Verge Inclusive athletics

(team verge)

expanding limits and inspiring lifelong fitness through the power and joy of running

Since 2015, Verge has helped hundreds of young people, many with challenges, and has provided valuable volunteer opportunities to hundreds of teens through our programs. 

 

our MISSION

Verge harnesses the power and joy of running to transform lives, inspire lifelong fitness, and connect people through inclusive, community-based training programs for all abilities while expanding quality access to sport, fitness, and team belonging to young people with developmental challenges.

our Vision

A healthier, happier, more connected world where all people have access to running and fitness, support each other, and embrace and value each other’s differences.

Areas of focus and impact

  • Health and Fitness for youth and adults

  • Youth Athletic Development

  • Youth Leadership Development

  • Community Building

  • Adaptive and Inclusive Efforts in our club and our communities


Detailed descriptions OF EACH

HEALTH AND FITNESS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS

Empower youth, young adults, and families to develop healthy fitness habits and lifestyles by inspiring and educating.

  • Provide well-rounded, quality programs that are fun and foster personal, social, and athletic growth.

  • Provide training resources for home use and learning.

  • Provide additional educational opportunities through workshops and clinics.

  • Inspire and encourage families to get fit together.

  • Develop community relationships to facilitate connecting running buddies and mentors with young adults with disabilities.

  • Build a community of professional specialty advisors to help inform programming and ensure quality support to all individuals.

YOUTH ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT

Inspire, educate, and develop youth to participate and succeed in sport and competition.

  • Seasonal competitive opportunities.

  • Training that focuses on personal growth and achievement while supporting each other (sportsmanship).

  • Focused development or event specific training for individuals as desired.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Develop young people to be compassionate leaders and agents of positive change.

  • Volunteer program for teens that provides experience, mentorship, learning opportunities, coaching and leadership opportunities, collaborative and planning opportunities, and philanthropic opportunities.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Create a happier, healthier, more connected society.

  • Inclusive program culture of collaboration, respect, compassion, and flexibility. 

  • Fun and achievement, together through training, competition, social events.

  • Be a community for families and teens to connect with each other.

  • Collaborate with other organizations and programs in our communities.

  • Community engagement and education to advance mission of inclusion.

ADAPTIVE AND INCLUSIVE EFFORTS IN OUR CLUB AND COMMUNITIES

-Individuals - Provide quality programs that give people with challenges the support and individual attention needed for equitable opportunities for success and growth, while preparing those interested for inclusion in mainstream.

-Community - Create positive social change through exposure, experience, education, and collaboration.

  • Provide quality, inclusive programming that brings together people of all abilities.

  • Collaborate with public event organizers to aid in making the events inclusive to those with challenges.

  • Prepare challenged athletes for inclusion in school and mainstream teams and events. Aid in transition by providing support to athlete and team coaches.

  • Develop community relationships and resources for additional opportunities for young adults to stay fit and/or compete for those who find mainstream is not a viable fit.

  • Eliminate stigma and foster connection

    • through our volunteer program

    • by encouraging people without disabilities to join our club

    • by participating in public events

    • through community engagement and education

our approach

Helping more young people discover, grow, and benefit from the magic and joy of running.

OPPORTUNITY & connection

Fitness and connection are so important to living a healthy life. Sport provides both, but many people with difficulties struggle with joining teams and sports programs. Many kids and young adults who join our program come to us after trying other activities and sports with little or no success.

Our inclusive culture of communal support, compassion, and flexibility, combined with adaptive measures removes common barriers to participation and fosters an environment where the athletes feel a sense of belonging to a team, anxieties are reduced, and they successfully achieve greater fitness, confidence, and social skills. Some go on to join school teams or other mainstream sports and programs.

Verge is also a unique and mutually impactful opportunity for high school and middle school students and adults in the community to volunteer as peer coaches/run buddies and assistant coaches where they also form friendships with the runners and each other. Some Verge runners return later as volunteers.

INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT

We are sensitive to individual needs and give the athletes room to express themselves, while helping them to push their limits. We support every person’s goals, whether it is to keep regularly active, to prepare for joining school sports, or to train to race or to develop their running.

Many of the athletes have difficulties with anxiety, communication, attention, comprehension, delayed processing and/or motor skills. It is through a community effort of member families, coaches, and many volunteers that the athletes get the individual attention they need to have a positive experience and grow.

EQUAL CHALLENGE

We encourage and expect everyone to give their best effort at a level appropriate for them, in line with their goals. We meet the athletes where they are. Whether a goal is to simply participate fully and follow instructions, or to train to improve race performance, that is what we focus on. By having expectations and helping the athletes set goals, runners feel further included, gain a sense of self-responsibility and ownership, and feel recognized for their personal efforts and achievements.

Competition is an important aspect of sport and personal development, but not everyone can, or desires to participate in race events. So, in addition to opportunities to participate in mainstream races, we hold team track meets each season so that everyone can experience the excitement of competition that brings out the best in all of us.

Verge Inclusive Athletics, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides inclusive running programs for youth and young adults with and without developmental challenges, all athletic abilities and goals. We are dedicated to improving the lives of participants and inspiring a love of running and lifelong fitness by helping them to expand their limits in a fun, safe, team environment with the individual support and challenge they need for success and athletic, social, and personal growth.