MISSION:  To provide youth with physical challenges the opportunity to increase their confidence and physical ability through sports and recreation.

The Mid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation (MASR) was founded to provide physically challenged children without significant cognitive delays the opportunity to participate in sports and recreational activities in the same way their able bodied peers do.  All children gain such an amazing amount of confidence and physical fitness through the pursuit of personal success in sports.  But challenged children, in particular, have an increased need to experience this mental and physical success.  These children and their families have often been told by doctors, schools and society in general of all that the label of their diagnosis tells them they cannot do.  A program like this is here to show them all that they CAN do!

Every day, athletes with cerebral palsy, amuputations, spina-bifada, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, dwarfism, blindness and many other conditions are performing competitively and recreationally in track, field, swimming, tennis, basketball, baseball, archery, golf, volleyball, ice hockey, water and snow skiing and many other sports.  These are true competitors that have learned that they can succeed physically despite their limitation. These are individuals with confidence in themselves and a drive to persevere to personal and / or team success.

Although our children may not all aspire to compete, they can still reap similar rewards from participation at any level.  The confidence gained from personal success and achieved goals is only out-weighed by the sense of self worth and belonging gained from the camaraderie and friendships of similarly challenged athletes.  The  increase in physical strength, flexibility and balance is another great benefit of sports participation.

Challenged children deserve to know the power of pushing the limits of their disability to the point of going a little faster today than yesterday on the track; or of making one more basket on the court; or of contributing a little more to the success of the team.  They deserve to be happy and encouraged in their endeavors.  The smiles and on going eagerness of the participants are indications of our success as coaches and volunteers.  Our additional goal is to create a sense of personal accomplishment in the children that will drive them to practice and develop skills independently and to use learned skills during leisure time.  This carry over of confidence, self worth, increased physical abilities, empowerment, happiness and individual personal drive is the end product of youth with physical challenges participating instead of sitting on the sidelines.

Unfortunately, such participation in school, youth and church leagues which focus on the play level of able-bodied children, can be difficult if not impossible for physically challenged children.    Therefore, the Mid-South Adaptive Sports and Recreation (MASR) program has been established for the benefit of children with physical challenges and their families.  To help them discover all that their children CAN do.

In response, we will run with perseverance the race marked out for us!