STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – The Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind is celebrating its homecoming this week.
Students from across the state have returned to campus to enjoy the men’s and women‘s basketball games on Wednesday.
“For three years, we have not been able to host any sporting events on campus due to COVID precautions,” said Cliff Watson, athletic director at VSDB. “We’re really happy for all the students, they’ve been excited to get back to playing sports and having live events on campus,” Watson said.
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind offers unique sports opportunities for students.
They say this allows them to express themselves and learn new skills along the way.
“It gives them the opportunity to play basketball as an organized sport. It develops their sportsmanship, their character, their patience, their ability to work together as a team, their respect for others,” Watson said.
Watson said at a public school, most of the students wouldn’t have the opportunity to be on a varsity sports team.
“Both of our coaches here are deaf so they can instruct the students; they can help them develop their skills as players and also just general skills that apply to their lives after they graduate from VSDB,” said Watson.
At VSBD, communication on the pitch comes naturally to players, coaches and opponents.
“It’s the same with any other team — instruction that helps them overcome whatever challenge or battle they’re facing and they really grow personally,” Watson said.
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