Sports for All Sorts
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Sports for All Sorts
Troy Love
Department of Sport Management, Liberty University
Dr. Thomas M. Mingus
November 8, 2020
Authors Note
Troy Love https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4945-5578
Troy Love is now at the School of Business, Department of Sports Management, Liberty
University
We have no conflict of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Troy Love, Liberty
University, 1971 University Boulevard Lynchburg, VA 24515. Email: tmlove2@liberty.edu
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Abstract
Adaptive sports is a topic that many are intrigued by or simply ignore. The world
lives in willful blindness, adopting an attitude to only take matters or opinions that affect their
society and wellbeing. The name Sports for All Sorts is one that may cause the general public to
raise eyes and pay attention to this need in the world today. Sports of All Sorts is exactly what it
says, sports for all, no matter what. No child would be left behind or felt out. No adult would feel
alone in the search for physical achievement and perseverance as this outreach group and
organization would shape leagues around the Charlotte Mecklenburg area, and create
opportunities that people never once thought were possible. Through the groups’ strong mission,
Christian principles, and community support, Sports for All Sorts would break barriers in society.
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Sports for All Sorts: The Mission and Vision
An organization should have a powerful mission, one that drives each employee and
fellow participants to strive to be better people, harder working employees, and a focal voice in
society. The vision should be a goal or goals to help reach the mission, and often can be confused
in its intentions. Mission statements define the organization's purpose and primary objectives
while vision statements focus on its goals and aspirations (MindTools, n.d.). Essentially, a
mission may change over time but the vision will always remain the same, holding on to an
organization and creating a timeless effect. The mission statement of Sports for All Sorts
Outreach is to provide superior quality sports programs, for everyone, with everyone, and by
everyone. What this does is not create an opportunity for disclusion, but for the inclusion of
everyone, specifically, those in adaptive sports. This mission statement would stand firm,
backing up the claim to be strong in the community and even stronger in not letting anyone feel
left out.
The vision statement for Sports of All Sorts is better health and wellbeing for all people
of Charlotte, especially those of specialized disabilities, now and the future. This vision
statement is clear, concise, and straight to the point. It provides the location, the clear cut goal,
and the group of people this organization will touch and transform through the many programs
and leagues it will offer. Without a clear and concise vision statement, it becomes easy to veer off
course (Eisenstein, 2020). This causes an organization to lose its purpose, and ultimately, fail.
Organizational Structure
Sports of All Sorts has a leadership team, built with three to four directors, who will
coordinate each region of Charlotte: North (specifically North Davidson, also known as NoDa),
South, East, and West, primarily focused and stationed in the North, where over half the
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population living in poverty is held (US Census Bureau, 2020). Underneath them, will have
coordinators and site directors, varying in numbers, that will carry out each league in making
sure it is safe, fun, and upholds the organization’s mission of being a premier sports outreach
group in adaptive sports. Instructors and coaches with the recommended certifications and
training would be highly sought after. Each person in close vicinity with the disabled groups
would have to have a Certified Adaptive Recreation and Sports Specialist (CARSS) certification
(Blaze Sports, n.d.), showcasing that each person is and can be held responsible for contributing
towards a successful and promising program.
Funding
Sports for All Sorts would utilize the many available grants and local institutions that
surround a rich environment in the North and Central areas of Charlotte. According to especial
needs, there are over 20 various funds that grant money and equipment towards programs and
organizations similar to Sports of All Sorts (especial needs, n.d.). Sports of All Sorts would work
with neighboring organizations, such as the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of
Greater Charlotte and Atrium Health, to bond with multiple groups and in various ways, work
through the blurred lines of business to help reach the mission. Funding would also come as the
result of generous donations and the work of headstrong volunteers. For instance, the YMCA
uses all volunteers for its adaptive waterski program, even having a former participant as an
instructor (YMCA of Greater Charlotte, n.d.). Sports for All Sorts would search for outgoing
contributors who believe in the mission, see the vision, and want to see Charlotte as a stronghold
in the adaptive sports world.
John 9: 1-3 says “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked
him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
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“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of
God might be displayed in him” (NIV, 2020). God has a plan for everyone and everything on
Earth. The Bible tells readers that he created people in his image, already knowing what they
were going to be and accomplish. Adaptive sports make sure this is kept true. Sports for All Sorts
makes sure this is held strong in Charlotte’s society and neighboring areas. With faith in God and
a strong community backing, the leaders in Sports for All Sorts will see the organization’s
mission through.
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References
Accessible Activities - Adaptive Waterskiing. YMCA of Greater Charlotte.
https://www.ymcacharlotte.org/mission/social-responsibility/access-for-all/accessible-
activities/adaptive-water-skiing.
Bible Gateway passage: John 9:1-3 - New International Version. Bible Gateway.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9%3A1-3.
Certified Adaptive Recreation & Sports Specialist. BlazeSports America.
https://blazesports.org/educationtraining/certified-adaptive-recreation-sports-specialist/.
Eisenstein, L. (2019, November 29). What Is a Vision Statement and Why Is it Important?
BoardEffect. https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/what-vision-statement-why-important/.
Funding Resources for Special Needs & Adaptive Equipment. eSpecial Needs.
https://www.especialneeds.com/funding.
Mission Statements and Vision Statements: Unleashing the Power of Purpose.
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_90.htm.
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Charlotte city, North Carolina. Census Bureau
QuickFacts.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/charlottecitynorthcarolina/PST045219.
