Charles Fleischer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Williams Field for AZPreps365.com

Ten years ago, Lori Larson retired from coaching cross country and track and field at Williams Field High School in Gilbert. A short time later, Alan Fields, the district's athletic director and a parent of children with special needs, approached Larson about starting a unified sports program.

She accepted, and the rest is history. 

Now, Williams Field is one of only five public high schools in Arizona offering a unified soccer team, bringing together student-athletes with intellectual disabilities and student volunteers known as partners.

Arizona ranks among the nation's leading states for organized unified sports participation through the Special Olympics Unified Sports Program. Larson’s program focuses on more than just playing soccer and other sports. It is mostly about inclusion, teamwork and building relationships both on and off the field.

"I have learned so much," Larson said. "I'm an old coach, and I still like to learn new things. This has been a nice new challenge for me to learn, and I want to continue to grow this. I would love to get more partners involved, and what's interesting is that some of the kids may not have the most confidence in themselves, but they actually might be really talented. They just don't know it."

Unified soccer in the East Valley is played in a five-on-five format featuring a goalkeeper, four eight-minute quarters and a 40-yard field. Partners wear odd-numbered jerseys and are not permitted to score, while athletes wear even numbers and are the only players eligible to score.

Larson started the program with three athletes. While this year's roster consists of 12 players, the team had 28 members a season ago before graduating a large senior class. Her focus now is rebuilding participation and attracting both athletes and partners.

Finding partners can be difficult because many students are committed to other sports during their respective seasons. Football, volleyball, and other athletes across other sports often help when their schedules allow, causing the partner roster to fluctuate throughout the year.

Despite those challenges, Larson said the program's greatest strength is the friendships it creates. Support from students, families and the community extends beyond soccer to unified flag football and basketball programs as well.

"There are people that could be doing other things, but they are out here supporting them," said Matt Mortenson, whose son Andrew is a sophomore on the team. "The athletes can't do this by themselves. It takes a lot of support from families, coaches and the school, so we love the support."

Sophomore partner Dominic Reddy said the program has helped him connect with others while making a difference.

"It's a really great community, and it's been really nice to meet new people," Reddy said. "I'm not that great at any of the actual sports, so when I saw this opportunity to help out, I took it, and I've loved it."

Larson said her players are often the first students to volunteer for tasks such as cleaning up after games or helping others around campus. While the team has enjoyed success on the field, she emphasizes that winning is secondary to teamwork, communication and having fun.

"They're very well-mannered, super kind and helpful," Larson said. "They're always the first to do the little things."

For many athletes, participation provides opportunities they may not have found elsewhere.

"I could never really play actual sports with my disability, but then my coach suggested I join the unified team," said Lucy Leon, a junior at Williams Field. "I tried it, and ended up loving it. Everyone is super nice and accommodating, and we just click so well. Coach Larson is a great role model and really encourages everyone to do their best. For me, it builds a lot of confidence."

Leon plans to continue playing throughout high school and hopes to pursue a career in computer programming.

Senior Brooke Rabe said the experience has pushed her out of her comfort zone while helping her feel more connected to the school community.

"There are so many opportunities you can get while doing this," Rabe said. "I feel like it's very important to be diverse and have inclusion out there. Sometimes people can be lonely, and I feel like people need friends, so being able to connect with these people has impacted me so much way beyond the playing field."

Larson said the inclusive culture of Williams Field has helped athletes feel comfortable trying new things and gaining confidence.

"Our school has incredibly nice children," Larson said. "They're very tolerant and accepting, and it shows on my team how comfortable they are. They feel comfortable going for goals and trying new things while never feeling left out."

The program has also experienced competitive success. In Arizona Interscholastic Association unified competitions, where some formats allow partners to score, Larson's teams have won championships in the past. Last year's larger roster gave Williams Field the opportunity to compete under those rules.

As the unified soccer program celebrates its 10th anniversary this year alongside Williams Field's 20th anniversary, Larson is considering organizing an alumni game to honor the program's growth and the relationships it has created over the past decade.