Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Clark.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In October/November of 2006, I was coaching my sons Jacob (2nd grade) and Jonathan’s (1st grade) San Marcos Youth Basketball (SMYBB) Pee-Wee basketball team. Jacob had been diagnosed as Highly Functioning Autistic at age 3 ½ and loved to play basketball. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the sport and, as a coach, be able, to some degree, to help Jacob adjust to a recreationally competitive game. After about 3 weeks of practice, it became apparent that that this brand of basketball was going to be overwhelming for Jacob. Although he could shoot the basketball really well, the speed and competitiveness of the game were just too much. He could not understand why the opposing players would steal the ball or not give him back the ball if he missed a shot…so he could keep trying until he made it.
My wife Emmie and I sat down one night to decide what to do as we wanted a program where Jacob could not just get by but to flourish. Since we had coached Special Needs Soccer and Baseball, we decided to contact SMYBB to see about starting a special needs group in the league.
Our request was very well received. I remember getting the call from Pat Moore (SMYBB President that year) while we were on vacation in Hawaii. He said we had the support of the league, and we spent the rest of the vacation planning for what had to be done to get up and running when we got back. With the help of board members Maria Hoye and Kevin Kennedy, we were on our way. Because it was already into the SMYBB season, we had to put together the inaugural season very quickly. We decided on a January 2007 start and with 8 special needs kids, mostly from the VIP soccer team, 10 high school volunteers, and 4 coaches, we had a wonderful first season!
We just completed our 17-year (16th season as we skipped the 2020 season during Covid) of Shooting Stars in December with 180 special needs players, 35 coaches, and 200+ volunteers. We have been incredibly fortunate with the support we have received from the community in the form of both volunteers and sponsors, plus SMYBB and the City of San Marcos to help us make Shooting Stars what it is today!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, it has been a pretty smooth road. There are always hurdles, like funding and finding enough volunteers to work with all of our players…but things have always found a way to work out for us in that respect. We have fantastic people that work with us (buddies, coaches, volunteers, and sponsors)…that come back year after year…and for that, we are forever grateful (and never take it for granted).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My wife and I have both been incredibly fortunate to work from home for the past 17 years (sales and sales support)…which gives us some flexibility to volunteer for and run Shooting Stars Basketball (as well as help with other special needs sports programs…baseball, soccer, karate, etc…).
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
This journey we have been on these past 17 years with Shooting Stars had taught us many things, including flexibility, perseverance, trust, and the inherent goodness and kindness that is in people. The most important lesson we have learned is that there are opportunities that come along in your life that can change your perspective.
When we started Shooting Stars, we were hoping to find buddies for our kids for the season. We knew that our players thrive on social interaction…whatever that looks like with each individual players. We hoped to find buddies that would give our kids a chance and be friendly to them.
Having a child with special needs, I was honestly only looking at it from that one perspective when we started. What we have seen in the program is so much more. What we have learned is that our buddies, especially when they start, can be very apprehensive. They are fantastic people, but working with special needs kids, especially if you have never done it before, can be daunting…because it is unknown.
As each season progresses, we see the buddies realize that the special needs kids are just kids. Kids with different challenges, but still kids. We see friendships grow as the season moves along and many of the player/buddie pairs end up being paired together for many seasons. The beginning of our season each year for these pairings begins with huge smiles, hugs, and high fives! Like old friends reuniting.
In our Volunteer Orientation every season, I tell the buddies that if they really buy into the program and work to form a bond with their players…not just be here to amass volunteer hours…that they will get a gift that will stay with them their entire lives. That gift is a shift in how they see the world and our amazing special needs kids.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Brett Alan Photography
Legacy Photography and Media
