Throwing Event Clinic for Junior Division Athletes

Sports events at the Midwest Regional meeting of the Little People of America will include a throwing event clinic for junior division athletes. The clinic is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 6, in East Lansing Michigan. More details will be posted later.

Our Field Event Experts

Scott Danberg

Scott is a dwarf athlete who has competed for the USA in five Paralympic Games dating back to 1988. He has provided leadership to the Dwarf Athletic Association track and field program for several years.

• 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, Korea:  silver medal in men's L4 javelin, competitor in men's L3 200m freestyle, competitor in men's L3 50m backstroke
• 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain:  competitor in men's up to 60kg powerlifting
• 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece:  competitor in men's F40 shot put
• 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China:  competitor in men's F40 shot put
• 2012 Paralympic Games in London, England:  competitor in men's F40 discus, flagbearer for USA team at opening ceremonies

Jill Kennedy

Jill is a dwarf athlete who has competed for the USA in three Paralympic Games. Jill is eager to help coach young USA dwarf athletes to successful performances at the 2013 World Dwarf Games.

• 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia:  competitor in women's up to 40kg powerlifting
• 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece:  bronze medal in women's F40 discus, bronze medal in women's F40 javelin, competitor in women's F40 shot put
• 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China:  competitor in women's F40 shot put

  

Scott Severn

Scott Severn is a veteran of two Paralympic Games in wheelchair classification events. Scott has agreed to lend his expertise to the 2013 World Dwarf Games because the competition will be held in his home state of Michigan.

• 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China:  competitor in men's F53/F54 discus, competitor in men's F53/F54 shot put
• 2012 Paralympic Games in London, England:  competitor in men's F53/F54 discus, competitor in men's F53/F54 javelin, bronze in men's F53/F54 shot put

 

Tim Murray

Tim Murray is an intern on the Board of Directors for the Dwarf Athletic Association of America. He competed in the shot put at two USA Paralympic Trials; in 2012 he fell just short of qualifying for the USA team. Tim is an athletic trainer who has provided athletic training services at previous DAAA National Games.

 

Track and Field at the 2013 World Dwarf Games

DAAA will offer the following events at the 2013 World Dwarf Games. Go to the Sports/Rules menu on the World Dwarf Games web site (http://www.2013WorldDwarfGames.org) to learn more about these events.

Field

• Futures age 6 & younger:  flippy flyer toss and tennis ball throw
• Juniors age 7-9:  frisbee toss and tennis ball throw
• Juniors age 10-12:  discus, javelin, and shot put - the focus of our USATFF grant
• Juniors age 13-15:  discus, javelin, and shot put - the focus of our USATFF grant
• Open/any age:  discus, javelin, and shot put
• Masters age 35 & older:  discus, javelin, and shot put

Track

• Futures age 6 & younger: 15m run, 20m run, and wheelchair slalom
• Juniors age 7-9:  20m run, 40m run, and wheelchair slalom
• Juniors age 10-12:  40m run, 60m run, and wheelchair slalom
• Juniors age 13-15:  60m run, 100m run, and wheelchair slalom
• Open/any age:  100m run, 200m run, and wheelchair slalom
• Masters age 35 & older:  100m run, 200m run, and wheelchair slalom
• Relays: 9 & under 4x20m shuttle relay, 12 & under 4x40m shuttle relay, 15 & under 4x60m shuttle relay, Open 4x100m relay, Masters 4x100m relay

Modifications for Dwarf Athletes

Because dwarf athletes have shorter limbs and less muscle mass than average-height athletes, they use lighter weight throwing implements and run shorter distances than their average-height peers. Because there is a large variation in height and body proportions amongst dwarf athletes, they compete in one of three classifications within each event. At risk of over-generalizing: Class 1 athletes are the shortest and tend to have more mobility limitations; Class 2 athletes tend to be taller with short arms and legs in proportion to trunk length; and Class 3 athletes are the tallest with relatively longer arms and legs. Wheelchair and scooter users are accommodated with a wheelchair slalom event that tests ability to manuver the wheelchair in/out of forward and reverse gates, conduct precise 180 and 360 degree spins, travel up/down a ramp, and weave in and out of a series of traffic cones.

 

About the Dwarf Athletic Association of America

Web site. http://www.daaa.org/

Mission. DAAA is dedicated to serving the estimated quarter million people in the United States who have any of the more than 200 forms of dwarfism as a result of skeletal dysplasia or related causes. The DAAA mission is to encourage all people with dwarfism to participate in sports. DAAA accomplishes this mission by providing athletic competition, guidance, support, and information to people of short stature and to their families. Every level of ability and skill is welcomed and supported.

Activities. DAAA's primary activity is planning, financing, and staging the annual DAAA National Games. Core sports include basketball, boccia, soccer, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. Other sports that are offered when time, facilities, and budget permit are archery, badminton, flag football, floor hockey, kurling, powerlifting, table tennis, tennis, and shooting. The DAAA National Games typically are held in conjunction with the annual Little People of America (LPA) convention; a practice that insures exposure of a large population of short-statured people to sports opportunities.

DAAA also conducts local and regional sports clinics and competitions in collaboration with the 70 LPA chapters and 14 LPA districts. In addition, DAAA is committed to recognizing and encouraging elite athletes to train with the goal of participation in competitions sanctioned by US Paralympics and the International Paralympic Committee, and an ultimate goal of competing in the Paralympic Games. Toward this end, every four years DAAA coordinates and sponsors a USA team at the World Dwarf Games.

About the 2013 World Dwarf Games

The World Dwarf Games are a quadrennial multi-sport competition designed for dwarf athletes. Prior games were held in 1993 - Chicago USA, 1997 - Peterborough England, 2001 - Toronto Canada, 2005 - Rambouillet France, and 2009 - Belfast North Ireland. Over 500 athletes from over 25 nations from all continents are expected to compete at the 2013 Games.

Dates/Location

The 2013 World Dwarf Games will be held August 3-10, 2013. Most events will be conducted at Michigan State University in East Lansing Michigan USA. Swimming competition will be held at the Mason High School Aquatic Center in Mason Michigan USA.

Participants

Dwarf persons of all ages and all abilities are welcome to participate. Dwarfism is defined as an adult height of 5 feet 0 inches (152.4 cm) for persons with a disproportionate dysplasia, and 4 feet 10 inches (147.3 cm) for a proportionate short stature due to medical reasons.

Divisions

• Age divisions: Futures 6 & younger, Juniors 7-15, Open any age, Masters 35 & older
• Dwarfism classifications: Class 1-2-3 based upon body proportions

Sports

• Archery
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Boccia
• Floor Hockey
• Kurling
• Powerlifting
• Shooting
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Track & Field
• Volleyball

Costs

The estimated cost for one athlete to participate in the 2013 World Dwarf Games (exclusive of travel to East Lansing) is $560 for persons aged 10 and older, $455 for children aged 4-9, and $360 for children under 4. These estimates include 9 days of dormitory lodging, 3 meals each day, and registration to participate in the games. Additional information is posted on the World Dwarf Games web site. 

Host

The 2013 World Dwarf Games are hosted by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (www.daaa.org). The DAAA has provided athletic opportunities in Olympic style sports for America's dwarf community since 1985.

Sponsors

DAAA is a 501(c)(3) organization that relies upon passionate volunteers and compassionate sponsors to conduct the 2013 World Dwarf Games and annual national competitions. DAAA does not receive funding from the U.S. government, the U.S. Olympic Committee, or U.S. Paralympics. Prospective sponsors should contact Mike Cekanor (mikec@machsys.com).

Web Site

www.2013WorldDwarfGames.org

THANK You to the USA Track and Field Foundation!

The Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) is pleased to accept a grant from the USA Track Field Foundation (USATFF). USATFF funds will be used to support the youth division throwing events at the 2013 World Dwarf Games to be held August 3-10 at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

At previous DAAA National Games, the field events for young athletes consisted of a softball throw (substitute for shot put) and frisbee throw (substitute for discus). USATFF grant funds will enable us to purchase lightweight shot put, discus, and javelin equipment so that we can introduce those events at the 2013 World Dwarf Games and conduct the events at subsequent national games. As a result young DAAA athletes will be better equipped to compete with their peers from around the world and prepare for future participation in the Paralympic arena.




http://www.daaa.org

http://www.2013WorldDwarfGames.org