Testimonials
"I don’t want to go. I don’t know anyone and besides, I don’t know how to play baseball.""
Those were the words of an anxious seven year old boy worrying about this new experience called Spirit League. Well, we did see some tears and unwillingness to go to the field for warm ups that day. "I want to go home now." Then along came our hero, Coach Chuck. He asked if our guy would be his assistant and carry his clipboard and of course, his whistle! Even though our son continued to leave the field to "check-in" with us, we saw his anxiety decrease and a smile on his face. Coach continued to encourage and monitor our son's participation in future games. What a great start!
Now three years later, we may not have developed a star athlete, but our son has been a part of something that has helped to develop his confidence, increased his social interactions and has shown him there are many nice people around who care about him. An added benefit for our family is meeting other parents who "get" this journey.
We highly recommend Spirit League. It is a safe environment where your child and family will have fun and meet some of the "best people around."
-Jim and Pam Miller
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“Our 5-year old son was never interested in any ball-play. We joined Spirit League and the initial couple of sessions he was not very involved in the play, but did begin to show some interest. He began to develop an interest to shoot baskets, and even wanted to play at home. By the end of the league, our son has made a great deal of progress in basketball and now he initiates ball play at home with his 4 year old brother.”
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We adopted my son five years ago. From birth until age seven, he lived in an eastern European orphanage. One consequence of his institutional upbringing is difficulty in social situations with peers. Although he's physically capable, bright and has a very positive outlook, he had never played a team sport. Spirit League provided a safe and supportive environment for him to be an excited kid, playing baseball for the first time. What would have been awkward in Little League was nothing short of joyous on Spirit League's fields! His relationships with his teammates and coaches were amazing, and his development as a player and a person was a wonder for us to behold. The weekly experience of putting on his first uniform, the singular thrill of purchasing his first bat, and the broad smile on his face and "high fives" every time he crossed home plate after a big hit are life memories for our family. Watching him receive the first trophy that he ever earned was a sublime and unforgettable delight. Thank you Spirit League!
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“As a busy pediatric neurologist serving children with developmental disabilities in Orange County, Spirit League has been an invaluable community resource for me to provide to families in my office. Many of the children in my practice have had negative experiences with typical community-based sports programs. I see the joy and excitement in parent's faces when I tell them about a sports league suitable for their children. I have consistently positive feedback about the program which encourages me to continue enthusiastically recommending it to families in my office. We are fortunate to have Spirit League as a resource for children in Orange County.”
Andrew McIntosh, M.D.
30131 Town Center Drive #127
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
P: (949)249-3780
F: (949)249-3730
www.McIntoshNeurology.com
