Unified Flag Football League works to combat stigma for athletes with disabilities

Holding a clipboard in one hand and her toddler son in the other, Tori Hooker, senior assistant director of sports programs for UNC Campus Recreation, kicked off the first day of the 4th annual Unified Flag Football League, partnered with Special Olympics Orange County. 

"Unified Sports is a way for Special Olympics athletes to come together and be on the same team with people at UNC,” Hooker said. “It’s more of a collaboration of the community and creating a sense of belonging by incorporating everyone with a variety of both intellectual abilities and physical abilities.”

Sept. 12 was an assessment day for the league. Organizers evaluated players' engagement and athletic abilities, looking to make balanced teams so the season can be both competitive and fun. Teams play every Thursday for four weeks and attend an ice cream social at the end of the season. 

Hooker said anyone can come out and play, but it's usually students.

Every year, UNC Campus Recreation runs a Unified Flag Football League in the fall and a Unified Kickball League in the spring as part of its intramural sports program. UNC students can sign up for a unified sport on the IMLeagues website, just as they would for any other intramural sport. 

UNC Special Olympics also runs its own unified basketball program in the spring. It is not currently a part of UNC's intramural sports, but Hooker hopes to collaborate with them more in the future. 

Hooker said she wants to break down the stigma associated with differing intellectual abilities by creating an inclusive environment for people on campus and in the surrounding Chapel Hill community. She said as interest increases, they will continue to grow the program. 

“This program allows our athletes to get out into the community and not just be surrounded by peers that they are used to,” Kayla Long, program assistant for Special Olympics Orange County, said. “They love hanging out with UNC students on campus and having the experience of being around people with different personality types.”

Long is excited to see new friendships flourish and old ones continue to grow through the league.  

Sophomore Diego Ramos, who played for the league last year and will do so again this fall, said he loves the program. 

Ramos' younger brother was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two, and he recognizes how life can be tough for young people with disabilities. He said it's rewarding to help those with disabilities realize they can play sports with anyone, no matter the challenges they face. 

“The look you see on kids faces when they do something good and everyone is cheering is amazing,” Ramos said. “The kids will teach you a lot. You think you’re going out there to teach them to play or do something for them, but most of the time I get more out of it from them than I could ever bring to the table.”

Ramos said it is a blessing to interact with talented and caring people through this program. The athletes are encouraging, he said, and they will cheer everyone on for each play. 

Ramos said he believes a lot of the athletes often do not get the chance to show off their gifts and who they really are. He said he hopes the flag football league will help athletes build confidence in themselves and their abilities.  

“The relationship I've been able to build with a lot of the athletes is priceless to me,” he said. 

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