27th Annual Mid-America Games

A Blaze Sports America Festival Event

 

 

 

P.O. Box 1342, Mission, Kansas  66202-1342                                E-mail: JoeDold@midamericagames.com

Phone: Joe Dold (816) 582-4024                                                     Website: www.midamericagames.com

 

 

January 22, 2008

 

Dear Athletes and Coaches,

 

            Here is your invitation to the 27th Annual Mid America Games on May 2nd – May 4th, 2008.  This year the Games will be held at Blue Valley North High School located at 12200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas  66209.

            We plan to open the weekend with Indoor Wheelchair Soccer on Friday evening, May 2nd.  Track and Field events will be held all day on Saturday, May 3rd.  Our annual social will begin at 4:30 p.m. with pizza, music and dancing on Saturday.  Bowling will be on Sunday, May 4th at Mission Bowl in Mission, Kansas.

 

Website:

            Our new website is up and running!  All Entry Forms, Medical Forms, Waivers, Newsletters, etc. can be downloaded and printed off for your use.

 

Registration Packets:

            In the athlete’s registration packet, you will find the following items: (1) Entry Forms(s), (2) Athlete Health Form, (3) Liability Waiver Form, (4) NDSA (National Disability Sports Alliance) Membership Form for non-WSUSA athletes, and/or (5) WSUSA (Wheelchair Sports, USA) Membership form.

            In the coach’s packet, we have included the following: (1) Staff Health Form, (2) Les Autres List, (3) Rules Governing Wheelchairs, (4) Performance Standards, (5) Membership Forms for both NDSA and WSUSA, (6) all Entry Forms, and (7) the Roster Form.  We request that each head coach complete the Roster Form (including names of athletes and staff) and return it to us by April 1st.

 

Entry Form(s): Please read all instructions and fill it out completely.  Your deadline for returning your Entry Form to us is March 17th.  Several Entry Forms may be included in your packet.  Each athlete must complete his/her appropriate form(s).  The Entry Forms are 1) NDSA Senior, 2) NDSA Youth Ambulatory, 3) NDSA Youth Wheelchair, 4) WSUSA Adult, and 5) WSUSA Youth.  After entering your information into our computer, we will send a summary of your information to your team coach (or to each athlete registered as an independent) for corrections and additions.  Corrected summaries are due back to us no later than April 15th.

 

Entry Fee: The entry fee is $25.00 per athlete and is payable to Mid America Games for the Disabled, Inc.  Your entry fee is due by April 18th.  Any athlete in need of assistance with the fee should contact Joe Dold at the above address and phone number.  The Games will make “scholarships” available from sponsors to ensure no athlete will miss the opportunity to compete.

 

Athlete Health Form: Get your medical appointments right away!  Your deadline for returning your Athlete Health Form is April 18th.  Be sure that your diagnosis is very specific so that we can classify you for competition.  For example, do you have CP, brain injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or another condition?  PLEASE BE SPECIFIC.  We must have your Athlete Health Form before you can participate in any events.

 

Membership: We encourage you to join one of the National governing organizations such as the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA) or Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA) especially if you want to go to any National or International competitions.  They will keep you updated on activities and competitions for athletes with physical disabilities.  Check the NDSA, WSUSA or DSUSA websites for additional information.

 

Liability Waiver: We must have your Liability Waiver Form properly completed before you can participate in the Games.  The Liability Waiver Form is due by April 20th.  As noted above, we also need this form signed by all athletes, coaches, care attendants, and volunteers.

 

NDSA Athlete Classification: If you are competing as an NDSA athlete, please refer to the NDSA Classification and Sports Manual (5th edition, 1997) for information about athlete classification.  Be sure that your classification fits into the eligible classes for the events you choose on the Entry Form.  If you need help with classification, please contact Terri Jones McMillan at 816-753-5130 or at TeJones@jacksongov.org.

 

NDSA Class 5 Athletes Divided for Track Events: For track events, Class 5 athletes are divided into 5A and 5B.  Class 5A athletes use assistive devices for mobility, while Class 5B athletes DO NOT.  Be sure to check the correct track classification on your Entry Form.

 

Track and Field Events: We will simultaneously run track and field events following Opening Ceremonies.    Check the schedule in the registration packet on the day of the games for official order of track events.  It is the athletes’ and coaches’ responsibility to make sure the athlete is present when their track event is called.   Field events will begin after Opening Ceremonies and will be open throughout the day.  Therefore, check your track events first and participate in field events after or between your track events. 

 

Bowling: Ramp bowlers should please bring their own ramps.  The Games do provide some ramps, but not many.

 

Boccia Rules: We will use the CP-ISRA INTERNATIONAL BOCCIA RULES except for the American rules used for assistive devices.

 

National Games: Check out the following websites below for information national and regional games.

 

            Check www.blazespports.org for events and dates for BlazeSports America.

 

            Check www.challengegames.org for events and dates for the Challenge Games in Derby, Kansas.

 

            Check www.wsusa.org for events and dates for Wheelchair Sports USA.

 

            Check www.dsusa.org for events and dates for Disabled Sports USA.

 

Opening Ceremonies: The Opening Ceremony will start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3rd.  Be sure to wear a shirt representing your team.  Show us who you are and where you’re from!

 

Food and Social: A continental breakfast will be served for everyone on Saturday at 7:00 a.m.  A lunch will be provided on Saturday only.  The social with pizza and music will be on Saturday evening  at 4:30 p.m.  Please join us and share in the fun!  A continental breakfast will be served on Sunday at the bowling alley.

 

Please Register Early!  Please mail your registration packet as early as you can.  DO NOT wait to mail your ENTRY FORM to us just because your medical form is not complete.  Your Entry Form is our highest priority and is due March 19th.  Remember, we MUST have ALL registration forms and your entry fee before you will be allowed to compete.

 

Other Contact Information:

National Disability Sports Alliance                  Wheelchair Sports, USA                     Disabled Sports USA

(NDSA)                                                           1236 Jungermann Rd.                        451 Hungerford Drive

25 West Independence Way                          Suite  A                                               Suite 100

Kingston, RI  02881                                        St. Peters, MO  63376                        Rockville, MD  20850

Phone: (401) 792-7130                                   Phone: (636) 614-6784                       Phone: (301) 217-0960

FAX: (401) 792-7132                                      FAX: (636) 329-1090                          FAX: (301) 217-1968

www.ndsaonline.org                                       www.wsusa.org                                  www.dsusa.org 

 

ENTRY FORM DEADLINE: MARCH 17th