Learning to play from limb different coaches

This summer was jam-packed with a combination of family and work trips. It’s a bit overwhelming to think all of the adventures we’ve enjoyed in between the times I’ve focused on my teleworking job. Since we are so busy every summer, I wasn’t able to schedule Nubability Athletics‘ summer camp. Until this year!

Jordan has focused on sports and dance for almost her whole life. She’s incredibly active and tells me she has visions of playing basketball and maybe competing in triathlons (which is even more possible now that she knows how to ride a bike!). She got her first taste of playing basketball this past winter and Jordan loves it. That’s why she decided basketball would be her focus sport during Nubability camp. I’m so glad she chose the sport because she had a chance to work with some really wonderful coaches.

Let me explain the camp a bit. It was founded by Sam Kuhnert who we met many years ago when Sam helped volunteer at the second ever Camp No Limits Missouri. The experience of helping the campers get better at playing sports inspired him to create his own camp. What a cool evolution. Nubability focuses on not only playing sports but playing competitive sports. This year’s theme was #dontneed2. And let me tell you, every camper and limb different coach proved that is the truth.

Jordan is a lot bigger since she met Sam in 2010 (the picture to the left) and the camp that Sam founded in 2012 has grown to 70 kids with 30 limb different coaches along with a number of fully-limbed coaches as well. He and his mom, Jana, have rallied their town to make this camp so wonderful. There was a community-wide outpouring of support. It’s held at the DuQuoin, Illinois High School and every business and resident I bumped into was so kind and welcoming to us.

Jordan not only focused on baseball, but she also got to work with coaches on softball, soccer, weight training and yoga. Lunch and dinner was provided and that give Jordan an excuse to be silly with many of the coaches. Obviously, she didn’t feel the need to hang out with me! She learned to do her own thing at meal time from years of Camp No Limits fun. (Her independent streak is very strong.)

The camp is certainly different from Camp No Limits. Parents stay at camp to help their athlete go from sport to sport. (But we have to find a place to stay at a local campground or the town’s limited number of hotels.) Siblings can participate, but this camp is solidly focused on the limb different athlete. I had a chance to meet parents – many whose kids were focused on basketball. I was lucky to meet a few more at soccer. But parents meeting parents was not the point. The focus was the kids learning their sport, making connections with mentor coaches, and having fun. Jordan had so much fun.

Jordan was a confident kid before Nubability, but after camp, she is talking more about her love of sports. She’s super excited to join our town’s kid cross country team later this month. She can’t wait for basketball in the winter. It’s so cool. I appreciate the Nubability experience. I’m SO proud of the many kids and coaches who grew during the long weekend. I’m SO impressed with what Sam and Jana have built in such a short time. I can’t wait for what is next for them.