Click here to see a photo gallery from the clinic.

PEPPER PIKE, Ohio ­(courtesy of @UrsulineArrows) – As has been the case for the past six years, the Ursuline College basketball team put on its annual clinic for people with disabilities, an experience that was beneficial to all who were involved.

“In 2004, we had two programs for people with disabilities,” said Bill Thomas, Mayfield Village’s Recreation Director. “Now we have over 60 programs each year, and one of the most popular things we do is take our group to basketball clinics with teams from John Carroll University, Notre Dame College and Ursuline College.”

The Mayfield Community Adaptive Recreation Program brought a group of men with disabilities (ranging from teenagers to guys in their 40s) to the Matthew J. O’Brien Center last Thursday (Dec. 6) and did warm-up drills and played a half with the Arrows before concluding the night with shooting contests.

“I think it was good for our team to be reminded how much fun it is to play basketball,” head coach Shannon Sword said. “A lot of times we might get caught up in wins and losses, but our coaches and student-athletes are here because they truly love the game. To see the smiles that we were able to bring to those faces through a game we love made it a very rewarding night for our girls.”

Ursuline is the only women’s team to get involved with the organization as the men’s teams from John Carroll and Notre Dame conduct two clinics each year.

“We have a wonderful relationship with all the schools,” Thomas said. “We couldn’t do it without the local colleges and universities. The guys in the program really look forward to these clinics and they have so much fun.”

The group will return to Ursuline on March 20 for the second clinic of the season.