Introduction :
The New York Chariots of Fire are Athletes comprised of physically challenged, co-ed individuals ages 16 and above. The seasonal program includes two Indoor Wheelchair Soccer teams, the New York Chariots and the New York Strikers and Track and Field athletes. All of our sports are governed by the National Disability Sports Alliance, (NDSA), a multi-disability national governing body for competitive disabled sports. The Chariots of Fire are dedicated to providing a superior athletic program for individuals with disabilities that range from severely disabled athletes to athletes less disabled by their individual physical conditions. No other organization offers such a complete athletic program with over two decades of dedication and success. Our expenses are considerable, some are listed below.
Our projected annual budget is approximately $30,000. Traveling to interstate regional tournaments, providing specialized wheelchairs and purchasing uniforms for anywhere between 30 and 50 individuals each season necessitates the need to reach out to the community so that we may continue providing our comprehensive program. We offer sports opportunities to individuals from novice to a high level competitive athlete that travels to compete in the Indoor Wheelchair Soccer National Championships in two divisions and individual Track & Field athletes to local/regional and annual national competitions, the World Games and finally, the Paralympics, if one or more of our athletes is chosen to the U.S. Paralympic team.
History :
The New York Chariots of Fire were formally affiliated with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Suffolk for over 22 years, and known as the Suffolk Seagulls. Our affiliation with UCP ended in 2004. Our nucleus of extremely dedicated and seasoned coaches and athletes started a new organization with a new name, renewed attitude, and fresh ideas, independently for the first time.
Throughout the past two decades, our teams have won 11 Indoor Wheelchair Soccer National Championships and have amassed hundreds of medals internationally at the Paralympics and locally in Track and Field, Boccia, Cycling and Swimming. Our athletes are competitive and energetic, which creates a great atmosphere where our athletes can learn from each other, make new friends, travel, gain confidence and develop camaraderie by working with a group to reach a specified goal.
The health and well being of our athletes is also a fundamental aspect of our successful program. Physical and emotional strength and growth occurs with our athletes because they learn by doing and working with our devoted coaching staff and the past generation of our championship athletes who continue to evolve with our program to provide insight and act as successful role models to all newcomers. It is acknowledged that sports are a microcosm of society in general, and has within its whole, a mechanism of actions and reactions. The choices made within the games are philosophically comparable imitations of life choices.
Our exceptionally successful and experienced coaching staff of the New York Chariots of Fire instructs disabled individuals how to succeed in sports and life after adjusting to the difficulties of coping with a disability and integrate with their peers to become physically and emotionally prepared to engage in all aspects of society. To that end, there is much to be gained by participating in wheelchair athletics, through our weekly program. This combination of instruction, play and positive affirmation encourages these individual to garner an increased belief in a healthier self image and positive attitude, promoting independence and inner strength, therefore providing an opportunity for a satisfying and successful future.
As we continue to grow by recruiting new athletes, we have learned about other programs, such as the Brookhaven Wheelchair Athletes Team, which includes Softball and Basketball. Both teams have had members join the opposite organization as well to create more opportunities to meet different people, travel and experience another level of excitement in a new setting. Sports are a great way in which to work hand in hand with disabled individuals, thereby, easing the tension and the transition into new facets of life and sport. Beginners are always welcome and instructed to the rules and play of the game. The competition arrives as they play our competing teams in the New England area and local businesses, whose employees we put in wheelchairs to evoke the understanding of how skilled our athletes are at mastering the movements of their specialized sports chairs, as well as the sport itself.
In each sport, we conduct local tournaments throughout the year to promote our sports and the individuals who take place in these events. This also affords our players an opportunity to engage other teams on a highly proficient level. These types of activities promote awareness to non disabled athletes. This allows us to enlighten the community of the abilities of disabled persons and how they overcame the negative aspects of their disabilities to become role models of their communities.
Overview :
The exciting element of the program is that it is open to all participants without fear of competing for open space on a team. Individuals who have never played the sport are encouraged and welcome to participate. Our program provides a social outlet, exercise, sportsmanship and an opportunity to learn a new sport as well as serving as a healthy inspirational outlet for our athletes.
While competition and winning are just as important to disabled athletes, participation in sports and physical exercise provides lifetime benefits through sports training. Psychologists call this "Training for Life.” Research shows that sports participation leads to higher social competence and better self esteem among participating athletes. Exercise is good for everyone, ergo; benefits from participating in sports are no different for athletes with disabilities than for able-bodied athletes. Researchers have documented the physical, psychological and social benefits of participating in sports
Physical Benefits:
For persons with disabilities who require the use of adaptive devices (walkers, crutches, wheelchairs), being in good physical condition enables them to use their modified extensive devices more effectively, with less fatigue after engaging in longer activity. In addition, they have less chance of becoming injured from the everyday strain on their joints due to the use of adaptive equipment.
Psychological benefits:
People with disabilities who participate in sports or exercise regularly have been shown to handle pressure and stress better than those persons who do not exercise. They also experience less depression, confusion, tension and anger. Sports provide the disabled athlete a physical outlet and the opportunity to develop a sense of mastery and to set and achieve certain goals. Swimmers are reported to have strong self-identity, a strong competitive nature and become goal oriented individuals who are not afraid to merge and mainstream into, and contribute greatly to their communities.
Social Benefits:
Through sports, persons with disabilities have the opportunity to experience peer interaction, acceptance and recognition. Sports can be a vehicle to combat discrimination by providing the able bodied athlete the opportunity to see the athletic ability of the disabled athlete.
Indoor Wheelchair Soccer is an exciting and challenging sport that enables almost anyone with a physical disability to compete. Those who have an impairment preventing them from playing standard stand-up sports may participate in a plethora of wheelchair sporting activities.
Conclusion:
The New York Chariots of Fire offer a multi-disability, comprehensive, physically disabled coed competitive sports program to athletes, 16 and over. Our non for profit 501 c3 organization's mission is to provide these opportunities to disabled individuals so that they may experience life to the fullest through being active in a sports program run by highly experienced and motivated coaches and athletes who wish to impart our time-tested ideology to benefit athletes with disabilities.
Our two-plus decades of experience in instructing athletes in the sports of Indoor Wheelchair Soccer and Track & Field, enriches the lives of disabled individuals through participation in sports. Participation in sports mirror life situations and promote physical, psychological and social wellness, which ultimately raises the quality of life for all of our athletes.
We involve the community for the purpose of initiating disabled awareness and to reach out for funding for an entirely volunteer run program that costs approximately $30,000 annually. The athletes benefit from the community's financial contribution and the community profits from seeing a group of individuals mature and become respected role models that contribute to society and become empowered independent individuals who are healthy members of their respective communities.
Contact Information:
Please consider supporting the New York Chariots of Fire. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about the program.
