ATLANTA (WTVM) -
Parents in the Atlanta area are starting up something they say is much needed in their community.
It's a baseball league for children with what they call mild challenges, such as Attention Deficit Disorder or Dyslexia.
Ten-year-old Jackson Wickley is getting ready for his first baseball season.
Jackson has ADHD and some speech delays, so his doctors have discouraged him from playing team sports. He's watched his two younger brothers play with dad as their coach.
"It's important for any kid to play sports as they're growing up, and I've always hated the fact that there wasn't a forum for Jackson to play," said Adam Wickley, Jackson's father.
Adam is director of Murphy-Candler's new frontier league. It's designed for kids he describes as having mild life challenges like ADD, ADHD and Dyslexia.
"It finally occurred to us: why don't we create a league for him here at Murphy-Candler, where we're already family, for kids like Jackson?" Adam said. "That's what we've done."
This season, dad will get to coach Jackson.
"I want our team to win, but that's mostly not what we're thinking about," Jackson said. "We're mostly about having fun with others and meeting others and having fun."
Registration started two weeks ago and, already, two of the four teams are filled.
"We'll spend a lot of time on fundamentals and real play," Adam said. "But, at the same time, we'll make it a lot of fun with low stress."
Games will begin next month. Kids from any county are welcome to participate.
For more information, you can check out the official Murphey Candler baseball website.
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