Chicago has been successful with the junior teams because of a mix of events for children with disabilities, generous sponsors dedicated to making the programs a success, and something called Special Recreation Associations (SRAs). The fact that the University of Illinois (U of I), with a high-profile wheelchair-sports program and a proactive coach in Mike Frogley, is just 120 miles south of Chicago only stokes the competitive fires.

In 1987, when 12 players from the Chicago Sidewinders petitioned the NBA Chicago Bulls to become the Wheelchair Bulls, the contract called for the wheelchair team to be active in the community--especially regarding children with disabilities.

The Wheelchair Bulls came through on that promise when they held an event called the Day For Kids. Using lists supplied by organizations for people with disabilities, the Wheelchair Bulls sent invitations to children with disabilities to spend the day with the team. The theory was that every kid needed a role model, and although most in Chicago looked to Michael Jordan, kids with disabilities needed to look elsewhere because they were never going to jump from the free-throw line and dunk a basketball.

The team recently held its 13th Annual Day For Kids and played host to more than 100 juniors--most of whom compete on the Chicago area's 11 teams. The event started with a junior all-star game, followed by a luncheon with the Wheelchair Bulls. Next, the Bulls took the kids on the court for about 90 minutes of fun. For kids who can barely hold a basketball, they brought in Playskool® baskets with miniballs. Bulls star Don Vandello could always be found playing a 1-on-5 game against the juniors, and the kids caught a thrill with appearances by Benny the Bull, the NBA mascot.

After the court time the kids took to the sidelines, and the Wheelchair Bulls warmed up for a regular-season game. Not only do the kids spend a good part of the day with the players, but they also get to see them in action. After the game, as they do every year, every child received a bag of gifts from sponsors.

The event spawned wheelchair-basketball camps in the early 1990s (sponsored, in part, by Jordan) and, in 1995, the first junior team, the Junior Wheelchair Bulls. As the event grew, so did the number of SRAs starting their own junior team--which is why the Chicago area has its own junior league.

SRAs are organizations that work with suburban park districts and provide programs for the towns' residents with disabilities. Illinois has 26 SRAs, each of which is funded by 5-10 surrounding towns. In turn, they manage all the programs--like Special Olympics, wheelchair sports, and hundreds of other sports and recreation programs--for people with disabilities in those towns. One SRA, about 25 miles east of Chicago, called Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, a long-time Wheelchair Bulls sponsor, took an active role in administering the first Junior Wheelchair Bulls and was the fuse that launched the junior programs.

The most successful SRA in terms of the numbers is Western DuPage. The organization sports three teams: a prep squad that plays with 8 1/2-foot baskets and varsity and junior varsity teams that use 10-footers. The group's success is due to Cindy Schmidt Windeler, who is so well-liked by the kids they come from more than 50 miles away to compete for her. She has 33 kids with her now and another 6 waiting their turns. She started her team in 1993 and has been growing it ever since.

"I have a cool job," she says. "Every time I talk about it, it reminds me how much I love it."

Windeler is also quick to talk about how the kids look to the Wheelchair Bulls and not just for basketball.

"The Bulls [players] have proven they can do anything they want in their jobs, families, and sports. The kids read the Wheelchair Bulls Program where it talks about the players' careers. The kids now know that they really can do whatever they want to do. The Wheelchair Bulls are the mentors they look up to."

At the 2000 High School State Basketball Tournament, Mike Frogley met with IHSA executive director Dave Fry during a wheelchair exhibition.

"Dave Fry was enthralled with wheelchair basketball after he saw the exhibition," says Jeff Creek, an IHSA administrative specialist. "He was impressed and excited at the possibility of enhancing the educational experience of so many more students."

With IHSA looking to offer wheelchair basketball as a sport, the number of kids and teenagers getting into the sport can grow.

Frogley and IHSA sent out questionnaires to Illinois' 760 high schools requesting the schools try to identify how many students would be eligible to play. The responses came back with a whopping estimate of 1,000.

To date, IHSA has sponsored a summer camp in Champaign, Ill., and two regional camps in different parts of the state. All indications are that wheelchair basketball will be a reality in high-school sports.

Perhaps the most appealing part of the junior programs for the Wheelchair Bulls is that with all these kids getting excited about wheelchair basketball, it all but assures continuation of the team.

"Every team has trouble recruiting new players, and we're no different," says Vandello. "We lost half our team this year to retirement, relocation, and injuries. With all this interest, we know we won't be an NWBA casualty like so many other teams. We just have to last a few more years," he says with a smile.

©2002 PVA