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Forces: Coach Wallace
Very special hoops, high fives and hope
What do you get when you combine five boys aged 8 to 15, some three-on-three half-court basketball and a volunteer mom-coach? Factor in that the mom is an occupational therapist (OT) and the boys have varying special needs, and it’s a recipe for good times that make a difference in many lives.
Trish Wallace’s players get high fives for their great effort.In six years as a coach of adapted sports, Trish Wallace, BHS-OT ’83, has logged hundreds of volunteer hours and worked with dozens of kids, teaching them that everybody can compete and everybody can have fun. Part court jester, part teacher, Wallace has a basic rule for her team: good sportsmanship and excellent behavior. She has been named Volunteer of the Month for December 2007 by the City of Columbia and her family was recently honored as the “Central Area Family of the Year” by the Special Olympics.
Wallace’s day job is working as an OT for two elementary schools in Columbia. She never intended to be a youth coach. But a few years ago a Special Olympics official noticed her youngest son, Tim, who has Down syndrome, shooting hoops in a bowling alley arcade after he finished bowling. Even though Tim, then 7, was too young for the Special Olympics’ Parks and Recreation sports program, she encouraged Wallace to start bringing him out for the events.
“When we traveled to tournaments he was so young, and he needed a little extra help, so I went with him,” Wallace says. “I started helping out and before you knew it, I was a bowling coach!”
Swimming, softball and basketball followed. Before long, Wallace was coaching year round. She uses tricks of the teaching trade to keep her crew focused on fun and fitness. “We can get so much fun out of doing the craziest things — all in the name of education,” she says.
It’s clear the boys love “Coach,” as they gather around her for their Monday night practice sessions. They greet Wallace with hugs and high fives. They mimic her efforts during warm-up stretches. They listen intently as she gives them ball-handling tips.
Columbia Parks and Recreation volunteer supervisor Jody Crane says even with the stresses of working full time and raising a family, Wallace still finds time to volunteer. “Finding the Trish’s of the world is not always easy. Trish has a remarkable understanding and patience with kids who have developmental disabilities,” she says.
Indeed, the boys bring a smile to Wallace’s face, whether she’s with them or just talking about the team. “I remember one away tournament when the cart of medals and ribbons was rolled by. The medals were for the top three teams, which I didn’t expect us to be, and the ribbons were for the teams that placed fourth. One of the kids looked at the cart and told his dad, ‘Dad, I sure hope we win one of those ribbons.’ ” She smiles and then adds, “They bring it home to you. They have this wonderful attitude. I just love it.”
Related Links
- SHP Department of Occupational Therapy
- Special Olympics Missouri
- Columbia Parks & Recreation
- Touchstone, Spring 2008
Trish Wallace demonstrates passing technique for a Special Olympics team member.
Page last updated on: August 25, 2009
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