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The athletic director for Albert Lea Area Schools on Monday highlighted an opportunity for the district to offer its first adapted sports for students at the high school level.

Dave Langerud said he has always been passionate about adapted sports and started adapted programming at his prior district in St. Cloud.

The Minnesota State High School League currently offers four different adapted programs: soccer, floor hockey, softball and bowling.

Langerud said he is proposing the district start with floor hockey, which is played in the winter and needs just seven to 10 students to have a team.

The floor hockey would be an inclusive variation of traditional floor hockey that is played in the gym with modified equipment and rules to accommodate diverse abilities. The focus of the program would be participation, teamwork and skill development.

Benefits to the participants would include not only physical fitness, but also social interaction and boosting self-confidence and school engagement. He said it would align with the district’s commitment to inclusive education.

To start the program, the district would need to purchase equipment, including lightweight, soft-edge sticks and pucks, protective gear where needed. It would also need to train staff who would participate and develop clear safety protocols.

Estimated start-up costs are $16,000 to $25,000, though there are opportunities for cost-sharing or funding through community scholarships, cooperative agreements with surrounding schools and grants for adapted athletics.

To be able to participate, students have to meet certain IQ criteria, according to MSHSL guidelines.

MSHSL-sanctioned adapted floor hockey offers two divisions, one for cognitively impaired students and another for physically impaired students.

Teams are co-ed, and boys and girls play together. Teams consist of six players.

The games include three 15-minute periods, and players may use their hands, feet or sticks to move the puck. No running is allowed, and wheelchair speed is unrestricted.

Langerud said the sport is competitive with state tournaments.

He estimated they probably only need one coach, along with additional staff like paraeducators and nursing support. There are MSHSL-trained referees who oversee the games.

Langerud said he would like to pilot the program and bring back more information to the school board for consideration. He would also like to start surveying parents.

Sheila Riebe, executive director of student services for the district, said she thought the program would be an amazing opportunity for students and said she would partner with Langerud however she could.

School board Chairman Dave Klatt thanked Langerud for beginning to look into the option.

Board member Mary Jo Dorman said she thought it would fit in well with the same mission of the new inclusive playground that has opened in the city.