WXOW.com: For the past five years, the La Crosse Adapted Sports League (ASL) provides student athletes with disabilities the chance to represent their schools through sports. Now they have an opportunity to work on their athleticism throughout the summer for the very first time.
On Thursday, students from four area high schools practiced their field hockey skills at the league’s first Summer Developmental Skills Program.
The league is comprised of High School Students at Logan, Central, Onalaska, and Holmen that otherwise would not be able to participate.
Athletes travel to other schools, earn varsity letters and compete just like other high school teams.
For 15-year-old Central High School athlete Jackson Larson, ASL’s skills camp helps prepare him for a full year of competition.
“It’s pretty exciting learning all the skills and stuff,” Larson says.
Though Larson says he loves a lot about competing one aspect is his favorite, “Goals, goals, getting goals man,” Larson describes.
Although, with athletes playing against other schools they can’t score every game. When they lose it only motivates them to prepare for their next match-up, “Using better strategy to actually win, our coaches really help us with the strategy,” Larson explains.
With coaches like Matt Meyers helping athletes see past the losses.
“They understand that there’s a bigger life picture, ASL Coach Matt Meyers elaborates, “sometimes in life you’re going to win and sometimes in life you’re going to lose, but always keeping perspective and having a good head on your shoulder in that regard,” Meyers finishes.