Y program makes team sports accessible to special kids
By JODI RALL
For Brentwood Home Page
“Play ball!” will have a special significance Saturday morning, when a special baseball field is dedicated.  The community is invited to attend the 10 a.m. celebration of the Brentwood YMCA Full Circle Baseball League.

A baseball field beside the Brentwood Y behind Concord Road Church of Christ will become the home of the league, which is modeled after a program in California and offers children with disabilities a chance to be a part of a sports team. “Buddies” are paired with the children and help the athletes with everything from batting, fielding to running the bases.

Five years ago Scott and Terri Matlock moved to Brentwood. The Matlock’s have three children and while two of their children easily transitioned into sports in their new community, son Chandler who has special needs needed a place of his own. Having experienced The Challenger League in California they approached the Brentwood Civitan Club to help start a similar program here and the baseball team formed two years ago.

“The teams offer a new perspective on the sport. You see kids playing with all their hearts and parents happy to have a child on a team. Our son loved baseball and Chandler was always being dragged to his siblings’ games. This was missing for him but now Chandler has a team of his own,” Terri said.

The couple decided to talk to the Brentwood YMCA about bringing the program to the Y because of its Full Circle Program. In addition to baseball teams, Full Circle now sponsors basketball and soccer programs. This summer a kick ball league will begin. Both Scott and Terri are active volunteers raising money and awareness through the Y’s Annual Giving Campaign.

“Having this new baseball field means that our Full Circle athletes will always have their own place to do nothing more than be a kid playing baseball,” says Jason Saltzer, who directs the Brentwood Y’s teen and Full Circle programs. “This field represents an outlet for the special needs community to have fun while learning and competing in sports. 

“Many of the parents tell me how much this experience means not only to their child, but the entire family. Seeing all those smiles on game day is really what it’s all about,” Saltzer added.

The Full Circle field is smaller than a traditional baseball field. An estimated  $5,000 was spent to make it baseball ready.

Reliant Bank is sponsoring Full Circle’s athletic programs and has purchased uniforms for baseball, soccer and basketball. ARC 31, a program started by Tennessee Titan Cortland Finnegan, donated money to help with field preparation and the program. The Brentwood Y’s Annual Giving Campaign covers expenses for the children who are a part of Full Circle.

With the support of the Y and sponsors, the programs are free to families who want to be a part of the Full Circle teams. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, please call the Brentwood YMCA at 615-373-9622.

The celebration program begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Concord Road Church of Christ and games start promptly after. Brentwood Firefighters will be part of the celebration acting as the buddies for Saturday’s game.