ALL-STARS WORK THROUGH DISABILITIES

SCOTT CITY -- None of these All-Star players earn a $1 million for their game, but they each know the key to their success is teamwork.

"We have to work together," Brian Garms, 9, said during a team huddle Saturday morning.

Encouragment, a positive attitude, and teamwork are the only skills needed to play on the All-Star soccer team, which is designed to help motivate children with disabilities.

About 12 children attended practice Saturday morning at the Scott City Elementary gym. The team, which has 25 members, meets every two weeks for practice and drills. Although the team practices in Scott City, children from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryville and Southern Illinois are invited to play.

"We look at this as their game," said Tom Miller, who coaches the team and helped organize the group.

For several months, Miller and his wife, Sonya, had been taking their son, Ryan, to St. Louis to practice with another special needs soccer team.

But Ryan wanted to start a team closer to home. So Miller made some phone calls to work out the details and soccer practices started in April.

The group meets every two weeks from 10 a.m. until noon.

Playing soccer with other children who have disabilities evens the field, said Carolyn Garms. Her son, Brian, has been attending practice since April. "It also gives them a chance to bond and play with their brothers and sisters," she said. "They don't always get to play with them."

But soccer practice isn't just about fun and games. It also teaches endurance, strengthening and independence.

"It's therapy, but it's fun therapy," Jerry Garms said of practice. "They get exercise and strengthening without knowing it."

A boy who had just been introduced to a walker attended practice two weeks ago. He didn't like using the walker until he saw other children using them while they played soccer, said Carolyn Garms.

Therapists from Pediatric SPOT volunteer their time to work with the children during practices. Usually a physical and occupational therapist attend practices, but don't stress the therapy.

"We're more lax; it's not really therapy, we try to focus on the fun," said Maria Hatfield, a physical therapist. "It helps with social interaction and motivation."

The children are less reserved and full of energy, Hatfield said, adding that she can see improvements in their abilities. "There are exercise skills with the kicking, but it's a whole body effect."

Odis Shultz of Cape Girardeau brought his son, Justen, to soccer practice to learn socialization skills. "Seeing the pleasure on their faces will move you to tears," Shultz said, adding that at practice, no one is different.

"He left here the first week, saying `Dad, I'm a soccer player now."

Victoria Lowes, another team member, thinks her soccer game is better after practices. "She will get the ball out at home and kick it around," said her father, David Lowes. "She even took her uniform and medal to daycare for show and tell."

Playing on the soccer team helps her stay active within her physical limitations, Lowes said.

While soccer may be interesting for Justen and Victoria, Jack Webb, 2, would rather play basketball. Between kicking and passing drills, Jack shot a couple baskets Saturday. The practices have helped Jack with stamina and motivation, said Sarah Webb, his mother.

"When you see the smile on their face and they're kicking the ball and rooting each other on, it gives you energy," Miller said.