Flourishing has a Favorite Sport...Unified Basketball.

I’ve spent much of my life in and around sports, whether playing as a kid or now supporting my kids, friends, and community on the sidelines. From baseball and volleyball to soccer, basketball, tennis, football, and more soccer, sports have been a big part of my life outside of work. I appreciate what sports and athletics offer to help participants and everyone involved grow and learn.

After very little deliberation, I’m convinced Flourishing has a favorite sport, Unified Basketball.

Unified Sports, if you are not familiar, is officially described as:

“Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.” (Special Olympics of Michigan)

I have had a chance to follow the GRC Unified Basketball team this season. My son, Max, is a member of the team.

It’s clear to me that everything that we are working toward to advance human flourishing in leaders, teams, and organizations is embodied in Unified Sports.

Unified Basketball is the G.O.A.T.

If you’ve never had a chance to see a Unified Basketball game, let’s paint a picture of the typical game. The games usually happen before or after a boy's or girl's high school basketball game to create an energized crowd and atmosphere. Athletes, the students who identify as having an intellectual disability, are the only players allowed to score or defend. Partner players are focused on rebounds, dribbling, and assisting the athletes.

The enthusiastic athletes are introduced, and the crowd cheers for both teams. Special shoutout to Northpointe and the laser light show, smoke machine, and announcing at their game. As the game proceeds, athletes and partners go back and forth with huge three-point attempts and makes, crafty moves for layups, occasional steals, and great teamwork.

The teamwork and collaboration on a Unified Basketball team is amazing. You have 3-point specialists who love to shoot from long-distance, veteran leaders who are always there to encourage, short-range specialists who rarely miss, and versatile players who do a little bit of everything.

After every game, win or lose, both teams join together and celebrate another chance to play a sport they love and the joy of being on the court with their friends.

So, what does Unified Basketball have to do with human flourishing?

Well, in short, everything.

Human Flourishing is built upon cultivating positive emotions, increasing engagement, strengthening relationships, clarifying meaning and purpose, and accomplishing measurable success. All of these elements are evident when you explore the impact of Unified Basketball.

Unified sparks Positive Emotions

Spending a night in the stands of a Unified Basketball game will spark joy, gratitude, kindness, and appreciation for the people around you and the community that surrounds the athletes and partners. I bet you can’t leave a game without some positivity in your life.

Unified is Engaging for All

The entire gym is glued to what’s happening in a Unified Basketball game. It’s not boring. The amazing talents of the athletes and their enthusiasm and courage engage everyone. The coaches, athletes, partners, and fans are all there for the same reason.

Unified Strengthens Relationships

As the Unified Sports mantra suggests, Unified is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Unified (no pun intended) brings people together in a unique way at a time when our world is seeking to systematically pull people apart.

Unified is Driven by Meaning and Purpose

Unified embodies a greater purpose than just sports or basketball. The sport is only the medium to form deeper connections, elevate a group of students that may be too often overlooked, and bring a community together in a powerful way.

Unified produces Measurable Accomplishments

The growth and accomplishments of the athletes in Unified Basketball are incredible. Each athlete is growing game by game to get better, take the next courageous step, or break through a personal barrier. I witnessed one athlete start the season spending the entire game on the sideline with a trusted partner only to end the season by making a basket on their own! What an accomplishment.

Flourishing Outside of Work

Here are a few questions that may spark your flourishing outside of work.

• Outside of your work, what’s happening in your life that is fostering flourishing in this season?
• What’s sparking your positive emotions, capturing your imagination, or strengthening your relationships?
• What’s been meaningful that has given you a deeper purpose?
• What’s something you’ve accomplished lately that makes you proud?

I have gained so much being around the Unified Basketball team this year. A special thanks to Coaches Tim Muller and Steve Slotsema for investing in the program, Kelli Damstra for managing the team and the great photos, and Jason Heerema for advocating for Unified in Michigan. You are all making a difference and cultivating flourishing through Unified Basketball.

Also, a special shout out to organizations like David's House Ministries , Be Cafe , All Belong , Special Olympics , and Beyond26 which are elevating the value and immense contributions of our community members with unique talents and needs.

With Gratitude,

Matt Visser

Matt Visser serves as a?Senior Design Partner?with Design Group International. Matt’s greatest joy is empowering you as an adaptive leader to tackle your most difficult problems and help you build?flourishing leadership, teams, and organizational ecosystems. Matt has invested over 20 years in growing nonprofit organizations focused on leadership development, community engagement, fundraising, and innovation.

Design Group International is a group of consultants who have chosen to be part of a community that is committed to the craft of Process Consulting. Process Consulting is our shared foundation, approach, and framework. Our values of listening, helping, and learning help us fulfill our mission to help leaders and their organizations transform for a vibrant future.

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