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NONPROFIT-RACQUETBALL REVIVAL HELPS MAKE RACQUETBALL ACCESSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PLAY. 11 NEWS REPORTER BREANA ROSS HAS THE STORY FROM THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL REC CENTER. >> THAT IS BETTER. GOOD. THAT IS WHERE YOU WANT THE FINISH TO BE. >> WHO KNEW HITTING A BALL AGAINST A WALL COULD BE SO MUCH FUN? >> MANY KIDS ARE NOT EXPOSED TO RACQUETBALL. YOU DON’T SEE IT ON TELEVISION. KIDS THAT TRY RACQUETBALL, THEY LOVE RACQUETBALL. FORWARD HARD FOR A FINISH. GOOD. GOOD HIT. >> LEON THOMAS IS THE RACQUETBALL COACH AT WHITE MARSH RECREATION COUNCIL HE POURS HIS HEART AND SOUL INTO GETTING MORE KIDS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT. HIS NONPROFIT HELPS RAISE MONEY TO PAY FOR EQUIPMENT WEEKLY LESSONS AND COMPETITIONS FOR AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE. >> THEY NEED SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AND RACQUETBALL CAN BE THAT. >> EXTEND THAT ARM. GOOD. GOOD JOB. >> HE STARTED WITH JUST ONE KID. NOW HE HAS 43, ALL THE WAY TO AGE 18. KESHAWN LETCHMAN IS ONE OF THEM. >> IT IS FUN TO HIT THE BALL. TAKE A LITTLE ANGER OUT ON THE >> IT WAS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED IT TO BE, AND HE TOOK OFF. >> AND HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THE SPORT. AUDRA JONES BRINGS HER SON MAX TO RAQUETBALL LESSONS EVERY WEEK. HE’S AUTISTIC AND FINDS JOY IN PLAYING THE GAME. >> IT’S BEEN GREAT TO HAVE MAX BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH OTHER KIDS AND JUST A REGULAR SPORTS ENVIRONMENT. >> COACH THOMAS EVEN TAUGHT ME A FEW SKILLS. >> I’M GOING TO DROP THE BALL AND YOU SWING FORWARD AND HIT THE BALL. ALL RIGHT HERE WE GO. GOOD. YES. >> BUT WHEN IT COMES TO COACHING KIDS, COACH THOMAS SAYS IT’S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN THE SKILLS THEY LEARN ON THE COURT IT EMPOWERS KIDS OFF THE COURT TOO. >> WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOLWORK. WE SHOW THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. IF YOU CAN PLAY RACQUETBALL, THERE’S NOT A LOT YOU CAN’T DO AND SO IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN PLAY RAQUETBALL THERE’S ALOT OF THINGS THEY CAN DO OFF THE COURT AND HAVE SUCCESS IN IT ALSO. >> AND COACH LEON SAYS THAT THERE ARE NO TRY OUTS FOR HIS RAQUETBALL SQUAD. YOU CAN JUST TRY IT OUT. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN SIGN UP VISIT OUR WEBSIT
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A nonprofit group is utilizing racquetball to offer a constructive outlet for youth throughout Baltimore.Who knew hitting a ball towards a wall may very well be a lot enjoyable? Racquetball Revival helps to make the game accessible to anybody who needs to play.”Many youngsters should not uncovered to racquetball. You do not see it on tv. It isn’t a serious sport that you just hear about wherever on the information, however youngsters that strive racquetball, they love racquetball,” stated Leon Thomas, racquetball coach at White Marsh Recreation Council and government director of Racquetball Revival.Thomas pours his coronary heart and soul into getting extra youth to fall in love with the game. Racquetball Revival helps elevate cash to pay for tools, weekly classes and competitions for as many youth as potential.”Each child wants one thing that they will go to (and) say, ‘That is my factor.’ They want one thing to sit up for, and racquetball may be that,” Thomas stated. Thomas began with only one youngster, however now he has 43 who vary in age from 4 all the best way to 18.”It is simply enjoyable to hit the ball, take a little bit anger out on the ball,” stated Keshawn Letchman, one in all Thomas’ college students.Keshawn’s mother, Ria Stephenson, has watched him excel thus far and grow to be ok to be the Twenty fifth-ranked participant in Maryland, which has opened up scholarship alternatives.”Being a single mother, you search for avenues and it isn’t accessible to you. Strive one thing totally different as a result of I might be the primary one to say it isn’t what we anticipated to be, and he took off,” Stephenson stated. He is not the one one seeing the advantages of the game. Audra Jones brings her son, Max, to racquetball classes each Saturday. He has autism and finds pleasure in taking part in. “It has been nice to have Max be capable to take part with different youngsters and only a common sports activities atmosphere, and for him to have the ability to be taught some self-discipline and in addition just a few primary athletic abilities,” Jones stated.On the subject of teaching the youth, Thomas stated it is about a lot greater than the talents they be taught on the court docket, it empowers them off the court docket, too.”It is extra than simply racquetball. We speak about schoolwork. We present that we’re involved about their educational success,” Thomas stated. “Should you can play racquetball, there’s not rather a lot you may’t do and so it builds confidence in youngsters to know that if they will play racquetball, there’s lots of issues they will do off the court docket and have success in it additionally.” Thomas’ long-term objective is to open a racquetball facility in Baltimore that may meet the wants of the group with mentoring suites, assembly areas, racquetball courts and extra. He stated that there aren’t any tryouts for his racquetball squad, everyone seems to be welcome. Classes and group play are held at Northeast Regional Recreation Middle. For extra data to enroll,go to the next web site.