April 2025 S4EA Newsletter
Published monthly for athletes, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & other supporters of SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes.
Editor: Walter Jackson.
Message from S4EA Executive Director Walter Jackson
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Join S4EA at Pancake Breakfast /Athlete Council Elections on Sat March 29 and at Bingo Bash on Sat May 3 at S4EA Office. SPORTS Camp is scheduled for April 11-13 at Camp Marston in Julian. "A Taste 4 SPORTS" gala fundraiser is scheduled for Thu May 29 at the Balboa Park Club. S4EA is running our spring sports (basketball, bowling, cycling, pickleball & track). Check out the rest of the Newsletter or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more information.​​​​​​
S4EA Athlete Council Activities - Athlete Council Elections & Pancake Breakfast March 29
The S4EA Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser held at the S4EA Office on Saturday, March 29 from 8-10am for $10 per person was a great success. Over 45 people attended with over $600 made for S4EA. The breakfast included pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice & coffee. A raffle was held.
Athlete Council elections were held with each candidate giving a speech on why they should be elected. Congratulations to the following athletes who were elected to the S4EA Athlete Council: President-Joe Alvarez-Salas, Vice President-Evan Perrero, Treasurer-Rachel Goldbaum, Secretary-Matthew Rathbun & Sergeant-At-Arms-Michael Stein.
S4EA Athlete Council Activities
- S4EA Bingo Bash May 3
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SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes presents Bingo Bash on Saturday, May 3 at our S4EA Office (8380 Vickers St. #E, San Diego 92111) in Kearny Mesa from 3:30-5pm. We will play bingo outside. For $10.00 per set of 5 Bingo Cards, you can play Bingo with families & friends. Bingo winners will receive prizes. Snacks will be provided. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to reserve your spot.
S4EA “A Taste 4 SPORTS” May 29 at Balboa Park Club
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S4EA is hosting for our members the 18th Annual "A Taste 4 SPORTS" Gala Fundraiser on Thursday, May 29th from 6-9pm at the Balboa Park Club (2144 Pan American Road West, SD 92101) featuring food & wine from 20 restaurants, personal chefs, caterers & wineries. S4EA is honoring the Ron Newman Family as our 2025 'SPORTS Family of the Year'. San Diego Sockers Head Coach Ron Newman won an astonishing 10 championships in 11 years. Mingle with notable local & celebrity figures, including Mad Mike from MTVs “Pimp My Ride”, enjoy music from the band ‘Beatle Trax’ & bid on an exquisite array of auction items. Reservations are $60 per person.
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Sponsorship opportunities available at following levels: Platinum-$10,000, Gold-$5,000, Silver-$1,000 & Bronze-$500. Please donate gift certificates, trips, autographed sports memorabilia to enhance the auction. For more info, call 858-565-7432 or visit www.s4ea.org.
S4EA Celebrates
Our 18th Anniversary
SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes (S4EA) was founded in April 2007 by a group of coaches, parents, volunteers & community members who found a need for a community based inclusive sports program for athletes with & without disabilities in San Diego County. Thank you to all of our athletes, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & supporters for making our first 18 years a great success!
SPORTS Camp April 11-13 at Camp Marston in Julian
S4EA has scheduled SPORTS Camp for April 11-13 at Camp Marston (4761 Pine Hills Rd, Julian 92036). Camp Marston offers sports & traditional camp activities (climbing tower, candle making, paintball slingshots, hikes, nature center, Ga-Ga, talent show, dance). Campers spend 2 nights in group cabins with bathrooms under guidance of chaperones/ camp counselors. Because Camp Marston is hilly, a camper using a wheelchair may be limited to certain activities (cabins & dining hall are accessible). Persons with disabilities, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & supporters are all welcome to join S4EA at camp.
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The S4EA SPORTS Camp Registration Fee is $350 per person to help pay for lodging, meals, insurance, supplies, etc. Mail Fee & S4EA Camp Registration Form as soon as possible to S4EA (8380 Vickers St. #E, SD, CA 92111). $100 advance deposit will guarantee a spot at camp. If camper needs 1-on-1 chaperone, a Supplemental Staffing Fee of $150 will be charged. Transportation is available for $75 or campers may be brought directly to Camp Marston in Julian which is a little over a 1 hour drive from San Diego. S4EA has received Vendor Approval from Regional Center for SPORTS Camp (PQ8659). Please contact your Regional Center worker to apply & get approval for Registration Fee, Supplemental Staffing Fee &/or Transportation Fee.
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Partial scholarships & Family Rate Specials are available. For more info, call S4EA at (858)565-7432 or go to website at www.s4ea.org.
SPORTS Camp -
Chaperones Needed
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Volunteers ages 18 & over are needed to chaperone for SPORTS Camp April 11-13 at Camp Marston in Julian. Family and friends are welcome to chaperone. No experience needed. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to sign-up.
S4EA Spring Season -
Basketball, Bowling, Cycling, Pickleball, and Track
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S4EA is running our spring sports season as follows: San Diego City basketball & pickleball on Mondays from 5:30-8:30pm at Park de la Cruz with Junior open sports on Thursdays from 4-5:30pm at Kearny Mesa Rec Center; East Co. track practices at Helix HS on Sundays from 9-11am; South Bay track practices on Saturdays from 10am-12noon at Sweetwater High School and Bowling on Saturdays from 11am-1pm at Bowlero Chula Vista. Cycling practices ride weekly from 1:15-3:30pm at various locations starting April 26. For more information, contact S4EA at 858-565-7432 or click here.​
S4EA Board of Director Elections
S4EA will be having elections for our new Board of Directors in a couple of months. If you are interested in helping run our non-profit sports organization by becoming a board member, then call S4EA at 858-565-7432 by April 8.
S4EA Spring/Summer Sports
- Need Volunteer Coaches
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S4EA needs volunteer coaches this spring & summer for the following:
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South Bay Bowling on Sat 11am-1pm at Bowlero Chula Vista from Jan 11-May 10 (& next fall)
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San Diego City/East County Track on Sun from 9-11am at Helix HS from Jan 12-Apr 13
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South Bay Soccer one evening per week starting in June
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South Bay Softball one evening per week starting in June
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North County Softball on Sunday evenings starting in Jun
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East County/San Diego Swimming on Sat 10-11:30am at La Mesa Pool starting in June
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South Bay Swimming one evening per week starting in May/June
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Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Pickleball, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis & Track at various other practice site locations
If interested in volunteer coaching, to get a Volunteer Application, or for more information, please call S4EA at 858-565-7432.
Volunteer Appreciation Week April 20-26
Volunteers are the backbone of the SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes program. Our volunteer coaches organize practices and teach athletes various sports skills. At tournaments – volunteers are referees, scorekeepers, timers, help with set-up, take-down, Nerve Center, meals . . . and everything else that needs to be done. At SPORTS Camps – volunteers are chaperones, helping our athletes at sports and camp activities, as well as at meals and in the cabin. Our volunteers become friends of our athletes. Volunteers also help with office projects, fundraisers, as committee members, and as S4EA Board members. Join S4EA in thanking our coaches & volunteers for all of their efforts in providing sports programs to our very special athletes during Volunteer Appreciation Week April 20-26.
SD Parks & Recreation - Therapeutic Rec. Services
San Diego Parks & Recreation (SDP&R) – Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) provides therapeutic recreation programs for children and adults with any type of disability. SDP&R-TRS is co-sponsoring S4EA activities at SD City Facilities so that S4EA athletes and volunteers also need to register with SDP&R-TRS. S4EA athletes need to either register on-line with SDRecConnect.com or register at the first practice with SDP&R-TRS. The facilities that S4EA uses in the spring are Park de la Cruz-Basketball /Pickleball Mon (Code: 121340) & Kearny Mesa Rec Center-Basketball /Open Gym Jr. Thu (Code: 121341).
S4EA Practices/Tournaments – Guidelines
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Download Athlete Registration Form from S4EA website, fill out/email to S4EA
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Do not come if you are sick
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Check temperature (if above normal, don’t come to practice)
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If have COVID, isolate at least 5 days & wear mask 10 days
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Wear a facemask in large groups/indoor to help protect everyone & especially our athletes with disabilities
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Get the new COVID vaccine & be safe to play our sports
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.S4EA Spring Season
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Sport Practices
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Mon 6:00-8:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) Mar 17-May 5 not Mar 31 [Spring] (Code: 121340)
Thu 4:00-5:30pm Kearny Mesa Rec (3170 Armstrong, SD 92111) Apr 10-May 8 [Jr Assorted Sports] (Code: 121341)
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​Bowling
Sat 11:00am-1:00pm Bowlero CV (845 Lazo Ct, CV 91910) Sep 7-May 10-$9 for 2 games [League Play] Bowling League full. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to be put on waiting list for next fall.
Sun Apr 13&27 11am-12:20pm Mira Mesa Lanes (8210 Mira Mesa Blvd, SD 92126) -$10 per bowler per hour+, generally every other Sunday, Call Cathy 949-922-3441
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Sat Apr 12 1:15-3:30pm San Diego Velodrome Bicycle Safety
Sat Apr 26 1:15-3:30pm De Anza Cove (Parking lot north end near Hwy 5) First regular ride of the new season.
​ [see calendar, S4EA website, coach or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more info]
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Mon 5:30-6:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) Mar 17-May 5 except Mar 31 (Code: 121340)
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Sat 10:00am-12noon Sweetwater High School (2900 Highland Ave, National City 91950) Jan 4-Apr 26
Sun 9:00-11:00am Helix High School (7323 University Ave., La Mesa 91941) January 12-April 13
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​​​​​Workout-Hikes/Exercise
Limitless Adventures is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides outdoor recreational experiences for people with disabilities. Their current programming consists of hikes and other activities & operates within the Greater San Diego Area. For more info, go to: https://www.limitless-adventures.org/ -Upcoming events: Stratum Fitness Class-Apr 19
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Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to confirm or for more information.
S4EA Tournament & Event Dates
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Mar 29 8-10am S4EA Pancake Breakfast/Athlete Council Elections - S4EA Office
Apr 11-13​​​ Fr 4:30-Su 12noon S4EA SPORTS Camp - Camp Marston in Julian
Apr 26 9am-1pm S4EA Final Track Meet - Sweetwater High School
May 3 3:30-5pm S4EA Bingo Bash - S4EA Office
May 29 6:00-9:00pm S4EA "A Taste 4 SPORTS" - Balboa Park Club
Jun 14 9am-3pm S4EA/TRS Summer Sports Festival - Park de la Cruz
