What is the Miracle League?
And of course, there's baseball There is something about playing the game that lights up a youngster's eyes. But for children facing serious physical and mental disabilities that opportunity can often be difficult to achieve.
Baseball diamonds weren't exactly designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind. The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mentally and physically disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America's favorite pastime. Since the main barriers for these children arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional youth leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries. But it's more than playing a game.
A Miracle League is about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other kids. To help the athletes, the Miracle League uses a 'buddy' system, pairing each player with an able-bodied peer. The result is a bond that cannot be described. The Miracle League serves children who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which causes them to be excluded, whether intentionally or not--from conventional youth Baseball leagues. According to the 2000 Census Bureau's states there are 5.2 million Children in our country who have disabilities between the ages of 5 and 19 and with young adults that number increases substantially. The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, Georgia in April 2000. Word spread and by 2002, fields opened in South Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, Chicago, and California.
There are presently 225 plus Miracle League Organizations across the country including Puerto Rico and Canada., while serving 100,000 plus children and young adults. The Miracle League has an aggressive plan to help local communities build Miracle League complexes around the globe. As we plan to help build our first 500 fields which will serve 1.3 million children with disabilities.
Our players may not be able to run the bases or hit the ball as well as some of their peers, but they have an equal amount of love and determination to play baseball. We want to help them achieve that dream. 'Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball' Source: The Miracle League Miracle League of Plymouth is a Member of The Miracle League Associations, Conyers, GA
Every One Plays
Isn't everything more fun when everyone has the chance to play?
The Miracle League will enrich the lives of children with disabilities as well as their families and their communities. It demonstrates to children with disabilities that they are not limited by their disability but can take the advantage of such an opportunity to play America’s favorite pass time baseball, just like their brothers, sisters and friends. When a kid crosses home plate it gives their parents such joy to see their child play baseball just like all other boys and girls. The community achieves much when it works together to produce such an outstanding project as a Miracle League and a Miracle League Field. “When you see the smiling faces and the gleam in their eyes you ask yourself two questions, “How quickly can we build more Miracle League Complexes?” and “What have we done lately to make a difference, in a child’s life.” Diane Alford, National Exec. Director, The Miracle League, Conyers, Ga.
The rules are simple. Any boy or girl who is not blessed with the wholeness of body or mind could play. Everybody gets to bat and everybody gets to hit the ball one way or another. Frank Deford
As we hope for the best in them, hope is reborn in us. Eunice Shriver
Athletes of the world, you promised you would play fair and you did. … And finally to those who have watched us all over the globe, we hope you enjoyed these Games and the telling of our humble Canadian story. The young men and women you sent here are coming home. You can be very proud of them. The Games will have many wonderful legacies. I wish but for one. That every Canadian child - be they from Chicoutimi, Moncton, Grand Prairie, Sqamish or Niagara Falls - will have the chance to grow up to experience the pleasure of sport - no one left out. And that we of the global Olympic family will not rest until the right of every child to play across this planet is secured. John Furlong CEO, Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, Closing Ceremony Speech
MIRACLE LEAGUES in MICHIGAN
Miracle League of Plymouth
The Great Lakes Bay Miracle League
Miracle League of Mid-Michigan
West MichiganMiracle League – Coming Soon
Grand Rapids, Michigan