DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Some Georgia parents started a new activity for kids in their community. It’s a baseball league for children with what they call mild challenges, such as attention deficit disorder or dyslexia.
Adam Wickley is glad his son can now take part in organized sports just like ay other kids his age. Ten-year-old Jackson is getting ready for his first baseball season.
“It’s important for any kid to play sports as they’re growing up, and I’ve always hated the fact that there wasn’t a forum for Jackson to play,” said father, Adam Wickley.
Jackson has been discouraged from playing team sports by doctors because he has ADHD and some speech delays. The young boy has had to sit on the sidelines while
his dad coaches his brothers.
“It finally occurred to us, why don’t we create a league for him here at Murphy-Candler, where we’re already family, for kids like Jackson?” Wickley said. “That’s what we’ve done.”
Wickley is the director of Murphy-Chandler’s New Frontier League. It’s designed for kids with mild life challenges like ADD, ADHD and dyslexia.
Jackson says he can’t wait to hit the baseball diamond so he can meet new kids and have fun with others. He also would like his team to win!
Registration has been underway for two weeks and two of the four teams are at full capacity.
Wickley will is also excited to coach Jackson!
“We’ll spend a lot of time on fundamentals and real play,” he said. “But, at the same time, we’ll make it a lot of fun with low stress.”
The division that was created is called the Challenger Division. This division allows children ages 6 to 18-years-old who have physical or other disabilities to take part inthe game of baseball. With the help of “buddies” from the other MCLL leagues, these children will play baseball against other Challenger teams from other programs in Atlanta.
