A program to pair people on the autism spectrum with members of the Olds Junior B Stingers lacrosse team is forging a stronger sense of community and purpose for all, coaches and players say.
Associate coach Scott Godfrey got the idea to introduce members of the autistim spectrum to lacrosse about a year ago.
Godfrey began playing lacrosse at less than four years of age and rose all the way to play the game at the pro level. He is a program coordinator for the Autism Asperger's Friendship Society of Calgary (AAFS Calgary) and its AAFS Adapted Lacrosse Program (AAFSLAX).
Some of those in the AAFSLAX challenged Godfrey to play the game again as well, so he approached Andy Sweetman and Gary Gaudette of the Mountain View Lacrosse Association about playing on the Olds Senior C Stingers. That didn't work out due to various other commitments, but Gaudette suggested he help out Junior B Stingers head coach Laine Foshaug.
"So I came up to a practice, talked to them, and I'd never seen a group of young men more hungry and willing to be coached and respectful who were polite when they challenged. So after one practice, I decided to commit to helping the team," Godfrey said during an interview with the Albertan.
He brought a few members of AAFSLAX to Stingers games and they loved them. The Stingers were pleased to see the AAFSLAX guys in the crowd — and the partnership was born.
In addition to coming out to some of the games, several AAFSLAX players helped distribute water and took on other duties on the bench. Some compiled stats for the team.
"It could be the (National Lacrosse League's Calgary) Roughnecks and it would be just as big a thrill meeting these guys because it's guys the same age who are treating them like people," Godfrey said.
"These guys are inclusive. Our mandate at the Autism Asperger's Friendship Society is inclusion. And my players in Olds just said, 'yeah, let's go.'"
Godfrey cited the example of one AAFSLAX player, Bryce.
"Bryce is our goalie. When I met him and his family and he started doing sports programs three years ago, he was anxious about leaving his house. He had his bag packed two days ago with his goalie equipment," Godfrey said.
"The only thing he asks is 'are the guys going to be nice? Are they going to shoot too hard?' And I said, 'no. They won't shoot high and you've got pro-level stuff.' And he goes, 'you know, this is amazing, that they would let us practise with them.'
"I think it shows our players that they're not bigger than the game. And I'm proud that the Stingers are gladly and happily including them."
He cited an example of that inclusion.
"We went to Game 2 of the National Lacrosse League final and some of the Stingers sat with some of my players and just laughed and yelled and threw popcorn and you couldn't tell who was who. They were just 10 guys laughing and joking. That's what it's about.
"One of my mandates that I hope to come back with (for) the team next year is that they've got to realize that playing junior B lacrosse is a big deal. Sometimes guys at tier II think they just have to settle. They can excel and they can have a name and they can represent something," he added.
"Our guys would be willing to drive from Calgary to have a pop with somebody to visit. They struggle to make friends because of social anxiety and social navigation."
During the interview in the Sportsplex, Mike, another AAFSLAX player who is wheelchair-bound, tried to follow other members of the team as they went upstairs to go for a run. But Godfrey persuaded him to remain behind for fear he would hurt himself.
"You see Mike with the wheelchair was trying to go up the stairs to go for a team run. He would die trying because if he has friends — if you're a friend of Mike, it's absolute, absolute. And I think our guys need to see that their sense of team is this big," he said.
He said Zach Currier of the Roughnecks, a friend of Godfrey's, asks about the Stingers — and the AAFSLAX players with the team — frequently, and gives them advice to boost their confidence.
"They're seeing that a high-level athlete is a high-level person first," he said. "And I just think that's really important. I've been on the world stage for three sports and represented Canada in two and these guys need to see it starts here. It starts in the basement of an arena in Olds."
Among the Stingers pairings are runner Sam Potter, 18, and ALP member Owen Falk, 22, who plays defence. They had just met the night of the interview.
Aside from just being a friend, Sam planned to support Falk and give him advice on how to play D.
Potter cited one example of his advice to Falk.
"Probably the biggest thing we still learn is don't chase. So if that ball is gone or a guy's way out, don't go and chase him; let him come to you — save your energy," he said.
Falk is grateful for the help.
"So far he's just being a good inspiration and a good runner," he said.
"I think by the end of the night he's going to be just as much a part of our team as we are his," Potter said.
Falk said he loves lacrosse. He was asked what he likes about it.
"Just the community and the fact that it brings people together," he said.
