Every person should have the chance to play sports and participate in leisure activities. Competing on a baseball team or reeling in a redfish are experiences we should all have. Mississippi Gulf Coast Buddy Sports is making sure all those opportunities are available to everyone.
This volunteer-run nonprofit has provided free sports and leisure opportunities for people with special needs since 2010. What started as a Buddy Ball baseball program has blossomed into an organization offering activities, from kickball and fishing to horseback riding and art classes.
“We do this so every child and adult can have a similar opportunity to participate in sports and leisure activities like their siblings and neighbors do,” explained Mike Crawford, program president and parent of a special needs child. “Individuals with special needs want to get out and see their friends and participate in the community just like everybody else, they just have a more difficult time in doing so. We strive to help make that happen.”
Growing on the Gulf Coast
Buddy Sports has grown from just 20 players and a dozen volunteers to serving over 250 families and 350 volunteers. Its offerings have expanded beyond baseball to include kickball, fishing, horseback riding, painting classes, and even a sensory-friendly Santa experience.
“Parents just want to find something for their kids to do, and we’re able to provide that for them. For individuals with special needs, just having the option to participate in a variety of sports or leisure activities is something most communities do not have,” Crawford said. “Our players often become best friends with each other, and they look forward to attending our programs to see all their friends again.”
Community and Business Support
The community has rallied behind Buddy Sports, with businesses, civic groups, and military organizations providing steady financial and volunteer support. The program has also developed partnerships with groups across the Coast, providing unique experiences like tickets to Biloxi Shuckers games and cruises to Ship Island.
“We absolutely could not do what we do without the support of our community,” Crawford emphasizes. “We have so many great sponsors, businesses and individuals that have been with us for years. And our hundreds of volunteers are the backbone of the program.”
Planning Even More
Their long-term goal is to have their own sports facility, with fields and a building for meetings and additional programming.
Crawford and his team are also looking to add new sports like bowling, basketball and flag football. But the core mission will remain the same: providing opportunities for people with special needs to participate, make friends and feel included in their community.
“For these individuals, just having the option to be active and social is something most communities don’t offer,” Crawford said. “That’s what keeps us motivated and passionate about this work– seeing the joy and fulfillment it brings to our players and their families.”
At Mississippi Gulf Coast Buddy Sports, the fields, lakes, and courts are more than just places to play – they’re places where everyone belongs. Thanks to the support of countless volunteers and local businesses, Buddy Sports is proving that when a community rallies around inclusion, there’s room for everyone.
