Blind Judo Participants Encouraged to Attend Developmental Athlete and Coaches Clinic in New York

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to announce a Developmental Judo Athlete and Coaches Clinic to be held April 28, 2006 at the New York Institute for Special Education, 999 Pelham Pkwy, Bronx, N.Y (Yonkers).

USABA and the New York Institute for the Blind will team up to recruit, train and support athletes who are blind or visually impaired to participate in an on-going program and learn the sport of judo.

The New York  Institute for the Blind is under consideration as one of five sites the USABA has selected to conduct the on-going judo program. Successful programs have already included Philadelphia, PA; Vancouver, WA, Cincinnati, OH; and Northglenn, CO. The initial on going program will incorporate any athlete who is blind or visually impaired who is interested in judo. Ten athletes, adding one bi-monthly once the program is up-and-running will be considered for funding. This clinic is offered to athletes participants without cost. Deadline for application is April 21.

A coaching certification program also is offered for anyone interested in working with judo athletes. Coaches becoming certified will learn the techniques for teaching and coaching blind and visually impaired athletes and including them in their local dojo’s. Coaches will receive an overview on preparing the dojo, lesson planning, teaching/coaching tips, teaching at blind schools, setting up a program for athletes blind and visually impaired and refereeing blind and visually impaired judo athletes.  Cost for this clinic is $25 and that includes an attendance certificate. Those wishing to be certified as a USABA Coach must join USABA at a cost of $35 additional.

The clinics will be led by Walter Dean, USABA head judo coach, a ninth degree black belt who has more than 50 years of judo experience.  “Dean’s knowledge of judo as well as his experience working with blind and visually impaired athletes and judo coaches is invaluable in providing opportunities for blind and visually impaired judo athletes throughout the United States,” said 2000 Paralympic Judo gold medalist and USABA Board President, Kevin Szott.

For more information or to register for the athlete or coaches clinic, please contact Walter Dean at (760) 944-9486 or walterpdean@sbcglobal.net.

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The United States Association of Blind Athletes, a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is a non-profit organization that provides training for blind and visually impaired athletes for competition in nine sports. USABA members range from blind children developing sports skills to elite athletes who train for competitions such as the Paralympic Games, which continually draws more than 4,000 disabled athletes.