Blue Devils Add Bocce to Unified Varsity Team Lineup

The Blue Devils are excited to have added a third Unified varsity sport: Bocce. The New York State Public High School Athletic Assn. approved rules for Unified bocce last spring, effectively giving schools a green light to add the sport. NYSPHSAA hasn’t yet designated a specific season for the sport, so Huntington UFSD will be sponsoring a team in both the fall and spring.

Huntington district and building level administrators and the seven Huntington School Board members have all thrown their support behind the Blue Devil Unified sports program, including providing funding for coaches, uniforms, supplies, travel, officiating and supervision at events.

“Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences,” according to the organization. “Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.”

Like all Unified Sports teams, Huntington’s Unified bowling, basketball and bocce teams are comprised of students of similar ages. “That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all,” according to Special Olympics. “Having sport in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.”

Huntington UFSD used its in house labor, equipment and expertise to build two bocce courts adjacent to math wing of the building and below the tennis courts. The district had a brick patio area installed along the courts. Four picnic tables have been purchased and will be placed in the patio area for participants and fans to view the action. Greenery has also been added to enhance the area around the courts. There is room for a third court if the sport proves to be popular.

Huntington High School physical education classes are also going to use the new bocce courts. Physical education Lauren Blackburn has been appointed as the team’s first year coach.

Practices for the new team will be held on October 15, October 20, October 22 and October 27 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. A tentative match pitting Huntington, Walt Whitman and Haborfields against each other is planned for October 29 at Mill Dam Park from 3:00-4:00 p.m. The rain date is October 30.

Students interested in playing on the new varsity team should reach out of Coach Blackburn in the high school gym or by sending her a message at lblackburn@hufsd.edu.