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ParaPan 101: Boccia

Boccia is a sport that was originally created for individual with cerebral palsy. Individuals with physical disabilities now contest it at all levels. It officially became a Paralymic sport in 1984. It has been practiced in over 50 countries worldwide since 2008.

Boccia can be played individually or in teams of three. When played in teams, the team consists of both men and women.  The goal of the game is to throw leather balls, coloured red or blue closest to a target ball, which is also called a jack. The jack is thrown first. Then the first two leather balls are played. The team who threw the jack goes first. Whoever is further from the jack goes next. The objective is to get closest to the jack or to knock your opponents ball further away.

Results from 2011 ParaPan Am Games

Event                  Individual BC1

Gold           Eduardo Ventura Mexico (MEX)

Silver          Eliana Henao Columbia (COL)

Bronze        Jose Carlos Chagas Brazil (BRA)

Event                  Individual BC2

Gold           Adam Dukovich Canda (CAN)

Silver          Pablo Cortez Argentina (ARG)

Bronze        Dave Richer Canada (CAN)

Event                  Individual BC3

Gold           Paul Gauthier Canada (CAN)

Silver          Maria Belen Ruiz Argentina (ARG)

Bronze        Clodoaldo Massardi Brazil (BRA)

Event                  Individual BC4

Gold           Fabio Moraes Brazil (BRA)

Silver          Marco Dispaltro Canada (CAN)

Bronze        Josh Vandervies Canada (CAN)
Click here for more results.

Venue in 2015

Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon Street, Whitby, ON

Jeremy scores twice in win over Kings

Source: TPWHL Facebook page

January 24, 2015 – Lake Raiders vs. Kings (Boxscore)

Jeremy scores twice in 2 – 1 comeback victory over the Kings.

In the first period, David Donnelly gave the Kings the opening lead at 8:15 with his 16th goal of the season, assisted by Sharmin Alam who got her 15th point. Leo Xu was strong in net keeping the Lake Raiders off the scoreboard.

In the second period, it continued to be a defensive battle where the Lake Raiders were able to answer back with a goal from Jeremy at 3:48 to tie the game at 1 – 1, assisted by Eriin.

In the third period, the Lake Raiders broke the deadlock at 5:15 to give them an important 2 – 1 lead on Jeremy's 40th goal of the season. The Kings would give it all they got but were unable to find on equalizing goal. The win gave the Lake Raiders 14 points which was good for a second place tie in the race to the playoffs, while the Kings are five points back of the final playoff spot.

Mohit Shines in lost to Saints

Source: TPWHL Facebook page

January 24, 2015 – Saints vs. Bulldogs (Boxscore)

Mohit Sharma shines in a close 3 – 1 lost to the Saints.

In the first period, the Bulldogs would strike first at 5:27 on a goal from Meghan Hines, her 7th of the season assisted by Scott Allen for the 1 – 0 lead. However the Saints would have an answer 3 minutes later at 8:55 on Brandy Edwards 36th goal of the season, assisted by Don. Their offense continued at 10:01 giving them their first lead of the game 2 – 1 on a goal from Don, assisted by Brandy Edwards.

In the second period, it continued to be a tightly contested game with both teams trading chances. The Saints would score the only goal of the frame at 10:43 on Don's 6th of the season for a 3 – 1 lead, assisted by Braden Martz.

In the third period, there was no score with the Saints getting tons of great chances, but the amazing goaltending from Mohit Sharma was able to stop them and keep his team the Bulldogs in the game. With the win the Saints would stay three points clear in first place, and the Bulldogs are tied for second place with 14 points. There are only eight games remaining in the regular season with four of six teams making the playoffs.

Jerry's Hattrick leads Bulldogs over Kings

Source: TPWHL Facebook page

January 17, 2015 – Bulldogs vs. Kings (Boxscore)

Jerry scores three goals in a 4 – 1 victory over the Kings.

In the first period, Sharmin Alam gave the Kings a quick start just one minute into the game for a 1 – 0 lead. Jerry Mariano would answer back for the Bulldogs at 11:49 to tie the game at 1, assisted by Christine Pacheco.

In the second period, the Bulldogs would start to take control of the game with Jerry Mariano scoring his second goal for a 2 – 1 lead at 2:09. They would extend the lead at 10:49 on Jerry's Hattrick goal that just beat Kings goalie Leo Xu, after receiving a great pass from the corner by Christine Pacheco.

In the third period, the Kings gave it their all to try and get another one on the board, but Meghan Hines would seal the win for the Bulldogs with her goal at 6:25 assisted by Jerry Mariano.

Saints outscores Wolves

Source: TPWHL Facebook page

January 17, 2015 – Saints vs. Wolves (Boxscore)

Saints win 9 – 7 in a high-scoring game versus the Wolves.

In the first period, Don opened the scoring for the Saints at 4:06 to give them a 1 – 0 lead. Saverio Romano would answer right back for the Wolves at 5:30 to tie the game at 1, on an amazing long shot. The Wolves had a few close chances but was turned aside by Saints goalie Tracey Taylor. Don would give the Saints their second lead 2 – 1 at the 10 minute mark, and added another one at 13:58 from a great pass by Brandy Edwards which stretched out the Wolves goalie Torrance Ho.

In the second period, the Wolves would cut the lead to 3 – 2 at 1:38 on a nice goal from Saverio Romano who deked out the Saints defense. The Saints once again extended the lead to 5 – 2 on goals from Don and Brandy Edwards at 4:37 and 12:59. They nearly scored another goal but goalie Torrance Ho made a couple of excellent saves.

In the third period, the Wolves would outscore the Saints 5 – 4. With Saverio Romano scoring four goals and one assist, Matt Vocino with an incredible goal, and Mitchell Stark with an assist for the Wolves. For the Saints, Brandy Edwards would score all four goals with Braden Martz providing two assists. However the comeback would fall short, as the Saints hung on for the win to stay in first place.

Michigan teenager helps brother raise awareness on Cerebral Palsy

Source: The Cerebral Palsy Swagger Facebook page

This is an amazing story about Hunter Gandee from Michigan who helped his 8-year-old brother Braden raise awareness on Cerebral Palsy by carrying him on a 40 mile walk in June 2014. Braden seems like a spirited young boy who is willing to try his hardest at everything including sledge hockey and wrestling, even though he has a disability.

“But if you put your mind to it and try hard enough, maybe actually you can do it” - Braden Gandee

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153072083763689

You can follow the brothers on their Facebook page The Cerebral Palsy Swagger.

Chair yoga- warm-up continuation

Continuing from the last post http://www.sportsenables.me/2015/01/start-new-year-off-right-chair-yoga.html, keep your eyes closed, breathe deep, slowly drop left ear to left shoulder, breathe in, feel stretch on right side of neck, slowly bring up head to middle breathe out, drop right ear to right shoulder, breathe in, feel stretch on left side of neck, slowly bring head up to middle breathe out *repeat 3-4 times each side* remember keep your back off chair and core tight, continuing, drop head towards chest, breathe in, slowly bring head back up, breathe out *repeat 2times* then slowly breathe in and drop head back *only as far back as comfortable to you* then breathe out and bring head back up slowly *repeat 2 times* then a big breath in hold for 5secs and let it out, now you can open your eyes slowly & let light in.

ParaPan 101: Goalball

Source: Canadian Paralympic Committee Facebook Page

Goalball was originally created to help World War Two veterans with visual impairments during rehabilitation. It was eventually nominated as a demonstration sport at the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Toronto, and officially became part of the program in 1980.

A Goalball team consists of six players per team, and only three players are allowed on the floor at a time. There are only three positions including center, left and right wings, and all three players contribute to offense and defense. Two 12 minute halves are played. They use a round blue ball with bells in it, which helps the athletes hear the ball. The object of the game is to score as many goals in the opponents net as you can.

Results from 2011 ParaPan Am Games:
Men: Gold: Brazil / Silver: USA / Bronze: Mexico / 4th: Canada.
Women: Gold: USA / Silver: Brazil / Bronze: Canada.
Click here for more results.

Venue for 2015:
Mississauga Sports Centre at 5500 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, Ontario.

Mustangs end first half on a high note in a game of firsts

December 20, 2014 – Saints vs. Mustangs (Boxscore)

In the last game before the Christmas break the Mustangs took to the floor against the Saints.  

The Saints opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Matt Cockburn – his first of the season, and in the senior league.

Mike Iacovone would answer back early in the second period to tie the game at 1 goal apiece before Brandy Edwards would take the Saints into the third period with a one goal lead.

The third period was a back and forth battle of shots where both Brad Gordon and Tracey Taylor traded saves with players on both teams trying to figure out what it would take to beat them again. The Mustangs finally figured out what that would take at the 8 minute mark of the third period where Istok Vidmar scored his first goal of the 2014-2015 season unassisted tying the game at 2. Thus giving the Mustangs their first game point of the season since November 1^st.

Start the New Year off right - CHAIR YOGA

Let's begin simply with some meditation, either you can sit like girl in picture or if you're in a wheelchair, have your legs at 90 degrees, rest hands on thighs and close your eyes.

Take some big breaths in and out, quiet the mind, drift off to a relaxing image.....JUST BREATHE & RELAX...let it all go!

*You may find this hard at first but it's OK it takes time, you should do this for 2-5mins before chair yoga & 5-10mins after, I stress quite easily, so breathing deep & just giving myself a few moments of calm has helped in my everyday life, I'm sure it can & will for you too!