SPORTS CAMPS : Coach Keeps Pace From a Wheelchair

A coach can’t afford to be slowed down when demonstrating a fast break. That’s why Lou Cicciari never has regretted switching from artificial legs to a wheelchair.

“At 13, I made a decision not to use them,” Cicciari said of his artificial legs. “They slowed me down. I found out that I was more mobile using wheelchairs than the artificial legs.

Cicciari made his decision 14 years ago, a decision necessitated by the amputation of both legs at age 7 because of complications from a rare blood disease. Today, he coaches junior varsity basketball at Granada Hills High from a wheelchair and is working toward becoming a college coach.

“There are some people in the world who think that a guy in a wheelchair can’t coach basketball because there is a lot of demonstration involved,” said Cicciari, who also plays wheelchair basketball. “Other coaches can just go out and demonstrate what they want. I can’t. I have to show them exactly what I want them to do.”

Cicciari will teach handicapped youths ages 8 to 18 the basics of basketball at a wheelchair sports camp at Cal State Northridge on June 23-27. The L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks is sponsoring the free camp in conjunction with CSUN and the National Foundation for Wheelchair Tennis.

At the camp, Cicciari will teach such basketball basics as shooting, dribbling and defense. In addition to coaching basketball, however, he also wants to educate the public about what it’s like being handicapped.

“I’ve had people come up and say that they think my coaching shows a lot of courage,” Cicciari said. “My true feeling is that I’m doing this because I enjoy it and not to show courage. I’m just trying to make the best of a situation. I didn’t put myself in this chair.

“Sometimes, when people see a person in a wheelchair, they think that it’s somebody who just sits around and vegetates. I hope that the public is becoming a little more aware that handicapped people can do things for themselves.”

Cicciari will be one of six instructors and eight counselors who will coach basketball, archery, tennis, track and field, swimming and weight lifting.

Information: 885-3205.