Challenger soccer lets youths connect, play

The Domenick family, of Wall Township, are not strangers to running sports programs for special needs children.

The Domenicks used to take their daughter, Kristina, now 12, also a special needs student, all the way to Freehold to play sports, but three years ago, they decided to bring special needs sports to Wall Township.

This past Sunday, they began the Challenger program’s second year of soccer. The Challenger League is designed to give children with special needs an opportunity to participate in team sports on a local level.

The league works closely with Wall High School sports teams, and the high school players buddy up with Challenger players. Often, the high school team coaches volunteer their time as well.

In addition, the league is staffed with any local volunteers interested in helping out.

Jeff Domenick explained that the program started in Wall because their older daughter, Karli, 17, was involved in Wall High School sports. Mr. Domenick and his wife, Michelle, brought the idea to the parents of basketball players, and “they just jumped in 100 percent,” he said.

Soon after, the program snowballed, and the softball team got involved. Last year, the soccer team jumped on board.

Mr. Domenick said the Wall High School boys soccer team and its coach, Gary Linstra, have been invaluable to the Challenger Soccer program.

“The boys on the soccer team are great,” he said. “You know they’re into it because they come back each week.”

Linstra, also a teacher at West Belmar Elementary, said it is clear that his soccer team loves the chance to help out with the Challenger program. He explained that the boys buddy up with children, at least at first, to go over basic drills with them.

“It’s a way to give back to a community that’s given so much to us,” Linstra said.

“We’re thrilled that we can help out and give back,” he said. “Every kid with the ability should be able to play.”

Although there is always a winning team and a losing team in sports, Mrs. Domenick looks at the situation as a win-win.

“The boys [from the soccer team] absolutely enjoy it. They put their whole hearts into it,” she said. “Our kids [the Challenger players] look forward to it each week.”

Mr. Domenick said the Challenger players will be rewarded with trophies and a pizza party at the end of the year, but that’s not the most important part of the Challenger program.

“They get the chance to participate and build their confidence,” he noted.

Last Sunday, over 20 players participated in the Challenger program. Mr. Domenick expects a larger turnout as the program progresses, citing over 30 players in the basketball and softball programs.

“We have grown so much, and I just want to thank the community for standing behind us,” Mrs. Domenick said. “It has made a difference in their [the players’] lives.”

The program is run through the help of Edward Grill, Wall’s recreation director.

“He’s been really supportive,” Mr. Domenick said, citing the T-shirts Mr. Grill is able to provide to the program and the fliers he distributes.

Of the Domenicks, Mr. Grill said, “Without them, and without their enthusiasm to build up the Challenger program in town, we wouldn’t have the program. Their assistance and efforts make it all possible.”

The program will continue to run every Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., until Oct. 25. It is open to boys and girls in grades kindergarten through eight, who must be accompanied by an adult.

Challenger athletes play at the Wall Soccer Club Munchkin Field, which is across from the Pop Warner parking lot.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the program, or playing in the program, is asked to call Mrs. Domenick at 732-513-4726 with questions or for more information.