Dear Future Athlete: A Letter To Kids With Disabilities Who Just Want to Play

Dear Future Athlete,

I see you.

I see the way you light up when the game starts: that spark, that curiosity, that want to be part of something bigger. I see how much you wish you were out there too. On the field, on the court, on the mat.

I know that feeling, because I’ve seen it in so many athletes I coach. I wish more people understood that you don’t need to “earn” a spot to belong. You already belong.

You deserve to play. You deserve to feel the thrill of a win, the sting of a loss.

But I’ll be honest, the world doesn’t always make it easy. There aren’t always teams that include you. There aren’t always coaches who know how to support you. Sometimes, it feels like you have to prove yourself twice as hard just to be seen.

But let me tell you what I’ve learned from coaching: You don’t need to prove anything to be worthy of playing.

Coaching Special Olympics taught me how to adapt, not the athletes. Me. It taught me that success looks different for everyone. That patience, creativity, and listening, open doors that should’ve never been closed in the first place.

I’ve watched athletes find their confidence, make friends, and win their first medals. And every single time, I think "this is what inclusion is supposed to look like."

So if no one’s told you yet: You are already an athlete. You are already enough.

Keep showing up. Keep asking for that spot. Keep playing. And when the world tells you there’s no room, know that people like me are working to make more room. Because you deserve it.

I believe in you. I’m rooting for you. And I can’t wait to see you out there.

💙Nikol

Coach, Advocate, & Forever Fan of Inclusion