PlayLA increasing access to sport for youth of all abilities in Paralympic year

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) PlayLA Adaptive Youth Sports Program recently launched its winter adaptive sports season with the return of sitting volleyball clinics, supported by the Triumph Foundation. Para equestrian lessons, supported by Ride On, will kick off this weekend and adaptive archery, also supported by the Triumph Foundation, will get underway in February. 

PlayLA Chief Operations Officer Austin Dumas said: “This is a very exciting year for the PlayLA Adaptive Youth Sports Program as we prepare to witness the amazing stories of athletes of all abilities on the world’s biggest stage during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This serves as a pathbreaking opportunity for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks  to increase awareness of the benefits adaptive sports can have for youth with disabilities and continue to increase access to our inclusive sports programming citywide.”

PlayLA first introduced sitting volleyball in early 2022, and the sport, now in its third year, has continued to grow in popularity. The first clinic, held on January 20, at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center was well received. It brought together youth of all abilities to share a passion for sport and created impactful friendships. Four more clinics will be held at recreation centers across the City of LA this winter.  

Adaptive archery clinics first debuted last year and recorded a high number of participants for PlayLA. Paralympic gold medalist and five-time world record holder Kevin Mather served as a coach to guide and mentor youth to play the Paralympic sport. PlayLA will offer four adaptive archery clinics at Easton-Rancho Park Archery Range at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center beginning Saturday, February 10. 

Para equestrian, which is offered every season, has rapidly established itself as one of PlayLA’s most popular adaptive sports, with full registration and a waitlist for every lesson. PlayLA will host the first lesson of the season at Ride On this Saturday, January 27, and will continue with weekly lessons through March 30.   
 
More information and registration for adaptive sports can be found at www.adaptivesportsla.org. 
 

Media Contacts:
Deirdra Boykin / [email protected] / (213) 588-6608
Lala Ismailova / [email protected] / (323) 246-1110

About PlayLA Youth & Adaptive Youth Sports Program
PlayLA is a city-wide initiative that provides access to inclusive, year-round, quality sports programming for youth of all abilities, ages 5-17. Made possible by an investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), PlayLA is the single largest commitment to youth sports development in California. It serves as a legacy before, during and after the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.