Atlanta, GA,
07
November
2019
|
15:23 PM
America/New_York

Shepherd Smash Athlete Noah Smith Talks Expecting the Unexpected in Quad Rugby

More than just a Shepherd Center activity, Shepherd Smash are the 2018 Division II National Champions and boast players with U.S. National team experience.

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., the Livingston Gym at Shepherd Center, which was just moments before quiet and calm after a day full of therapy, comes alive again as practice begins. The sounds are loud, the gym gets hot and the athletes are strong. Even stronger are the friendships they form as members of the Shepherd Smash, Shepherd Center’s quad rugby team.

The Shepherd Smash is just one of 12 athletic teams that are part of the Fred, Shaler and Andrew Alias Sports Teams program at Shepherd Center, a donor-funded program that enables individuals with physical disabilities to participate in sports on a recreational or competitive level.

Noah Smith, 20, plays offense in his second year on the Shepherd Smash, two years after coming to Shepherd Center for rehabilitation after sustaining a C6-C7 spinal cord on a trampoline.

“Expect the unexpected,” is how Noah explains quad rugby tournaments, one of which is hosted annually at Shepherd Center. “You’ll see people slamming into each other and chairs tipping over, but there’s also a fluidity to it. It’s quite calculating.”

Watching quad rugby is nothing less than fascinating, and you don’t need to be a sports fan to become engrossed in the constant action. Similar to traditional rugby, the game is a mix of passing, dribbling and crossing the goal line. It’s fast-paced and hard-hitting, with intricate offensive moves and jarring defensive hits. Players use customized wheelchairs, with cambered wheels and hardware designed for offensive or defensive players. One glance at them makes the meaning of “full-contact sport” apparent. For the many adventurous, risk-taking athletes associated with Shepherd Center, it’s a chance to engage in the camaraderie, athletic exertion and competitiveness they’ve always enjoyed.

Shepherd Smash coach and physical therapist Sarah Leonard, PT, DPT, explains the fundamentals of quad rugby, which is played internationally.

“Each athlete on the team has some impairment in all four limbs,” Leonard explains. “All team members are evaluated by experts who classify them based on their abilities, assigning a point value from .5 (greatest disability) to 3.5 (least disability that still qualifies for the sport). The game is then played with four players on each team, with a maximum value of 8.0 points allowed. As the coach, it's my job to place each athlete in a role that best supports the team and maximizes his or her ability.”

When Noah joined the team over a year ago, he approached the members with a great deal of earned respect. More than just a Shepherd Center activity, Shepherd Smash is the 2018 Division II National Champion and boasts players with U.S. National team experience. As the youngest player and the most recently injured athlete, he knew he had a lot to learn.

“The team welcomed me so warmly,” Noah recalls. “When I was an inpatient, (coach) Sarah Leonard invited me to join, and (team members) Zach and Talbot invited me, too. A year later, when I came back to Shepherd, they invited me again.”

This time, Noah took a chance.

As a second-year veteran, Noah’s goals include becoming faster on the court. He’d also like to improve his knowledge of the game.

“He has a great deal of athletic ability,” Leonard observes. “He’s making lots of progress.”

The team practices twice each week, which Noah fits into his schedule as a sophomore communications major at Kennesaw State University. To learn more about the Fred, Shaler and Andrew Alias Sports Teams program at Shepherd Center, visit shepherd.org/sports. To make a gift, contact Courtney Harris at 404-350-3717 or courtney.harris@shepherd.org.

Written by Pamela Evans

About Shepherd Center

Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.