Kentucky Association of Blind Athletes

Running...

2008-07-07T14:08:00.002-04:00

The following is from Nickie Pearl, Board Member of KABA:

I want to share with everyone an inspiring story I heard this past week in Dallas at the NFB national convention. This story made several of us tear up.

Last year at the NFB Youth Slam, which is a camp for blind youth and adult mentors where the kids learn hands on about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. One night the mentors wanted to do a rec night. Ron Gardner, who is a long time Federationist and was a mentor at the camp, was playing kick ball with the kids. A girl he called Sarah got up to kick the ball and did really well. After kicking she just stood there. Ron was telling her to run and she continued to stand there. Ron went up to her and encouraged her to run again, but he had no luck. The ball made it to first base before Sarah did so she was out. The next time Sarah got up to kick, once again she kicked the ball and it went out into the out field. Again Sarah just stood there. Ron went and grabbed her arm and said "run Sarah run" He gently tugged on her arm trying to get her to run. She stomped along for a couple of steps and stopped. Ron ask her what was the matter, why she didn't want to run. Sarah's response was "I don't know how to run".

Can any of you imagine not knowing how to run? At that moment so many feelings flooded me. Sarah confirmed and renewed my passion for sports and for KABA.

We as an organization must reach all the Sarah's in Kentucky and teach them the freedom and teach the parents that it's ok for Sarah to run and explore. This is all second nature to us and that is why we're KABA.

I could not wait to get home to share this with all of you. I hope you take time to think about it cause I know I have.

Thanks,

Nickie

2nd Annual Bluegrass Shootout Goalball Scrimmage

2007-08-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

The Kentucky Association of Blind Athletes would like to invite you and your Goalball team to Louisville, Kentucky for the 2nd Annual Bluegrass Shootout Goalball Scrimmage. This is a great opportunity to shake loose the summer cobwebs and get started on the roads to Michigan, New Jersey, Utah and beyond.

When?

Saturday October 13 and Sunday October 14, 2007.

Where?

Kentucky School for the Blind

(Langan Gymnasium)

1867 Frankfort Avenue

Louisville, Kentucky

Pool Players?

Of course. We'll make every effort to get you on a team. If we can't find a spot for you by September 29th, we'll return your check to you if you like.

Cost?

$25 per person, including coaches.

We have a limited number of beds available at the Kentucky School for the Blind for $10 per person, per night. These beds are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Last year the Kentucky Thoroughbreds and Fillies hosted teams from Illinois, Ohio and Georgia. We hope to have even more this year.

The schedule will depend on how many teams compete. Tentatively, it's Saturday from 8AM until 6PM and Sunday 8AM until Noon. Our goal will be to get in as many games as possible.

We will provide continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday as well as lunch on Saturday.

Payment and completed registration form are due in by September 15, 2007.

We encourage you to pass this along to others who may be interested.

If you have any questions or would like a registration form, please contact Kevin Pearl at goalball@kygoalball.org

Goalball Meeting Changed

2007-08-14T16:57:00.000-04:00

The Goalball team meeting has been changed from August 21 to August 24th at 6:30pm. It will still be held at the Kentucky School for the Blind 1867 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky. We will meet in the Houser Hall Multi-Purpose Room.

If you want to play Goalball, this is the meeting for you to attend.

Goalball Meeting

2007-06-18T20:45:00.000-04:00

The K A B A Goalball team will meet on Monday August 27 at 6:30PM. The location is the Kentucky School for the Blind, 1867 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY. The meeting will be in the multi-purpose room in Howser Hall.

If you want to play Goalball or just want to know more about Goalball or K A B A, please join us.

Board Meeting

2007-06-10T12:01:00.000-04:00

Items of note from the KABA Board meeting of June 9, 2007:

KABA is donating at least $200 to the Darryl Green Memorial Fund and the Executive Director will be writing a letter of condolence.

2 new members have joined the board, Nickie Pearl and Jenny Tyree.

Financial procedures were discussed and finalized.

As you know, this is a new organization and we are working hard to build a firm foundation on which KABA can grow and flourish.

Thanks to all for participating.

National Goalball Tournament

2007-06-04T14:26:00.000-04:00

The Kentucky Men's and Women's Goalball teams competed in the USABA National Goalball Tournament last weekend. On paper the results are disappointing, but the level of play and commitment by our players was impressive.

The Fillies who participated were Sarah Saylor, Patti Cox and Nickie Pearl. They were supplemented by "pool players" Sherry Gordon and Amanda Dennis. We asked the tournament organizers for pool players because injuries and other commitments kept some of the team from making the trip. While the Fillies didn't get any wins, They showed that their past experience is moving them up the ladder. The highlight of the tournament for the Fillies was keeping the Kalamazoo Chaos team to a score of 3 to 0. Chaos is the team that eventually won the gold medal.

The Thoroughbreds also played better than their record reflects. Making the trip were Kenny Shake, J P Pullens, John Saylor and Tommy Harmon. They tied the New York Knights team but had losses in their other games. I believe the highlight for the team was being up on the Northeast Florida team early in the first half by a score of 5 to 1. They did eventually lose this game, but the loss was to the defending national champions.

The Thoroughbreds also were given the Team Sportsmanship Award for the tournament.

Darryl D. Green

2007-06-04T14:15:00.000-04:00

Darryl Green was killed by a hit-and-run driver early Sunday morning in St. Augustine, Florida. He and his team had won the silver medal at the National Goalball Championships just hours earlier. Darryl was a member of the Blind Sports Organization (B S O) in Pennsylvania. We in Kentucky are saddened by the loss.

Below is an e-mail from one of Darryl's teammates, John Mulhern:

"Dear Friends,
It is with much sadness and grief that we regretfully share with you the
loss of long-time, dedicated BSO member Darryl Green. He was hit and killed
by a hit-and-run driver at about 1:30 this morning (June 3) in St.
Augustine, FL. This occurred shortly after he and his teammates had
finished competing in the National Goalball Championships. Darryl, who was
24, was a very dedicated and accomplished member of the BSO traveling
Goalball and Beep Baseball teams. He also helped many other blind and
visually impaired youth and adults learn and improve their skills in both
sports. Darryl will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all BSO
members who had the fortune of knowing him. Please visit our website, we
will have a message board dedicated to Darryl and his memory. And Question
or Concerns you call call me 717-679-0237 and email tornado973@hotmail.com .
Darryl was like a little brother to me. He will surely be missed.
JOHN" tornado973@hotmail.com .

BSO has established a Memorial fund for Darryl's Mom to help defray funeral related expenses. Anyone who wishes to donate can do so through:

Darryl Green Memorial Fund
Citizens Bank
323 Old York Rd.
Jenkintown, PA 19046

All donations will be acknowledged to Darrly's mother.

Western Regional

2007-05-14T20:37:00.000-04:00

Tommy Harmon and Kenny Shake competed in the USABA Western Regional Goalball Tournament May 4-5, 2007 in Utah.

They took 5th place and showed that our guys can get it done.

Our teams are now headed for St. Augustine, Florida to compete in the National Championship Tournament to be held May 31-June 2, 2007.

DEFI Sportif

2007-05-06T13:15:00.000-04:00

Nickie Pearl competed with Team USA in the DEFI Sportif in Montreal last weekend. Her team took 3rd place against a couple of strong Canadian teams.

Interim Board Elected

2007-05-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

On May 15, 2007 KABA elected a new interim Executive Committee:

Executive Director/Chair – Kenneth Jones.
Director of Program Development and Event Management / Vice Chair – Reni Jackson.
Director of Sports Information / Secretary – Adam Ruschival.
Director of Finance / Treasurer – Don Cronk.
Director of Membership and Recruiting – Tim Davis.
Director of Fundraising – Norman Balot.

The Kentucky Association of Blind Athletes thanks them for all their efforts on behalf of KABA.

Regular elections will be held on November 3, 2007 at our annual meeting.

Max & Erma's

2007-04-22T18:47:00.000-04:00

Please come to Max & Erma's on May 7, 2007. Just print this flyer, show it to your Max & Erma's server at 2901 S. Hurstbourne Parkway, Louisville, Kentucky. 20% of your purchase will go directly to the Kentucky Association of Blind Athletes.

Come for lunch, come for dinner. Just be sure to bring the flyer and some friends.

Northeast Regional Goalball Tournament

2007-04-10T11:44:00.000-04:00

Nickie Pearl (#4) will be playing as a "pool player" for the Illinois Tsunami team.
The tournament will be held in New Jersey April 14-15, 2007.

DEVELOPMENTAL JUDO ATHLETE AND COACHES CLINIC

2007-03-22T18:49:00.000-04:00

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) in partnership with the Kentucky Association of Blind Athletes is holding a Visually Impaired (VI) Coach Certification and Athletes Introduction to Judo Clinic.

DATE: Saturday April 28, 2007.

TIME: Coach Certification, 10 am to 11:30am.
Athletes Introduction to Judo, 1 to 2:30 pm.

LOCATION: KY School for the Blind
1867 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY

WHO: Blind athletes or anyone interested in working with blind athletes
is encouraged to attend.

Coach Certification: USABA will conduct a Visually Impaired Coach Certification for those interested in becoming certified to teach or assist training visually impaired and blind athletes in the sport of judo. Applicants may certify at many levels depending on background. Assistant Trainer up to International Judo Coach are available depending on experience.

The certification program will be presented by Walter Dean 9th Dan with over 50 years in judo and coaching. Mr. Dean is a Master Coach Trainer and USABA Head Judo Coach.This clinic will cover pointers on how to coach a blind athlete, introducing a blind athlete into a judo program, refereeing a judo match for VI athletes as well as background on the USABA, how we will develop judo for blind athletes in the USA and much more.

Fees: Clinic with a participant certification is $25. All those wishing to be certified as a trainer or coach any level must also join USABA for an additional cost of $35. These applicants are issued a certificate stating their certification level. For information regarding the program please contact Walter Dean at 760-944-9486 or email at
walterpdean@sbcglobal.net or check www.usaba.org under judo.

Intro to Judo: This part of the clinic will run very similar to an actual judo class so the athletes will become familiar with the beginning steps leading to the exciting sport of Judo. Those athletes may join an on going program and their training could lead them to competing in the World Games and the Paralympics representing the USA. During this session the coaches will also have a chance to work with athletes that are blind and visually impaired.

There is no cost to the athlete: Uniforms (gi) may be provided on loan for the clinic.

This session will be conducted by Walter Dean 9 Dan USABA Head Coach and Eugene Fields 6 Dan Head Sensei of Bushido Inc.

For information about the athlete program please contact Mr. Reni Jackson at 502-968-3602 or e-mail him at renijackson@insightbb.com.