Special Olympics Tournament in Orlando

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The Long Island Field Hockey 4 All Team went for a weekend trip to Orlando for ESPN+ Hockey. This is the first time that Special Olympic Games are hosted for the Florida Event. It was at the ESPN World of Sports Complex which it’s a Sports Park for Special Events. Most Tournaments are focused on Nationwide Teams for different Sports for Youth Teams. Over 200 Teams around the Country and thousands of people participated to play as athletes. Even the parents and fans decided to show up to the Sunshine Show Case Tournament of 2022.

There’s so many sports fields in the park which is the ESPN World Sports of Complex and it has like 31 sports fields. Like Soccer Fields, Baseball Fields and so much more.

The main Tournament was Long Island Field Hockey we got in before 9AM we wore special uniforms and we huddle as a team and were the first Long Island Field Hockey Team to join the Special Olympics Field Hockey Team joined the tournament and 1st annual Olympics tournament. It was also the first time that the special Olympics Field Hockey Team that was hosted because we wanted to show the world that Field Hockey is not just girls Field Hockey but it’s also for people with Development Disabilities.

The Long Island Field Hockey went to the tournament but we end up two teams for ourselves. It was The All Stars in White and the Long Island Field Hockey in Gray. The Girls Team came to help us out and play like we’re having fun. One day the Sport would become a popular sport for the team when it reaches 2028 for the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics.

We get to also be famous from ESPN which the players ourselves get to be interviewed by USA Field Hockey and Long Island Field Hockey

During the bracket of the tournament was The Long Island Field Hockey Team but since the other teams never showed up we decided to make up two teams on our own. The Long Island Field Hockey Girls Team happily came to help and they volunteer with us. It was the Gray Team and White Team. Half of the group went to the Gray Team and the other half went to the White Team. The Long Island Field Hockey Team was the Gray Team and the All Stars were the White Team. All of them each got a volunteer to partner up to help our teams to achieve what they can achieve something. Originally I thought that we would have 200 Teams around the nation with disabilities but it was only 200 teams for the Girls Field Hockey Team, so we created 2 Teams and the team in Gray is the Long Island Field Hockey Team which is me, Michelle, Rebecca and Paul. The White Team is the All Stars which the team has Anthony, Elouise, Gia and Adriana

During the Match, there’s 10 Minutes in 2 half’s of the match. During the first half of the match, I was already got a head start but it was just short not too far from the goal. Then my teammate Michelle scored the first goal and took the lead 1-0. Not for long, Elouise got the first goal for the All Stars which it tied at 1-1. Then the teams did a lot of defensive moves time to time. Paul on the LI Field Hockey did a lot of help with the defence to not let the All Stars take the lead. During the 5 minute warning, I ran into the other side and waited for the goal and Michelle passed the ball to me and I scored the goal to help LI Field Hockey 2-1. Then the All Stars went to take immediate action and scored then second goal to tie it up 2-2. Before Halftime I ran the ball and I was going to score again but they goalie blocked my shot and the defense took the ball from me so I went back to center field and passed it to Rebecca and give it to Michelle and she got herself the 2nd goal which give LIFH to get back the lead 3-2 and it was halftime. Everyone had a water break and then each team huddle up to work on teamwork and continue to have fun while making history.

During the 2nd half of the match, the Long Island field hockey was leading the All Starz 3-2. It was neck to neck for the first few minutes until Michelle got the goal to take the early lead with my quick thinking pass before I got out of bounds and helped the LI Field Hockey Team continued to take the lead 4-2. Then I scored before I put myself in an offside position which I got lucky to allow myself to get that goal when the ball rolled to me and scored. In the meantime, Paul and i did a phenomenal job with the defense and not let the All Stars scored like 5 times. The Defense on the LI Field Hockey was outstanding during the tournament so hopefully we can get ourselves promoted for the 2028 Paralympics. Before the match was done, the LI Field Hockey Team scored 2 more goals which it was credited by the whole team with outstanding creativity of teamwork. Once the Tournament was about to draw to a close, Elouise helped the All Stars got one more goal even though they tried their best to get the goals from the great defense. She got the buzzer beater goal and happily got the All Stars 7-3 but the Long Island Field Hockey won the Tournament which it was a fun tournament. We won 7-3 against the All Starz which it was a fun game to remember while making History for the Special Olympics.

The winner of the tournament was The Long Island Field Hockey Team but it was about a fun tournament which hopefully one day more teams around the USA to increase Special Olympics Field Hockey. I like to remember the score just i can focus on track with the results especially in every Special Olympics Tournament.

Afterwards we took a group picture with girls team who helped us and the team itself. Then I was interviewed by 2 people like Sally from USA Field Hockey and Valeri from Long Island Field Hockey. I talked about that I wanted to explain about Field Hockey which its popular from Europe, Australia and India but Wanted to expand the sport to the United States. It would be interesting if the Special Olympics was a reality besides the Girls Field Hockey. One day this sport will be huge for the 2028 Summer Olympics and the Paralympics. I can grow as a player for myself especially my teammates.