Huntington Moves to Develop Unified Bocce Program

Huntington UFSD is once again demonstrating its commitment to Unified Sports by indicating it will initiate a bocce program now that the New York State Public High School Athletic Association has approved it as a sanctioned sport and adopted rules for the game.

NYSPHSAA will allow districts to field bocce teams during any season; fall, winter or spring. Seven Suffolk high schools have already indicated they are interested in creating their own varsity teams.

Unified Sports features Special Olympians paired with general education students who serve as teammates and assistants on the co-ed rosters. Huntington already fields Unified bowling and basketball teams.

Huntington has been planning for a Unified bocce program for nearly a year. The district intends to build two bocce courts adjacent to the high school gym below the tennis courts. District personnel and equipment will used to build the courts in the most cost conscious way possible.

The courts will be used by high school physical education classes as well as the Unified bocce program. Officials said this will be a developmental year. The athletic department will acquire the necessary items needed to play the sport. Intramurals are planned to introduce the sport to students. Physical education teacher Lauren Blackburn will take the lead.

Huntington athletic officials have already held discussions with their counterparts at Harborfields and Walt Whitman about eventually holding “extramurals” among the three high schools to give the Unified bocce teams a taste of competition. As interest in the sport spreads and additional high schools develop programs, Section XI will schedule official games between schools.

In the meantime a program of intramurals and extramurals will be created and students will be taught how to play the game along with strategies necessary to be successful.

Walt Whitman already has a bocce court located at the district office. All three districts have been steadfast in their commitment to Unified Sports.

Huntington High School physical education students enrolled in Unified PE and Lifetime/Individual Sports will also use the bocce courts once they are built. A bocce unit will be added to the curriculum of both courses.

Huntington School Board members and district executives have enthusiastically supported development of the Blue Devil Unified Sports program and creating more opportunities for all students.