanding for athletes with special needs.

Our league will be at both Crossroads School (1634 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404)  and Crespi Carmelite (5031 Alonzo Ave, Encino, CA 91316), not simultaneously because of each school’s gym availability. So the tentative schedule as of now is (Sunday afternoons anywhere from 12:30pm-4:30pm depending on the day):

July 13th-Crossroads
July 20th-Crossroads
July 27th-Crespi
August 3rd-Crossroads
August 10th-Crespi
August 17th-Crespi
August 24th-Crespi
August 31st-Crossroads

Here is a link to our registration questionnaire
http://uclaed.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9An6D44X5b2IdAF

If you can only make certain locations let us know on the questionnaire in the additional comments box, or reply back to this email with any questions you may have. Each team will have one practice per week. These practices will be flexible and based on you and your child’s availability. We will group the teams up by location so you don’t have to drive too far for the practices.

The first day, July 13th, will be the try out. Everyone’s going to make it we just need to see everyone to determine how to split up the teams fairly. So we will do a bunch of fun drills and let the parents meet all the coaches. By the end of the day you will know what team your child is on and who will be your child’s coach.

Registration fees are $100 per child in order to cover gym rental fees, a reversible jersey that your child will get to keep at the end of the season, and trophies on the last day of games.

If you have any additional questions for me feel free to ask! My cell phone # is 310-733-7057 and my email is highfivebasketball@gmail.com

Thanks so much!
-Ben Schwartzman