The Palmyra Midget Football Association’s eighth-grade recognition game wasn’t just any game for Sincere Godfrey, a member of the team with autism.
It was his first game fully padded up and on the field. With the help of his teammates, coaches and the Susquehanna Township Youth Football Team, he ran the ball into the endzone for a touchdown.
“I was so overwhelmed,” Godfrey’s mom Angel Coleman said. “I just felt joy and the inclusiveness from the team. They’ve just been so kind to Sincere — from the players to the coaches.”
She said he watches the video every night and brags about the touchdown to family members over the phone.
Godfrey has always loved football and got involved this year after a middle school teacher mentioned she thought he would be good on the team.
He came on board as an “honorary coach,” according to Coleman. He helps set up drills, runs some himself, and gets the players hyped up.
She called him goofy, sweet and a “ball of energy,” but Coleman said he was pretty shy before joining the team.
Now, he’s stepping outside of his comfort zone.
“I see him more and more trying to speak to greet other people when they come and give him a fist bump,” she said. “You could see a change in that before he was more to himself and now he’s open to greet and then speak to other kids.”
The other players accepted him immediately, head coach Tim Robinson said.
“We’re a family and introduced him, ‘This is a brother right here. He’s a part of this thing, not only on the field, off the field, in school, whenever you see him, this is our guy,’” he said. “Everyone on that team, with open arms, welcomed him in and it’s been love since then.”
He said he’s very proud of his players for embracing Godfrey so quickly and fully. He catches players throwing the ball back and forth with him or dancing along with him during halftime.
Godfrey is also part of the coach’s huddle when they plan the next play.
Robinson said everybody has difficulties in life and having open conversations about personal differences is the first step to bringing about change and increased inclusivity.
“Rather than being the first to talk, be the first to listen, be the one that could hear somebody’s story, be inspired by it and go out and be change,” he said. “I hope it inspires other people to really look at the big picture — it’s more than a game.”
Similarly, Coleman said she’s glad other kids on the team are getting experiences interacting with students with special needs.
“I feel that all kids should know all different walks of life and being that they get to interact with someone with special needs gives them that skill to connect with other kids, so when they come in contact with other kids that have special needs, they’re not oblivious to it,” she said.
Robinson and Coleman said they expect Godfrey to be interested in continuing on the football team into high school if there’s a space for him.
“The Cougar community has been so great,” Coleman said. “Without them, this experience wouldn’t be possible.”
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