slowmotionsoccer

There is an intricate relationship between the acquisition of motor milestones and the emergence of play……when motor milestones are delayed, the development of fine motor skills, language and play are also delayed.

(Brigance, A.H., 1991)

Strategy for creating Slow Motion Balls Modified equipment is an important component for supporting independent participation in gym, sports, and recreation activities. Ball skills are particularly difficult for children with disabilities, including children having difficulty with coordination. Observing children with disabilities struggle with ball skills, the idea of modifying a ball with the purpose of slowing the trajectory so the ball remains in play was the strategy for designing Slow Motion balls. Because of the nature of how the ball rolls it also stays within the “zone of proximal distance” (vigotsky) which affords children a greater propensity to play.

Carolyn Hitzler and Dr. Timothy Davis have contributed their expertise in developing the correct weight options for Slow Motion and Sensory Soccer. I am humbly grateful to Carolyn and Dr. Davis for their ongoing support.

Carolyn is an Adapted Physical Education Specialist with the Kenai Peninsula School District in Alaska. Carolyn has an M.S. in Exercise Physiology with an Emphasis in rehabilitation. Carolyn studied at Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. Carolyn has teaching certification for PE k-12, Adapted PE k-12. Carolyn specializes in Sensory Integration Strategies, focusing on best practices for including children with disabilities in physical education.

Dr. Davis is the national chair of the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) Program and oversees the national standards and certification process in Adapted Physical Education sponsored by the National Consortium on Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID). Timothy D. Davis, Ph.D., CAPE Associate Professor, SUNY Cortland Department of Physical Education