Finding the time and a sense of belonging and understanding have been the biggest challenges facing Lynda Field and her three footy-mad daughters when it comes to getting involved in the game they love.
But now she says the opportunity to be part of Adelaide’s new Inclusive Academy appears to be the perfect fit and they can’t wait to get started in July.
The Adelaide Crows Foundation is partnering with Variety - the Children’s Charity to deliver a new football program helping young people with special needs.
The four-week program will see children aged 10-15 train alongside Adelaide’s men’s and women’s players to develop skills, forge new friendships and learn how to work as part of a team.
Among them will be Lynda’s children Hannah and Amieleah who are 13-year-old twins, and Chylah who is 11.
Amieleah lives with autism, Hannah with Down syndrome and Chylah has Type 1 diabetes and is recovering after having her appendix removed last month.
“I hate to use the word challenge because I find what I do an absolute blessing, I am so lucky to be exactly where I want to be and doing what I want to do, but it is very difficult to juggle,” Lynda said.
“And getting them into organised sport can be hard because some of it is just me going ‘how do I block off more time?’ because after school we have speech therapy, OT, physio and the medical appointments.
“It’s not that other sporting groups exclude them, they are fully inclusive, but it doesn’t quite fit for the children or they don’t have the awareness of what the children need.
“So it’s about finding something that fits and at the moment this academy fits perfectly for us, just to be able to do that and get a toe in the water and I hope from there it leads into something permanent for the girls to join.
“Their lack of skills they might make up for in determination.
“Even to see Amieleah who is quite a shy girl getting in and having a kick, that’s 10 years of therapy right there to get to that point.”
The Inclusive Academy will cater for more than 100 young people and forms part of Variety - the Children’s Charity’s recent three-year commitment to work with the Crows.
“We will be there with bells on and the silver lining is, I’m assuming, I’ll get to stand with other parents who are similar and word of mouth is everything,” Lynda said.
“To compare and discuss what we’ve found along the way works, that is gold to me, and I’m hoping we make a connection somewhere that can continue them on.
“Even if it’s the knowledge that this certain club is inclusive and they do great with our child, and we go from there.”
Hannah was recently given a football which she guards very closely at home.
“We’re allowed to look at it but we’re not allowed to touch it,” Lynda said.
“They all absolutely love football, they watch the men’s and the women’s and are right into both.
“You couldn’t find three more excited girls, they can’t wait.”
