A great initiative run by 4lifeskills saw 80 people, who live with a disability and their support workers, compete in the Cornhole Grand Final on Tuesday, June 1 at John Dunn Memorial Reserve.
Cornhole is a game where players toss beanbags towards a slanted wooden board, aiming to land the beanbag on the board for one point or through a whole in the centre of the board worth three points.
Whilst not popular in Australia, Cornhole is a beloved sport in America with leagues at both the professional and collegiate level.
Disability support provider 4lifeskills partnered with the Kelmscott Football Club to increase the options for people with a disability to experience inclusive team-based sports.
Chief Executive of 4lifeskills Darren Munday told Examiner Newspapers that Cornhole provides a perfect opportunity for people of all skill levels to experience a team-based sport.
“Often people with a disability miss out on the experience of team sports due to physical nature of some sports, or the complexity of rules and regulations.
“Cornhole provides a perfect opportunity for people of all skill levels to experience a competitive team sport in a fun and challenging environment.”
The Cornhole games also allowed students from the North Metropolitan TAFE sports development program to help coach and officiate the league over the past few months.
North Metropolitan Tafe Lecturer Sue Smith said the students have learnt valuable skills through the Cornhole games.
“We like to do stuff out in the community because you can’t really replicate what we’re doing here in a classroom,” she said.
“This is our first semester we’ve had Cornholes and it’s been really good, we always try to do something with people in the community.”
Tafe student Charles Wackett said he has enjoyed the hands-on experience.
“We’ve been doing this for the last four or five weeks, so we’ve been coming down and helping out,” he said.
“It’s really helpful if you want to move into disability in the future, this experience is really valuable.”
Member for Armadale and Minister for Sport and Recreation Tony Buti opened the ceremony.
“I was extremely pleased to officially open the 4lifeskills Cornhole League Grand Final and Integrated AFL Expo and Try session this morning, hosted by the Kelmscott Bulldogs Football Club,” he said.
“Cornhole is a wonderful all abilities sport and all participants looked pumped for a big day of competition.
“I encourage anyone with a disability or their families to contact the club or 4lifeskills if they’re interested in giving Cornhole or Integrated AFL a try.”
Forty teams were trimmed down to two grand finalists over the day with 4lifeskills client Brad and support worker Valama outlasting all others to be named the Inaugural 4lifeskills Cornhole League winners.
Cornhole will also feature at the Kelmscott Bulldogs All Abilities wind up event to be held after their last home game on Saturday, July 17.
