Aspen DeField takes a lifetime of sports lessons and applies them to Special Olympics

Imagine that at a young age you are playing a team sport with your classmates. So young that the attention span may be short, but building relationships keeps you addicted. For many kids, this is the first time they experience wins and losses, and often this is exactly what sparks a lifelong love of sports. Aspen DeField started playing soccer at the age of five, but when she was 10, she found a sport she would play for the rest of her childhood. Like anything a child chooses to be a part of, I learned a lot more than just playing soccer. Lessons such as how to win and lose with grace, resilience, and the power of teamwork and support.

But above all, she says it was “just fun and we really liked each other.”

She experienced the same thing in college with teammates who she still considers her best friends. She will soon see how important strength sports are in bringing people together as a college student at New Mexico State University. During her sports psychology class, her professor had each student gain knowledge across a variety of sports settings, including Special Olympics. “I knew from my first day (as a volunteer) that I wanted to have Special Olympics in my life and I continued to volunteer for several years in multiple states,” DeField says of her introduction to inclusion. She officially became a trainer in 2007 after moving to Colorado to train in recreational therapy.

Training Special Olympics athletes Unified partners In 14 different sports, DeField competed in three Special Olympics World GamesIncluding 2017 in Austria, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, and 2023 in Germany. She also attended the 2022 Pan American Games in Orlando. She will be the head figure skating coach Special Olympics USA At the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin.

“I participated in the Special Olympics World Games as a coach in 2017 and 2019, as sports director for the canceled Russian Games and sports director for the Berlin 2023 Olympics,” says Defeld. “I have also been selected as Sports Director for the upcoming Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin. I firmly believe that the more engaged and informed I am, the more the athletes I support will benefit.”

“Aspen has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and profound impact on both athletes and the community,” said Dennis Holstrom, director of coach and volunteer development at Special Olympics ColoradoHe says.

What truly sets Aspen apart is the depth of the relationships she forms with her athletes, partners, fellow coaches, and Special Olympics team members. Her mentorship extends beyond the sporting arena, as she embodies essential leadership qualities and positively influences those she mentors. Individuals under Aspen’s tutelage not only excel in their sports, but also develop invaluable life skills that set them apart from others.

Aspen’s commitment to its teams is unparalleled. She constantly exceeds expectations, being the first to arrive at events and the last to leave. Their unwavering support, coupled with a focus on inclusivity, creates an encouraging environment that fosters success.

DeField was a 2019 Special Olympics Colorado Hall of Fame inductee, but, as always, her focus remains on the accomplishments of those she coaches.

“I love the opportunities, advocacy, support and magic that Special Olympics provides,” she says. “I have seen athletes flourish in everything from newfound abilities and accomplishments in practice, to trips around the world and public self-advocacy. Special Olympics opens its doors to all corners of the world People with intellectual disabilities It provides safe and supported ways to try it.

While she coaches nearly every sport Special Olympics Colorado has to offer, she knows where her heart lies, saying during part of her interview, “It’s not fair to compare anything to my lifelong love of soccer“, because she knows it’s one of her favorite things Snowshoeing Close second.

This love of coaching and decades-long commitment earned DeField recognition among her peers as a SONA Outstanding Coach-Community Award recipient, an honor that continues to excite her.

“I have great respect for the other professionals I work with at Special Olympics, and for the athletes who work hard to be fierce competitors,” says DeField. “The best part of this recognition is knowing that someone I have worked closely with reciprocates that respect and appreciation. I am surrounded by the best colleagues, coaches, and volunteers, and I am often amazed at how well they do their jobs. This recognition drives me to work harder just to feel worthy of being around them!” We all make each other better.”

Defield knows her work is making a difference, and she loves the overall direction of the movement. “I love the direction Special Olympics is taking in engaging with young athletes and creating truly inclusive environments,” she says.

Defield had a passion for soccer at an early age, and she developed that deep connection into something more: promoting inclusion through sport with Special Olympics. Whether intentional or not, for her, Special Olympics is a way to continue playing sports even after competitive sports are over, encouraging the next generation of sports fans.