• 501(C)3 Athlete Development Account - Disabled sports is expensive.  To help defray the cost, many athletes raise money to help defray the cost of major purchases or trips.  One way to legitimize this activity is to start a 501(C)3 account and notify donors to write checks to this fund. 
  The 501(C)3 offers benefits to you and your donors: 
  • First the account has specific rules on how moneys are used.  The Athlete can not receive money from the account without sending in receipts proving the requested funds were used for sports.  Funds can be used to pay for equipment, travel, housing, food, training, or any expense directly associated with sport.  If the athlete is under 18 the fund can also be used for the expenses of the athlete's chaperone on trips. 
  • Donors (excluding family, check exact IRS rules for "family") can claim the donation as a legitimate tax deduction.
  • Although amateur status is not as much an issue today as it was a few years ago, if all race winnings are sent into the 501(C)3 account it clearly preserves the amateur status of the athlete because the moneys are sent to the fund and can only be used for athletic development. 
  • Any winnings from events over $600 should be reported, by the paying organization, to the US Government.  By depositing these money's into the fund you may be able to subtract these amounts from the athlete's income (check with your accountant for proper procedures and exact rules), and avoid paying taxes on these winnings if the athlete has income above the income tax minimums.
  • To start a 501(C)3 account is easy.  In the case of WASUSA, just go to the WASUSA WEB Site www.WASUSA.org and click on ADF Accounts and then Application Form.  Fill in the form and send it in. Then all you need to do is mail in your first check payable to WASUSA and in the memo area of the check write the athlete's name and  Account #. 
  • WASUSA Also allows 501(C)3 account holders to list your name in a on-line donation site which will let donors use their credit card to donate to you on line.
  • The only negative of a 501(C)3 account is that it is not an interest bearing account for the athlete.  

   

• Example -

Field -

• As a program director, with a limited budget, where do I start:
   I think anything that we can do to aid athletes, parents, and coaches a positive step in the right direction.  You know, after evaluating the sports that were offered and introduce to the many attendees, that honestly, field is the cheapest sport to enter into.  The reason I base my opinion is because of the following fact findings in my comparison research.  With field you don't truly need an inside facility; you don't generate consistent rental expenses; you don't truly need custom made equipment for all participating participants; and lastly, you don't have many ongoing equipment expenses!

  Compare your start up budget costs to get started.

  • Track/Road Racing: cost of a specialized chair, one that fits the user for them to get obtain their best performances.  Gloves, tires, glues, tools, a track to use, and special equipment.  Start up for just one.  Between $1600 - $1400, could be less if you can find used equipment that works for you. 
     

  • Basketball: cost of facility rental and sometimes insurance to cover the use of the facility.  Specialized chairs which fit the user.  Balls, tires, and a good pump which will need to be replaced from time to time.  Oh, by the way, at least 7 players with the various classifications to form a team.  Knowing this isn't a real big issue for Junior teams, but that becomes a concern at certain phases of direction you want to go with a team.  For one $1400 - $1200, but again, less if you find equipment that works for you.
     

  • Swimming: Insurance costs, rental cost, and safety gear.  That could range from Hundreds of dollars to more depending where, but reoccurring.
     

  • Field: cost of a field chair, (buy a team chair); one time expense for implements, cost for stakes and straps.  Area space to use is generally free.  In field you can make your own chairs.  However, you can make your own tie-down system.  All these cost are generally, one time only.  You'll get your monies worth before you accrual any expenses. Plus with field, you can have more participation with less ongoing expenses.  Your program activity can grow!  Investment for a startup ongoing program, the works, based on 5-10 participants, under $2000! 

  I think, for your buck, field is a great entry sport.  As participation grows, not nearly the expense of other activities.  So, let take to the field!  

  I'll be happy to respond to any questions or discuss any ideas to reduce costs.

  Larry T. Hughes, MS, M.I.S.
  WTFUSA - Field, Chairman
  Certified USATF Coach
  3450 Christopher Court
  Baltimore, Maryland 21244
  410-496-1571 (F) 410-496-1435 (C) 443-527-5495
  DCSCHAMP96@aol.com

• Shotput - When the athlete holds the shotput and positions it at the chin, the thumb should be pointed down to the ground.  This will automatically include the shoulder and chest mussels into the put.  Try it it works.

• Discus - When learning to throw the Discus practice rolling it along its edge on the ground like you were bowling with it, to a partner.  The rolling will let you feel how it should roll off your figures from the pinky to the thumb.  Once you have the hang of it the Discus should role straight without warbling.  Do it 10 to 15 times before you try to throw it for real.
   

Road Racing - 

• Golden Rule - May sound stupid but the golden rule is to be prepared:
  1. BEFORE LEAVING HOME CHECK ALL YOUR
      EQUIPMENT:
      Tires: There is nothing worse than a flat half way
      through
      Tight Spokes: I hate when tires come apart on
      the track or road and the athlete gets injured 
      Air Pressure : Tires are holding air for at least 4
      hours.
      Turning       : Insure the steering mechanism is
     tightened properly.
  2. Please drive or roll the course so you know the
      course.  Its turns, bumps, and hills.
  3. Get there at least 1 1/2 hour early.
  4. Get your numbers, and or electronic chip and put
      them properly on the chair.
      (Use the pins and the tape from your spare kit. 
      if pins are not given to you). 
      Ask if the number should be on the front/backside or
      all three.
  5. Try hard to meet with the Race Director/starter
      before you get to the starting line. 
      Clear up the following issues and have a
      dialog about the race.
      -  Has he/she or the race had wheelchairs before? 
      -  Can he can instruct the road marshals
         before the race to remind them that the wheels
         are low to the ground so they need more time to
         react to a curve coming and could be
         served better with them verbalizing commands
         as well as using their arms. 
      -  Is the course well marked.  Tell him of any
         concerns you saw in the drive through.
      -  Could there be a lead vehicle (Car or Bike) for the chairs. 
         (both male and female)  Most  times the 2 groups separate and the  
         second group has no clue where the  course is.
      -  Make sure the director is going to let the chairs
         go first. 
      -  Depending on the slowest chair's per mile
         pace,  set the difference
         between the chairs and the runners by at least
         30 seconds (elite racers)
         and a safe  period should be 2 minutes.  If the
         slowest racer is at or over 8
         minute miles try to get 5 Minutes.
      -  Try to get his/her confidence that the course is
         going to be closed to cars  when the chairs go. 
         There have been many  races that the course was open
         to traffic because the police/course marshals
         don't know that the chairs are before the runners.
      - finally ask if he can make sure the results for
        the chairs are published on
        the Web with all the other runners.
  6. If someone is at the race with you have them
      time the chair athlete(s)....  
      In the heat of the race many timers have
      forgotten about the chairs. Usually
      they forget the time difference between the
      chairs and the runners or forget
      to hand time the chairs, If you have a watch on
      the chairs then you can clear
      up many potential issues over time. You can
      make the Race Director happy
      and save the chit for another race that you need
      a favor.
  7. Try to feel out the race committee and speak to
      the issues around Wheelchair races are athletes just
      like everyone else and should get the same reporting
      of results exactly the same way.
  8.  Follow these rules and 90% of the races will go   
      well.
  9. Pump your tires.  Every time you race.
  
  Remember if you go wrong on the course and you have not done a run through part of the blame is yours.

• Bib Pins - A simple way to attach your bib to the back to the racing chair is to permanently attach 4 pins at where the corner points for the bib would be on the chair.  Then use 4 addittonal pins to pin  the bib to the first pins. Then when you need to pin on a bib just open the second pin and attach it to the bib in each corner. This technique allows for quick attachment of the bib without tearing the upholstery.  Remember when removing old bib leave the 8 pins on the chair. 

Skiing - 

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Swimming -

• Example

Slalom -

• Example

Track / Road Racing-

• Gloves - Racing wheelchairs must be pushed with the athletes hands.  The technique is to not grab the push rim but push against it.  The stroke is well defined: Hit, Drive, Hammer, Recover.  The athlete hits the rim at about 1 o'clock, drives down to about 5 o'clock, hammers to 6 or 7 o'clock and then lifts away straight up to recover.  To do this some type of glove must be used.
  There are 3 types of gloves.  For the beginner you can purchase a pair of baseball gloves, Dr, Sholes  shoe liners and a roll of athletic tape.  Cut a strip of the Dr. Sholes pad about the width of the index and middle fingers and wrap the strip over the 2 fingers.  Then tape the pad in place with the tape.  Do the same for the thumb.  then tape the tape the other fingers together and the palm and back of the hand.  When done the athlete should be able to make a fist and push the rim where the  thumb and index fingers come together.
  The second type of glove are purchased for approximately 80.00 per pair.  these are made of rubber or suede.  Suede gloves are lighter but most chose the rubber.  they can be purchased from Harness or SportAid.
  The third and becoming very popular with more experienced athletes.  These are custom made from Brace plastic and rubber sheet.  An instruction video is available on U-tube and can be hyperlinked from www.wasusa.org  (Sports/Athletics/Tips)

• Push Rim Conditioning - Push Rims must be replaced when they become slippery.  You can spray sticky spray on them or use pine tar but they must be replaced as quickly as possible for top performance.  When you replace push rims they must be conditioned to make them non-slippery.  You can rough-up the tire covered push rims with a wood or metal file or as I do use a propane torch.  While holding the torch 2 to 3 inches from the rim slowly go around 2 or 3 times for about 10 to 15 seconds until the top coating of the tire is just softened.  The rim is done when the tire is beginning to become tacky and a little black is transferred to your figure.  The push rims will wear out quicker with this method but the rims will be ready to go immediately. 

• Spare Parts Kit - You must be prepared to compete.  Besides having the correct equipment and practice, practice, practice, each athlete must have a set of replacement parts and keep them with you in case of failure.  The kit should contain: a gym bag to hold the parts and your gloves and helmet, 2 spare rear tires, a front tire, proper set of Allen wrenches, An air pump, a spoke wrench, sticky spray or pine tar, a roll of sport tape, 4 or more safety pins, a towel, a rain parka, pliers, and an extra set of glove liners. 
  If you are really getting serious about track/road racing also consider; an extra compensator, a toe-in/toe-out tool, and a extra set of racing gloves.

• Compensator - Always set the compensator first without the athlete in the chair.  Set the straight, then place the chair in lane 2, 3, or 4 and set the curve.  Most tracks have 2 radiuses in the curve, you can only set one.  Set the beginning curve and it will be OK for the beginning and end of the curve.  In the middle the athlete will have to steer or hip shift through the top of the curve.  When finished ask the athlete to get into the chair to test the settings.  They usually are 80-90% correct at this time.  Each athlete is stronger on one side or the other. Most of the correction will be to correct for this issue so the athlete must push like they do in a race to be sure the settings are correct.  One more point.  The compensator can be correct and the athlete will still be saying it is off.  With the athlete in the chair push him/her (without the athlete pushing) and make sure the chair goes straight or properly on the curve. Then instruct the athlete to push, looking away from the chair at least 15 feet in front of them.  Looking up should correct the problem for as long as the athlete keeps looking out. 

Table Tennis - 

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Weightlifting - 

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Other -

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