April 2024 S4EA Newsletter
Published monthly for athletes, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & other supporters of SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes.
Editor: Walter Jackson.
Message from S4EA Executive Director Walter Jackson
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Join S4EA at S4EA Pancake Breakfast on Sat Apr 13 & S4EA Bingo Bash on Sat May 18 at S4EA Office. S4EA is running our spring sports in baseball, basketball, bowling, cycling, pickleball, swimming, and track. S4EA athletes & volunteers are looking forward to SPORTS Camp May 3-5 at Camp Marston in Julian. "A Taste 4 SPORTS" gala fundraiser, scheduled for Wed June 26 at the Balboa Park Club, is honoring SD Padres Pitching Legend Randy Jones as our 2024 'SPORTS' Man of the Year.
Check out the rest of the Newsletter or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more information.
S4EA Pancake Breakfast Apr 13 /S4EA Athlete Council Elections
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The S4EA Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, held on Sat April 13, was a great success. 46 athletes, families, volunteers & supporters ate the breakfast which included pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice & coffee. Louis Flam won the raffle. S4EA made over $600 at the Pancake Breakfast.
The S4EA Athlete Council elections were held at the Pancake Breakfast with the following S4EA Athlete Council Officers elected:
President - Matthew Rathbun
1st Vice President - Louis Flam
2nd Vice President - Eric Nelson
Treasurer - James Stolarek
Secretary- Aaron Rosenstein
Sergeant-At-Arms - Isaac Hernandez
S4EA Bingo Bash Sat May 18
3-4:30pm at S4EA Office
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SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes presents Bingo Bash on Saturday, May 18 at our S4EA Office (8380 Vickers St. #E, San Diego 92111) in Kearny Mesa from 3-4:30pm. We will play bingo outside. For $5.00 per set of 5 Bingo Cards, you can play Bingo with families & friends. Bingo winners will receive prizes. Snacks will be provided. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to reserve your spot.
S4EA Celebrates our
17th Anniversary
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SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes (S4EA) was founded in April 2007 by a group of coaches, parents, volunteers & community members who found a need for a community based inclusive sports program for athletes with & without disabilities in San Diego County. Thank you to all of our athletes, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & supporters for making our first 17 years a great success!
S4EA Sports News Highlights
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S4EA swimming has started up on Friday, March 22 at a newly renovated pool in National City. S4EA is holding swimming practices at Las Palmas pool on Fridays from 5-7pm with non-swimmers from 5-6pm and swimmers from 6-7pm.
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S4EA spring sports include baseball on Saturdays at Balboa, cycling every Saturday starting April 27 at various locations, pickleball on Mondays at Park de la Cruz. Open sports start on Thu April 11 at Kearny Mesa Rec Center for children ages 5-18. Bowlers are continuing on Saturdays at Bowlero Chula Vista & on select Sundays at Mira Mesa Lanes.
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Over 60 S4EA track athletes are competing in upcoming S4EA Final Track Meet at Sweetwater High School on Saturday, April 20 from 9am-1pm.
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18 S4EA basketball teams competed in the S4EA Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 16 at Park de la Cruz & Mid-City Gym. Spring basketball has started at Park de la Cruz on Mondays.
“A Taste 4 SPORTS” June 26 at Balboa Park Club
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S4EA is hosting for our members the 17th Annual "A Taste 4 SPORTS" Gala Fundraiser on Wednesday, June 26th from 6-9pm at the Balboa Park Club (2144 Pan American Road West, SD 92101) featuring food & wine from 20 restaurants, personal chefs, caterers & wineries. Mingle with notable local & sports figures, including NBA Hall of Fame player Bill Walton & Mad Mike from MTVs “Pimp My Ride”, enjoy music from the band ‘Beatle Trax’ & bid on an exquisite array of auction items. Reservations are $60 per person.
S4EA will be honoring San Diego Padres Pitching Legend Randy Jones as our 2024 'SPORTS Man of the Year'. Randy Jones won the Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres in 1976 and was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame.
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Sponsorship opportunities available at following levels: Platinum-$10,000, Gold-$5,000, Silver-$1,000 & Bronze-$500. Please donate gift certificates, trips, autographed sports memorabilia to enhance the auction. For more info, call 858-565-7432 or visit www.s4ea.org.
S4EA SPORTS Camp May 3-5 at Camp Marston in Julian
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S4EA has scheduled SPORTS Camp for May 3-5 at Camp Marston in Julian. Camp Marston offers sports & traditional camp activities (climbing tower, candle making, paintball slingshots, hikes, nature center, Ga-Ga, talent show, campfire). Campers spend 2 nights in new group cabins with bathrooms under guidance of chaperones/ camp counselors. Because Camp Marston is hilly, a camper using a wheelchair may be limited to certain activities (cabins & dining hall are accessible). Persons with disabilities, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & supporters are all welcome to join S4EA at camp. Transportation will not be available. Campers must be brought directly to Camp Marston in Julian which is approximately a 1 hour drive from San Diego.
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The S4EA SPORTS Camp Registration Fee is $300 per camper to help pay for lodging, meals, insurance, supplies, etc. Mail Fee & S4EA Camp Registration Form as soon as possible to S4EA (8380 Vickers St. #E, SD, CA 92111). Turn in Camp Registration Form & Fee by April 3 and pay Early Bird Price of only $280 ($95 advance deposit will lock in the lower rate). S4EA has received Vendor Approval from Regional Center for SPORTS Camp (PQ8659). Please contact your Regional Center worker to apply & get approval for Campership.
Partial scholarships & Family Rate Specials are available. For more info, call S4EA at (858)565-7432.
SPORTS Camp -
Chaperones Needed
Volunteers ages 18 & over are needed to chaperone for SPORTS Camp May 3-5 at Camp Marston in Julian. Family and friends are welcome to chaperone. No experience needed. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to sign-up.
S4EA Board Elections
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S4EA will be having elections for our new Board of Directors. If you are interested in helping run our non-profit sports organization by becoming a board member, then call S4EA at 858-565-7432 by April 8.
Dance Interest
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“Dancers with Heart’ is a new dance group. Some of our tournament volunteers have started a dance group and are interested in teaching our athletes dance. If you are interested in participating in a new dance program, please call S4EA at 858-565-7432.
SD Parks & Recreation - Therapeutic Rec. Services
San Diego Parks & Recreation (SDP&R) – Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) provides therapeutic recreation programs for children and adults with any type of disability. Over the years TRS has been supporting SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes in obtaining contracts for the use of San Diego City Recreation Facilities (gyms & fields) through a SUP agreement which has ended. SDP&R-TRS is now co-sponsoring activities at SD City Facilities so that S4EA athletes and volunteers also need to register with SDP&R-TRS. S4EA athletes need to either register on-line with SDRecConnect.com or register at the first practice with SDP&R-TRS. The facilities that S4EA uses in the spring are Park de la Cruz-Basketball/Pickleball/Volleyball Mon (Code: 113290), Balboa/Mt. Acadia-Baseball Sat (Code 113292) & Kearny Mesa Rec Center-Basketball/Open Gym Jr. (Code: 113291).
S4EA Practices/Tournaments – Guidelines
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Download Athlete Registration Form from S4EA website, fill out/email to S4EA
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Do not come if you are sick
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Check temperature (if above normal, don’t come to practice)
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If have COVID, isolate at least 5 days & wear mask 10 days
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Wear a facemask in large groups/indoor to help protect everyone & especially our athletes with disabilities
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Get the new COVID vaccine & be safe to play our sports
Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-27
Volunteers are the backbone of the SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes program. Our volunteer coaches organize practices and teach athletes various sports skills. At tournaments – volunteers are referees, scorekeepers, timers, help with set-up, take-down, Nerve Center, meals . . . and everything else that needs to be done. At SPORTS Camps – volunteers are chaperones, helping our athletes at sports and camp activities, as well as at meals and in the cabin. Our volunteers become friends of our athletes. Volunteers also help with office projects, fundraisers, as committee members, and as S4EA Board members.
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Join S4EA in thanking our coaches and volunteers for all of their efforts in providing sports programs to our very special athletes during Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-27.
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.S4EA Spring Season
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Sport Practices
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Sat 10am-12noon Balboa (3900 Mt. Acadia, SD 92111) (Code: 113292)
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Mon 6:00-8:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) not Apr 1 & end May 6 [League Play] Code: 113290)
Thu 4:00-5:30pm Kearny Mesa Rec Ctr. (3170 Armstrong, SD 92111) start Apr 11 [Open Jr] (Code: 113291)
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Sat 11am-1pm Bowlero Chula Vista (845 Lazo Ct, Chula Vista 91910)-$9 for 2 games [League Play]
Sun Apr 14/28 11am-12:20pm Mira Mesa Lanes (8210 Mira Mesa Blvd, SD 92126) -$8 for 1 game, 1-2 Sundays per month, Call Cathy 949-922-3441
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Sat Apr 6 1:15-3:30pm Mast Park - moved from Mar 30 (Cyclists ride once a month in winter)
Sat Apr 27 1:15-3:30pm De Anza Cove Park-parking lot north end (Weekly rides start April 27)
[see calendar, S4EA website, coach or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more info]
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Mon 5:30-6:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) from Apr 8-May 6 (Code: 113290)
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Fri 5:00-7:00pm Las Palmas Pool (1800 E 22nd St, NC 91950) start Mar 22-$20/mo. (Non Swim 5-6, Swim 6-7pm)
April 5th swim practice cancelled due to the rain
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Sat 10:00am-12noon Sweetwater High School (2900 Highland Ave, National City 91950) ending April 27
Sun 9:00-11:00am Helix High School (7323 University Ave., La Mesa 91941) ending April 14
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Mon 5:30-6:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) from Mar 4-25 (Code: 113290)
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Limitless Adventures is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides outdoor recreational experiences for people with disabilities. Their current programming consists of hikes and other activities & operates within the Greater San Diego Area. For more info, go to: https://www.limitless-adventures.org/ -Upcoming events: Hike-Mar 23
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Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to confirm spring season sports information.
S4EA Tournament & Event Dates
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Mar 23 1-3pm S4EA Bunco - S4EA Office
Apr 13 8-10am S4EA Pancake Breakfast - S4EA Office
Apr 20 9am-1pm S4EA Final Track Meet - Sweetwater High School
May 3-5 Fr 4pm-Su 12pm S4EA SPORTS Camp - Camp Marston in Julian
May 18 3-4:30pm S4EA Bingo Bash - S4EA Office
Jun 26 6-9pm S4EA "A Taste 4 SPORTS" - Balboa Park Club
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