Sharing Care Makes Baskets With iCANHoop
Many children grow up attending various camps, clinics and games specific to the sport that they’re involved in. This serves as a great tool for them to improve their skills, build relationships and learn how to follow instructions.
A Clinic For All Kids 
However, when Julie Hagen started looking for basketball camps for her son Lucas, who has Down syndrome, she soon realized there weren’t the same opportunities for physically or cognitively impaired children. Once she started talking to parents of children in a similar situation, she quickly realized there was a lot of interest in creating a clinic for them and soon, iCAN hoop was created through West Metro Miracle Athletics (WMMA) and more than 50 kids participated the first season. This past season, the basketball clinic held 12 clinics (six for ages 5-9 and six for ages 10-19) and runs with each player being paired with a buddy as they work through circuits such as ball handling, dribbling, passing and shooting – giving them the chance to gain the same meaningful lessons and experiences other clinics bring.
14 Sharing Care volunteers brushed up on their basketball techniques to be buddies with participants in one of the clinics held last Sunday, April 14th in Chanhassen. The players and buddies alike had a great time moving up and down the court, learning basketball skills and making friends! You can see the clinics in action and hear more of the iCAN hoop story here – it’s one that we strongly believe in, as the players get out in their community and involved in activities that allow them to learn, achieve and thrive. We were so amazed by all of the participants and look forward to participating in the WMMA’s baseball league this spring and summer!
Thanks to programs such as iCAN hoop, kids of all abilities and skill sets can get involved in the activities they love – and that is something that we love!
Originally published: April 19, 2013