Coach Schmidt shares her experience coaching an adaptive athlete.  An especially great point that she makes?

"Logistically, coaching an adaptive athlete requires little to no extra effort to organize track meet events. I found that other schools, coaches, and teams were also supportive and accommodating. Overall, including the adaptive athlete into track meet events is a simple process."

THANK YOU for your support, Coach Schmidt!!

Dear MHSAA,
My name is Alissa Schmidt, I am the Houghton-Portage Township High School Girls Track Head Coach in Houghton, MI. This is a letter of support for the Houghton Portage Township Public School Athletic Department proposal regarding standards for high school para-ambulatory and wheelchair divisions in track and field for all schools in Michigan.
I have coached high school track for ten years. Coaching an adaptive athlete is an enlightening experience. High school sports are a great platform for all student athletes to learn critical life lessons. These lessons create character traits such as leadership, teamwork and teambuilding, perseverance, humility, responsibility, and the ability to compete. It is inspiring to see these lessons unfold with an adaptive athlete on the team. I’ve observed both adaptive athletes and
their teammates learn that adversity can foster great strength. The adaptive athlete that I coached embodied all of these character traits. That athlete inspired not only her own teammates, but the entire coaching staff, competing teams, and the community.
Logistically, coaching an adaptive athlete requires little to no extra effort to organize track meet events. I found that other schools, coaches, and teams were also supportive and accommodating. Overall, including the adaptive athlete into track meet events is a simple process.
It is my hope and expectation that MHSAA reviews and implements this proposal for the 2022 season. Adaptive track and field athletes in Michigan should be permitted the following; to race and earn points that count towards the team total for all regular season meets, to qualify
for UP finals, compete at UP finals and earn points, and have state standards in place for adaptive athletes. This is a chance to be inclusive. This can and will build character traits in both adaptive student athletes and other team members.
I am available to answer questions about my experience of coaching an adaptive athlete.

Sincerely,

Alissa Schmidt