Special Olympics Pickleball St. Albert: The Special Olympics pickleball program in St. Albert wrapped up its third summer season with a celebration on July 29 at the Alpine Pickleball Courts. Led by Gary Cheetham, the program welcomed 20 athletes and 23 volunteer coaches, despite facing challenges with limited court space.
High Demand, Limited Space
The program runs each Tuesday night for 10 weeks, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., using four to five courts provided by the St. Albert Pickleball Club. This donation allows 16 to 20 athletes to participate each week.
“This year, we’ve got 20 athletes and 23 coaches, and I have a waitlist of 12 more athletes,” said Gary Cheetham, program lead. “The limitation is, unfortunately, court space. There’s a lot more people that want to play the game than there are courts to allow.”
Wrap-Up Event and Community Support
To end the season, the team held a wrap-up party at the Alpine Pickleball Courts. The St. Albert Pickleball Club hosted the event, and the Rotary Club of St. Albert supported it with a grant that helped cover food and gifts.
Cheetham thanked the St. Albert Pickleball Club for offering court time during one of their busiest seasons.
Athletes, Coaches, and Joy
Athletes are paired with personal coaches each session. The program’s 23 volunteer coaches make sure every player gets one-on-one time to learn and improve.
“The kids love it. I mean, that’s really the reason we do it,” said Gary Cheetham. “And so do the coaches, ever since we started this, three years ago, it is so fun and rewarding for our coaches, and to add the parent feedback as well, has been fantastic. A few have said this is the best program in the Special Olympics that their kid is in.”
Athlete Deanne Saiaoa shared how much she enjoys coming out each week in the summer to play pickleball.
Coaching Driven by Heart
Coach Murray Chaput returned for his third year because of the athletes.
“Athletes, purely the athletes 100 per cent,” said Murray Chaput. “I know they change our lives in many ways. They make us smile. The simplest gains in life are the best in my viewpoint, enjoyment. If everybody treated everybody the way they treat us, we’d be better off.”
Cheetham explained that many athletes have autism or Down syndrome, and the focus is on boosting confidence and self-esteem.
“Everybody looks forward to coming out and having fun and learning,” said Gary Cheetham. “That’s part of the Special Olympics program, building self-esteem and positivity and all that stuff. So they get that and have a ton of fun.”
News in Brief: Special Olympics Pickleball St. Albert
The St. Albert Special Olympics pickleball program ended its third summer season with 20 athletes, 23 coaches, and strong community support. Limited court space remains a challenge. The program continues to grow in popularity, offering fun, learning, and confidence-building to athletes with intellectual disabilities.