Shepherd Sports
The Fred, Shaler and Andrew Alias Sports Teams program at Shepherd Center sponsors 11 sports teams that enable individuals with physical disabilities in the Atlanta area to participate in sports on a recreational or competitive level.
Athletes compete in local and regional competitions, as well as at the national and international levels. Regular practice sessions offer expert instruction, as well as camaraderie and peer support. Shepherd Center's Alias Family Sports Teams program raises awareness about disabilities and increases participation in disabled sports.
Joining a Team
Membership on a Shepherd Center sports team is open to athletes with any type of a physical disability, as long as the disability falls within the guidelines of the sport. For more information about becoming an athlete, or to sponsor the sports team program, call 404-367-1287 or email Matt Edens.
Athletes
More than 100 athletes participate in Alias Family Sports Teams practices. Shepherd Center athletes have won national and international competitions, with several athletes holding world records. In fact, more than 20 athletes from Shepherd Center have qualified to represent the United States in their sports in the past several Paralympic games, and several have won medals.
Teams
Shepherd Center's Alias Family Sports Teams program sponsors the largest disabled sports program in North America. The teams are basketball, power soccer, track, quad rugby, swimming, softball, waterskiing, fencing, handcycling, bass fishing and tennis.
Practice Schedule
Team Name | Sport | Season | Practice |
---|---|---|---|
Shepherd Swords | Fencing | Year Round | Saturday, two times a month |
Shepherd Spinners | Track | Mar‐Aug | Individual Practice Times/Clinics TBD |
Shepherd Stealers | Basketball | Sept‐Mar | Tue & Thu 6‐8pm |
Shepherd Sharks | Swimming | Jan‐Nov | Tue & Thu 6‐8pm |
Shepherd Skiers | Water Skiing | Mar‐Sep | Individual Practice Times |
Shepherd Strikers | Power Soccer | Sep‐May | Wed 4-6pm |
Shepherd Smash | Rugby | Sept-Mar | Monday/Wednesday 6-8pm |
Shepherd Sluggers | Softball | May-Aug | TBD |
Shepherd Servers | Tennis | 10 wks Spring & Fall |
Mon 7-9pm |
Shepherd Cyclers | Handcycling | All Year | Individual Practice Times/Clinics TBD |