Our Mission

SNAP Sports provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to engage in a variety of sports-based activities. Our athletes often shatter the notion of commonly held limitations, by accepting the challenge of more complex competitive sports. Players gain confidence and poise while becoming better equipped to manage their individual disabilities. Athletes who participate regularly, routinely develop the essential physical and social skills needed to improve their everyday lives.

Our History

2012: Partnered with the Ice Station Valencia and the Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey Club who serve as the team’s ice activity and hockey partners. In association with the Ice Station Valencia, SNAP Sports created a year-round Developmental Skating School and seasonal Ice Hockey program for special needs athletes.

2013: SNAP Flyers become one of 60 ASHA sanctioned special needs hockey teams in the US. Third in the greater Los Angeles area. (VSF, California Condors and Pasadena Maple Leafs) Launched annual Skate-a-Thon fundraising event to support SNAP Sports programing. SNAP Cougars Flag Football joins SNAP Sports, continuing its relationship with Cougar Football at the College of the Canyons. Annual SNAP Bowl is established at Cougar Stadium. SNAP Cougars attend annual S4EA Bowl in San Diego.

2014: SNAP Sports hosts the inaugural SoCal Special Hockey Festival at the Ice Station Valencia. SNAP Flyers appear at Staples Center as part of the Annual Special Hockey Showcase during the intermission of a LA Kings game. SNAP Cheer is added to the Flag Football program

2015: SNAP Sports & United Commercial Travelers co-host UCT Winter Festival at Ice Station Valencia. In addition to the three LA area squads, teams from Virginia, Vancouver, Denver & San Diego attended. SNAP Flyers travel to Ottawa, Canada to compete in Special Hockey International 2015. 1,500+ special needs athletes participated over four-day tournament.

2016: Launched SNAP Roadrunners Distance Running Club, competing in regional 5K events. Travelled to Mammoth Lakes, CA for hockey exhibition and adaptive skiing weekend.

2017: Hosted the 6th Annual UCT Winter Hockey Festival. Recipient of annual/renewable grant from LA Kings Foundation.

2018: Purchsed multiple adaptive gait-training devices to teach skating. Expanding services to a wider range of disabled athletes beyond developmental disabilities.

2019: SNAP Flyers travel to Toronto, Canada to compete in Special Hockey International 2019. 2,000+ special needs athletes participated over four-day tournament. SNAP Flyers begin monthly home & away games to supplement Festival play.

Our Vision

SNAP Sports hopes to better serve the special needs population through inclusive and adaptive sports programs. Ultimately SNAP Sports, through a variety of sports-based activities, is seeking to develop highly-valued members of the community, engaged in a positive way, regardless of their individual disability.

Our Purpose

SNAP Sports programs provide the opportunity for regular, rigorous physical activity, disciplined team behavior and demonstrable moments of accomplishment. We encourage the use of peer athletes to accelerate this process, and the program welcomes all athletes with disabilities, who wish to expand their knowledge and skills of a team sport through the support of experienced coaches and skilled peers.

SNAP Sports was conceived and originally developed by veteran Special Olympics coach Rob Muir, to enhance what Special Olympics was offering. With his Flag Football program, Muir found that with the assistance of peer players (neuro-typical), he and his staff were able to teach far beyond what they had previously experienced with athletes with developmental challenges. New abilities were discovered. Confidence soared, knowing that together they were conquering a sport many would say was out of their reach. In February of 2012, Muir and Assistant Coach Beckie Warloe contacted some of their colleagues to see if they would be interested in a new challenge.

In March of that year, the Valencia SNAP Flyers Hockey Club was founded by a collection of special needs coaches responding to an increased interest from a small group of athletes. Having years of experience together, they committed to building a program whereby they could all participate in a more traditional, amateur-style sports setting, but for special needs athletes. This setting would include true competitive play, but only when it furthers the overall therapeutic goal. Participation has provided new opportunities for mobility, learning, and teamwork, as athletes discover an entirely different way of moving their bodies. These newly mined teamwork skills have proven to be a benefit both on and off the ice.

An example of these benefits comes from one particular 18 year-old athlete, Michael. In May of 2012, Michael was introduced to our skating program, and initially we found him to be non-communicative, with compromised motor skills, and parental separation anxiety. Our first several sessions were strictly off-ice to prepare him for what he wanted to do. Part of the training includes an “eyes-up” posture, and with that our first breakthrough, eye contact. On a slow but sure pace, Michael began to develop the confidence to take the ice, and from there a few steps, and from there a few strides. Now 18 months later, Michael is not only an expert skater and avid hockey player, but there is a warm greeting where there was silence, there is a helpful son where there was constant need, there is Mom who must wait with the other parents while Michael plays hockey with his new friends, and most importantly, there is a person who has a far better chance to flourish due to his experience with this program over the past two years.

Since its inception, SNAP Sports has provided a variety of activities that offer year-round opportunities for an underserved population. Our weekly Developmental Skating Program acts as a feeder activity for the SNAP Flyers Hockey Club. The Club travels to various tournaments and scrimmages with other hockey teams. We strive to host an annual Hockey Festival where we bring in teams from around the country to play hockey and engage the community in great event for all. 

The SNAP Cougars Flag Football and Cheer programs, located at the Santa Clarity Sport Complex,  run from July to November. We travel to tournaments in Southern California. The SNAP Roadrunners were established in 2016 and competed in several distance events throughout the summer from July to September. 

In addition to its sports activities, SNAP Sports offers a variety of social events throughout the year including sporting events, holiday parties and team banquets and fundraisers.

SNAP Sports will continually seek and develop new sports programs based on need, athlete interest, volunteer support, coaching experience and financial viability. Programs, sports and activities are open to all ages and genders and no sports experience is required. Equipment and instruction are provided by our experienced special needs coaches.

SNAP Sports is currently a privately-funded, 100% volunteer-only organization. Without the help of our generous donors and benefactors, a dynamic sports program such as this would be financially impractical for most of our participants who are reliant solely on SSI benefits. Throughout the year, we conduct amazing fundraising events that gather and spread the word about our program to our community. 

SNAP Sports is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization 

SNAP Sports Board Member Committee

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Kim Soash

Co-Chief Executive Director

coachkim@snaphockey.org

CHANDRA NEAL

Co-Chief Executive Director

coachchandra@snaphockey.org

CHRISTINA HASELBUSCH

Chief Financial Director

coachchristina@snaphockey.org

ROB MUIR

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CO-FOUNDER

HEAD COACH – FLAG FOOTBALL

BECKIE WARLOE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & SECRETARY

CO-FOUNDER

HEAD COACH – ROADRUNNERS

Heidi Jeffrey

 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HEAD COACH – SKATING

CHRIS SCHRAGE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HEAD COACH – HOCKEY

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

CURT HILL

DIRECTOR

Tom Jeffrey

DIRECTOR

BRETT MURRAY

DIRECTOR

BIRDIE BUSH

DIRECTOR

ERIC SHALEM

DIRECTOR

MICHAEL ANTHONY HUNT

DIRECTOR

PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

ACTIVITY CALENDAR


SKATE-A-THON

SoCAL HOCKEY FESTIVAL

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