Competitive Athletics

Outstanding athletic achievement takes more than natural ability and personal commitment. The right coaching, facilities and support are also needed to fully develop an athlete's potential. The Lakeshore Foundation Athletic Program provides that essential network of services and support for athletes who have a wide range of physical disabilities.

Our campus in Birmingham, Alabama is home to one of the nation's leading centers for the advancement of athletics for people with physical disabilities-the only center of its kind in the Southeast. Our reputation extends beyond the United States, making it a popular training site for international athletes with disabilities. The Lakeshore Foundation's coaches, many of whom have stellar athletic careers of their own, have come to Birmingham from around the country. They are drawn here by the Foundation's barrier-free athletic complex, experienced staff, and by our long-standing commitment to expand opportunities for those who have experienced a physical disability.

Competitive athletics available through the Lakeshore Foundation can fulfill a personal need for strenuous activity, provide an outlet for competitive drive, enhance independence, and contribute to the athlete's overall health and well being. The program offers a myriad of opportunities to build strength, confidence and physical skills valuable in everyday life. With all of these benefits come lifelong friendships, shared victories and exciting opportunities for national and international competition.

Competitive athletics opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities are available in the sports of wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, goalball, track and field, swimming, power soccer, wheelchair tennis and marksmanship.