When I first read about what happened at the Wright Brothers Basketball games, I felt terrible. I have seen kids get left out in school sports before, and it hits differently because you can tell they want to fit in, but something holds them back. This story is similar.
A mother named Keshia Lee said she could no longer hold back her feelings after watching her autistic son stay apart from the rest of his team. Not just him, but another boy too. Everyone else gathered during huddles to talk about the following plays. These two kids were told to stand on the side as if they weren’t part of the same group. I remember once playing a friendly match at school and forgetting a move during practice. My coach still kept me in the huddle because even if I was not playing well, I was still part of the team. Seeing this happen to kids who already learn differently feels unfair.
She said this wasn’t just one match. It happened again in the next game. The boys didn’t get a chance to enter the court. They weren’t even allowed to sit with the team during discussions. It became so evident that even the person keeping score asked why they were omitted and called them over to join the rest.
When she asked the coach why this was happening, she said he told her that her son stays quiet during practice. She explained that her son is autistic and understands things differently. She also told him that if he didn’t have the patience to teach kids like her son, he shouldn’t have taken him on the team in the first place. Her son is good in his own way and doesn’t use his diagnosis as an excuse, but the coach still needed to know how to guide him rather than push him out.
This was the boy’s first time joining any sport. Instead of building confidence, he ended up feeling unwanted. If that had happened to me during my first school match, I think I would have stopped playing altogether. Kids remember these moments for a long time.
After she posted about it online, many community members responded. A lot of them agreed that kids’ sports should teach teamwork and support. It is not some big world competition. It’s about learning together and growing. One person said that children should learn values like being part of a group and helping each other, not sitting out as if they are invisible.
Some people suggested good coaches who treat young players well. They recommended places like The Flyght Academy and other trainers who know how to teach kids step by step. She wants someone who will help her son feel confident and learn the game gradually.
In the end, she wrote something simple. She asked if anyone could help her son learn basketball. I truly hope she finds someone who treats her son like he belongs. Every kid should feel like part of the team, no matter how they learn or how new they are. You may also be interested in: Coach Dispute at Richwood High Football Game Leads to Knife Threat and Arrests
