They’re All Stars

When Jeff Mattson, a 17-year-old with Down syndrome, put on his uniform for the first time, he said, “Now, I’m a real kid.”

Basketball coach Darrell Burnett smiled and put his arm around Jeff as he related the story.

“It makes sense to have kids involved in sports,” said Burnett, a child psychologist. “It’s such a self-esteem builder.”

For the last four weeks, about 40 kids have crammed onto one court in Dana Point to participate in Hothoops, a basketball program for developmentally disabled children designed to boost their confidence through team sports.

The recently concluded program is working to expand countywide next year to give even more disabled children an opportunity to become athletes.

“You obviously just can’t have one team. It’ll get bigger and bigger,” Burnett said. “We need the interest of other cities. We don’t need a long time, just an hour here and an hour there.”

Instead of Special Olympics-type track meets, Burnett, and co-organizer Randy Larson, have put together mainstream sports programs, including baseball and soccer, for impaired children.

In the basketball league, the four dozen children divide into four teams and play half-court games. Some similar leagues feature full-fledged practices and home and away games.

“These kids like action. It can get chaotic,” Burnett said. “Once the numbers get larger, we’ll have to have separate practices.”

Dylan Stevenson, 14, scooted backward to line up a shot. He pivoted and released the ball. It hit the backboard and came right back at him.

Then he popped it up again. He missed. He shot one more time--and made it. He clenched his fists an let out a faint, “Yes!” His coach gave him a high-five.

“I like basketball because I like shooting,” Dylan said. “I get better. I like to keep up the good work.”

Parents routinely filled the stands as children dribbled the court, encouraging each player regardless of who was winning.

“Every kid has the spotlight for a few minutes,” said Carol Kuhn, whose son, Ryan, plays.

“I don’t think you can count the number of high-fives going on,” said Carlene Mattson, Jeff’s mother. “Every kid leaves feeling really good about themselves.”

Burnett said parents are key to the success of the program. Their participation adds to the excitement and inspiration of the game.

The children use the “buddy system” during practice, which pairs each player with a high school volunteer who will help with dribbling, passing and shooting skills.

The children care more about fun than free throws, but Burnett emphasized that improvement in skills adds to a child’s self-confidence.

“A kid’s face lights up when the ball goes in the hoop. They get this big smile,” Burnett said. “When you deal with developmentally disabled kids you want them to see some progress.”

Parents said the high school volunteers gave the disabled players a sense of belonging.

“They see a lot of sports. For them to participate makes them feel like they can do what a normal kid can do,” Karl Kuhn said. “It’s confidence-building. It’s self-respect.”

The players are gearing up for baseball season now, but looking forward to next year’s hopefully larger and more competitive basketball league.

And the Kuhns said they would have to buy another uniform. Not because it got so dirty or because their son will outgrow it, but because 12-year old Ryan wants to retire his jersey and hang it on his wall.