ORLANDO, Fla. – After competing on the national stage, Central Florida’s first youth wheelchair basketball team is urgently seeking a new practice facility.
The Orlando Magic Dreamers has grown to include both a prep team for ages 5 to 13 and a junior varsity team for ages 14 to 18, creating a pressing need for a gym with two basketball courts.
The Dreamers are asking for help finding a recreation center or facility in the Orlando area that can offer a 1.5 to 2-hour practice slot on Friday evenings between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. This time frame is critical for the team’s weekly training.
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“This need is urgent. Without access to an adequate practice space, our athletes—youth with physical disabilities such as spina bifida, limb differences, cerebral palsy, and amputations—will lose valuable opportunities to train, develop their skills, and prepare for competition," Orlando Magic Dreamers Coach Paulette Belser said to News 6 in an email.
Currently, the team practices at a community gym, but recent scheduling conflicts with open play have made that space unavailable.
Their previous location, Life Church, only has one court and rims fixed at 10 feet, which are too high for the prep athletes who require 8-foot rims to practice and compete effectively.
In April, the team competed in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Richmond, Virginia, where they went 2-2. It marked the team’s first-ever invitation to the national tournament.
“Your support in helping us secure a gym with two courts would have a life-changing impact on these young athletes, enabling them to continue building confidence, teamwork, and athletic excellence,” Belser said.
Those who can assist or recommend a location are asked to contact Belser at pbelser21@yahoo.com or by calling 734-748-0392.