Agency Summary & Market Scan

Agency Summary 

Agency/Setting name and description 

Sportable is an adaptive sports agency that works closely with athletes who either have a physical disability or a visual impairment. These athletes participate on a competitive level or a recreational level thanks to all of the programs that are offered by this agency. The agency also welcomes athletes of all ages as well as ability levels within their programs. Sportable is well known in the Central Virginia area for its contribution to the adaptive sports community as well as being one of the top Paralympic sports clubs.

(What We’re About, 2020)

Etiology & History 

Sportable was founded in 2005 by two CTRS’s and has since been making its mark on the adaptive sports community in Central Virginia ever since. When the agency first started the only sport that was offered was power soccer was because it was the cheapest sport that could be done at that time. Once power soccer was established wheelchair basketball became the second sport thanks to the help and donations from different organizations as well as from getting the word out at conferences. Since the establishment of the first two sports, sportable has evolved to 13 sports available for youth and adults to participate in since 2005. This year Sportable is proudly celebrating 15 years of transforming the lives of their athletes through adaptive sports.

(What We’re About, 2020)

Mission Statement 

Creating Opportunities. Transforming Lives.

(What We’re About, 2020)

Vision Statement (Brand Pillars)

1. Freeing our athletes to see beyond their disabilities.
2. Building peer relationships & reducing social isolation.
3. Facilitating physical & attitudinal change in our community.

(What We’re About, 2020)

Core Values 

• Integrity- Being true to our word and honoring commitments to athletes, partners, and community.
• Team Spirit- The expectation that our community will enjoy a sport for its own sake, while upholding the highest standard of fairness, respect, and camaraderie icon-ingenuity.
• Passion- Committing to work hard, stay positive, and encourage success in others icon-teamwork.
• Ingenuity- Fostering an environment where athletes and volunteers are able to reach their full potential.

(What We’re About, 2020)

Agency Continuum of Services 

The services that are provided by Sportable are the 13 adaptive sports programs that range from being recreational to competitive. The athletes who participate in these sports can choose what level of the sport they would like to participate in based on their athleticism. These sports that are offered allow anyone who has a physical disability or visual impairment participate based on whatever skill level they choose.

Intended goals/outcomes for those services 

The goals/outcomes for the 13 sports is based specifically on the athlete themselves. There are not set overall goals/outcomes for each sport because every athlete has a varying skill level. The outcomes of each athlete are usually measured based on their participation and if there is independence observed within the sport that they are participating in.

(2020 Program Guide, 2020)

Stakeholders 

Internal: Executive Director, Development Director, Athletic Director, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Development and Operations Manager, Director of Finance, Program Managers, Volunteers (as a group), Athletes, Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, The Board, The Associate Board, Athletic Advisory Committee.

(What We’re About, 2020)

External: 6 Wheels Consulting LLC, ACECF, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, Best Bully Sticks, BIZPORT, Bon Secours, encova insurance, Buskey Hard Cider, C&F Bank, Carmax, Center for Sports Leadership, Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation, Collegiate School, Crossridge Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, CSC Leasing Company, Emroch & Kilduff, Henrico Parks & Recreation, Home Care Delivered, McCandish Holton Attorneys at Law, Mercedes-Benz of Richmond, mobilityworks, Move United Member, NBC12, National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Patient First, raba, Richmond Tennis Association, Sheltering Arms, Smart Box, Sports Backers, St. Christophers School, SunTrust, swimRVA, Team River Runner, The Community Foundation, UDig, US Lacrosse, US Rowing, USQRA, VCU Health, VESCO, Virginia Boat Club Richmond, Virginia Business Systems, Williams Mullen, W.M. Jordan Company, The YMCA

(Partners, 2020)

Organizational Chart 

Intern- Myself

Program Manager(s)- Kyle Hitzelberg and Forest Lodge

Director of Finance- Bill Ramsey

Development & Operations Manager- Wendy Bondeson

Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator- Josh Sloan

Athletic Director- Shelley Sowers

Development Director- Cindy Schmitt

Executive Director- Hunter Leemon

(What We’re About, 2020)

Agency Policy and Procedures (2)

1. Confidentiality. This policy is important for the agency to have as a whole because it keeps the athletes and employees information private as well as only available to those who are on a need to know basis.
2. Threat Policy. This policy by the agency is based on a direct or implied expression of intent that could impact someones well-being and is an important policy to have to ensure the safety of all staff members as well as volunteers and athletes.

(Sportable Therapeutic Recreation Internship Handbook, n.d)

RT Policy and Procedures (3)

1. All programs should be led by either the Program Director or Head Coach. No Session Should be led by a Program Intern. This policy is important because it insures the safety of the athletes that are participating in the sports.
2. Be knowledgeable of weather conditions and how they affect the program. This policy/procedure is important because as a recreation therapist you need to be able to think on your toes and be able to come up with a new activity right away if there is the possibility of weather getting in the way.
3. Act professionally at all times while representing Sportable. This is an important policy/procedure that should be followed because you want others to know how professional Sportable is wherever you may be whether it is at a ATRA conference or a VASTRA conference.

(Sportable Therapeutic Recreation Internship Handbook, n.d)

Accreditation/Licensing/Regulation 

Sportable isn’t regulated like most RT services (JCAHO or CARF). They did report to the U.S. Paralympics which regulated their services, but they decided to no longer offer services to member clubs. Move United (formerly DSUSA) is now looking to fill the void that was left by the U.S. Paralympics as the regulating service. It is also important to note that some of the sports are regulated by a National Governing Body. They don’t specifically regulate the services that are provided by Sportable but they may require additional fees or  specifications for the teams to participate.

(K. Hitzelberg, Personal Interview, June 12, 2020)

Market Scan

Who are the customers of RT services at this agency?

The customers of RT services at this agency are the athletes that participate in sports that are being provided.

What is the cost and how are RT services paid for (membership fees, billable services, bundled fees, grants, etc.)?

The cost of the services is based on a paid subscription. The customers have the option of paying $15 a month for 3 sports or they can pay $25 for unlimited sports. It is important to state that this is based on participation per year. There are also scholarships for customers who are unable to afford the subscriptions. Most of the RT services are paid for with grants  which help with paying for the equipment needed for the sports being provided.

(K. Hitzelberg, Personal Interview, June 13, 2020)

What is the product/service provided to the customers?

The product/service that is provided to the customers would be the different sports offered by the agency. The customers are able to choose whichever sport interest them the most that is provided by the agency.

Are the customers satisfied with the RT services provided? How do you know?

Surveys are sent out to find out if customers are satisfied with the services that are being provided. There is a Quarterly Quality of Life survey that is sent out and an end of program survey as well. The end of program survey allows Sportable to evaluate the services that are being provided and make adjustments when needed.

(K. Hitzelberg, Personal Interview, June 13, 2020)

Are there competitors to your agency?

There are no competitors to the agency. There are other agencies that offer adaptive sports but Sportable works collaboratively with them. Sportable provides different opportunities than some of these others agencies which make these collaborations beneficial. One of these agencies that Sportable works closely with is Beyond Boundaries.

(K. Hitzelberg, Personal Interview, June 13, 2020)

Are there untapped/potential markets which RT services could be expanded to? If so, who are they and what services?

Yes, there are untapped/potential markets which RT services could be expanded to. They could be expanded to serve cognitive disabilities. The addition of more sports would be beneficial for the athletes that are already being served. Some of these new sports could be blind soccer, beep ball, wheelchair football, and golf.

(K. Hitzelberg, Personal Interview, June 12, 2020)

References

Partners. (2020, May 28). Retrieved June 13, 2020, from https://www.sportable.org/partners/

What We’re About. (2020, May 19). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://www.sportable.org/about/

2020 Program Guide. (2020, February 25). Retrieved June 13, 2020, from https://www.sportable.org/sports/programguide/