Nine-year-old Eli Temple has spent plenty of time watching his younger brother play sports.
For Eli, getting onto the field himself has not always been so simple.
Eli was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2018 and has a brain malformation that results in weakness on his left side. He also has autism and severe hearing loss. As he has gotten older, his mother, Brittanie Jones, said safely participating in traditional youth sports has become increasingly difficult.
Watching his brother play while struggling to understand why he could not participate in the same way was difficult for Eli, too.
“He would watch his brother play sports and couldn’t comprehend why he couldn’t play these sports without getting hurt,” Jones and her best friend, Paige Miles, said in responses provided to the Roanoke Valley Reporter.
Those experiences helped inspire the two Roanoke Rapids mothers to create something they say has been missing from the area: a place where children like Eli can experience being part of a team in an environment designed to meet them where they are.
The result is the new Roanoke Valley Adaptive Sports League, which will begin its inaugural baseball season Oct. 3 in partnership with Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation.
“Our main thing is kids shouldn’t have to watch from the sideline simply because a traditional league wasn’t built for them,” Jones and Miles said.
From an idea to a league
Jones and Miles are best friends whose connection grew through their children participating in Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation sports.
Miles is the mother of Dawson, 6, and Savannah, 4. Jones has three children — 6-year-old twins Miles and Amelia and 9-year-old Eli.
As Eli grew older, Jones said his disabilities made participating safely in traditional sports more challenging. His frustration sometimes resulted in meltdowns, and the family also encountered people who did not understand what he was experiencing.
“That’s why we want to create a safe, nonjudgmental place for kids with special needs,” Jones and Miles said.
They said there were no comparable programs in the immediate area, with the nearest opportunity approximately 45 minutes away.
The idea began gaining momentum when they posted about it on Facebook.
“We had many parents reach out wanting their child to have a safe space to play sports,” they said.
With that interest established, Jones contacted Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation about forming a partnership.
Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Daughtry said the department held an initial meeting with Jones and Miles several weeks ago to discuss what an adaptive league could look like and how the city could help make it happen.
“We were very excited and interested in getting this program off the ground,” Daughtry said.
Jones and Miles worked on creating the league’s logo and developing community support while Parks and Recreation began working through the logistics, including waivers, registration, locations and finding a nonprofit organization to host the program.
The Roanoke Rapids Recreation Alliance agreed to serve as the league’s nonprofit host during its first year, providing administrative and financial support.
According to Daughtry, the Alliance will hold the insurance required for the league and receive and distribute donations and registration fees to cover league expenses. Parks and Recreation will collect registrations through its RecDesk system and provide facilities for the sports.
The long-term goal is for the Roanoke Valley Adaptive Sports League to become an independent nonprofit sports league similar to other youth sports leagues in the area.
Making the game fit the child
The league is open to co-ed participants ages 5 through 13.
Organizers said participation is not limited to children with a particular diagnosis. It is intended for children with disabilities as well as children who benefit from modified rules, additional assistance or an inclusive sports environment, including those needing extra behavioral, sensory or communication support.
The goal is to adapt the game to the athlete rather than expect every athlete to fit into a traditional sports format.
For baseball, sensory equipment and softer sports equipment will be available. There will be no outs, and every child will have an opportunity to bat.
Organizers also hope to pair every athlete with a volunteer “buddy” who can provide one-on-one support throughout the game.
Volunteers do not necessarily need previous experience working with children with disabilities or adaptive sports. Jones and Miles said experienced volunteers will be available to provide guidance, though they are particularly looking for people who are patient and understanding.
The first baseball season begins Oct. 3 and will run for four Saturdays, with games from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the T.J. Davis Recreation Complex.
Baseball and soccer activities will be held on Doyle Field, while basketball will be played inside the recreation center.
Baseball is only the beginning.
Plans call for basketball during the winter and soccer in the spring. Organizers hope the program can eventually grow to include additional sports and activities based partly on what families in the community want.
Their longer-term vision includes designated swimming days, family fun days, fall festivals and other opportunities that extend beyond organized games.
“We want it to be very successful and be a place where the kids can always feel like they have a place and are understood,” Jones and Miles said.
Building something for the Roanoke Valley
Daughtry said that, to her knowledge, this is the first organized adaptive sports league offered to youth in the community.
Parks and Recreation already provides some recreational opportunities for adult day groups serving adults with disabilities within Roanoke Rapids. Those groups can use the T.J. Davis Recreation Center during designated non-peak hours, and the department organizes an annual basketball game between participants and Parks and Recreation staff as well as an Easter egg hunt.
But there has not been a comparable organized sports league for children.
“This league will provide opportunities to children with disabilities in the Roanoke Valley that may not otherwise have opportunities to be a part of a team,” Daughtry said. “This will provide additional socialization for these youth as well as for their parents to see their children have additional opportunities to flourish.”
Jones and Miles intentionally want the new league to reach beyond Roanoke Rapids because similar recreational resources are limited throughout the Roanoke Valley and surrounding counties.
Since announcing the program, they said they have heard from several families who have been waiting for an opportunity like it.
“The conversations have been meaningful, and they are very appreciative of us starting this league,” they said.
Community support needed
Registration for the inaugural baseball season is $10 per athlete and remains open through Oct. 2.
Organizers said they will assess individual equipment needs, and support from local sponsors can be used to help families when equipment assistance is needed.
Sponsorships and donations will also help cover sports equipment, shirts, insurance, snacks and drinks.
The league has already received support from several area businesses. Current sponsors include Wiltsie Woodwork & Remodel, Grace Pediatric Therapy Services, Blythe Grading and Excavating, and Wrenn Sports Graphics & Screen Printing.
Jones and Miles said they are thankful for the businesses that have stepped forward to support the new program and that contributions of any amount are appreciated as they continue building the league.
Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in becoming sponsors can email rvadaptivesports@gmail.com, contact the league through its Roanoke Valley Adaptive Sports League Facebook page, or leave a donation for the league at the Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation front desk.
Organizers said community members can also help simply by sharing information about the league so families who may benefit from it know the opportunity exists.
For Jones and Miles, however, the measure of success will be about much more than how many games are played.
Asked what they most hope children take away from participating, their answer was simple: confidence.
“We want them to always feel valued, welcomed and loved,” they said.
Daughtry said that mission is also at the heart of the city’s decision to support the program.
“We want every family in our community to know that recreation truly belongs to everyone,” Daughtry said. “Partnering with the Adaptive Sports League isn’t just about adding new programs to our calendar — it’s about removing barriers, building lasting confidence, and ensuring that every child has the chance to play, grow, and belong right alongside their peers.”
And for parents who have wondered whether their own child could participate, Jones and Miles want them to know the league will work to make that possible.
“We would want them to know that their child is accepted,” they said. “We want them to come out and participate to see if this is a fit for them. We will get whatever equipment is needed to make this a success for their child.”
Because the idea that started with Eli is ultimately a simple one:
“Kids shouldn’t have to watch from the sideline simply because a traditional league wasn’t built for them.”
Registration and contact information
Baseball registration is open through Oct. 2, with the first games beginning Oct. 3. The league is co-ed and open to ages 5-13. Registration costs $10.
Athlete registration is available through Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation’s RecDesk system.
The league is also accepting volunteers to serve as buddies for participating athletes. Volunteers can register by filling out the form here.
For sponsorship information, email rvadaptivesports@gmail.com or contact the Roanoke Valley Adaptive Sports League through Facebook.
For additional league information, contact Paige Miles at 919-302-7801 or Brittanie Jones at 252-538-1263.
