Riverbanks Basketball Team Ready to Play

Almost every Friday for more than a year, Ana Aranda coaches 14 students who practice for an official basketball game that has yet to come.

 

Students with autism and Down syndrome run up and down the George Washington Middle School gym as part of their warm-up at practice. One student needs a personal aide on the court. Proud parents on the sidelines cheer on their kids to shoot, dribble, and rebound.

 

And then there’s Aranda in the middle - patiently guiding students who struggle with loud noises while also encouraging other students to run defense. Most don’t know about the Riverbanks, this basketball team made up of students with special needs from the Mines Road area. They haven’t played anyone yet because there is no other team like them.

 

“Basketball is a sport that requires a lot of endurance. And I’ve never seen it. I had never seen it here in Laredo, having them play,” said Aranda, who is also the Community Relations Specialist with the United ISD Police Department.

 

“The thing is, we, as special education parents, protect our kids because they may be made fun of or not make the team,” Aranda said. “So they don’t have them play.”

 

“But these parents have completely changed their viewpoint. Their mentality just changed. These kids play defense hard. They block like you wouldn’t imagine. At first, they would not push, you know, and now they’re starting to push each other,” Aranda said, referring to the way they understand defense.

 

“And yes, just like any other child, they’re going to get upset when they’re being pushed. They’re getting the reaction of a regular sport,” she added. “They’re getting the full-court experience. They’re going to experience anger. Their emotions are going to have to calm down just like with any other player. They’re experiencing the same thing, the same emotion.”

 

The students gather at either George Washington Middle School, Ramirez Middle School or Father McNaboe Park every week.

 

Aranda, who is a parent volunteer, doesn’t get paid to coach the Riverbanks. She knows from personal experience from having children with special needs how exclusion can hurt, particularly in the world of sports.

 

“I’ve seen special education children just on the sidelines. They’re watching their brothers play. They never get to actually put on a jersey and go play,” Aranda said. “So I thought to myself … let me see if I can get this started. There has to be a way to get this going.”

 

She held a meeting with Washington Middle Principal David Guzman and Ramirez Middle Principal Juan Herrera. The campus leaders sent out notices to parents about the formation of the team. And the parents started calling. They were thrilled this would be something long-term for their children.

 

Alejandra Ramirez and Hector Martinez are happy that their son, Anthony Martinez, who is in 7th grade at Ramirez Middle School, gets to practice basketball.

 

“We want to include our son in as many activities as we can,” said Ramirez. “He liked it. And at first he was scared to join but then once he saw that everybody was just trying their best, he was like, ‘Oh, here’s what I can do’.”

 

He has autism, loves playing the sport and is quite good at it, scoring routinely throughout practice. His parents say that this was his first organized athletic activity and now he has joined soccer. They also especially appreciate Aranda as a coach who not only includes the kids but the parents as well. They never miss a practice.

 

The parents, players and Aranda are eager to have an official game. Her group of players range in age from 11 to 16. She is hoping other parent volunteers step up to form teams across the district so that games can begin. There is certainly the interest.

 

And now her players understand the fundamentals of the game - everything from the foul that leads to a free-throw shot. The older ones love to sink three-pointers. They’ve also developed their self-confidence, engaged in healthy exercise and established strong friendships.

 

Some of the students, like Leonardo Castaneda, a Ramirez Middle School student, have autism and need a personal aide on the court. His brother, Luis, who is a United High School freshman who plays offensive guard on the 9th grade white football team, is his aide on the court.

 

Aranda said that Leo has sensory issues such as bright lights and they have to remind him regularly to look up so he can shoot, catch the ball and avoid getting hit. His shooting record is excellent.

 

Luis says he loves to help his brother and can read his facial expressions and actions when verbal communication is difficult.

 

“It puts a smile on my face when I see him having fun around me and the other players,” Luis said.

 

Their mother, Claudia L. Prado, is cheering them both on from the sidelines. 

 

Aranda said that the team is ready for a game. “These kids have already been training for over a year. They’ve learned the basic fundamentals of basketball,” Aranda said.

 

“We’re ready to play. We just need one more team to get in there so we can start,” she said.

 

Anyone interested in learning more about the Riverbanks or starting a team, please call Aranda at 956-942-6777 for more information.

Ana Aranda coaches students with special needs during a basketball practice at George Washington Middle School. Her team, the Riverbanks, has practiced for more than a year as members patiently wait to play an official game.

Leonardo Castaneda shoots a free throw while his older brother, Luis, is by his side as a personal aide during basketball practice. Leonardo has autism and needs the guidance of a personal aide while practicing with his team.

The Riverbanks Basketball Team practices weekly in anticipation of playing in an official game one day.

The Riverbanks Basketball Team, made of students with special needs from the Mines Road area, wrap up after practice to pose for a picture with their families, friends and Coach Ana Aranda. They have practiced for more than a year in anticipation of an official game.