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Fitness & Athletics

River City Buddy Ball and other Individualized Sports

In conjunction with VCU's Department of Kinesiology

and Health Sciences

Athletics

River City Buddy Ball 

River City Buddy Ball (RCBB) provides full season athletics in an inclusive setting where participants with intellectual, developmental, physical, and/or complex disabilities are able to play alongside volunteers, or as we call them, “buddies.” Because our sports are non-competitive and supportive of unique abilities, our athletes are able to gain confidence, learn new skills, and form lasting friendships.​​

Individualized Sports

Jacob's Chance offers adaptive classes and clinics designed for individuals of all ages with intellectual, developmental, physical, and/or complex disabilities. Through these programs, we provide an inclusive and supportive environment where participants can learn new skills, build confidence, and form lasting friendships all while staying active. While we do provide volunteers to assist during clinics, one-to-one buddy support for each participant is not guaranteed as part of these programs. 

With a focus on adapting the sport to the athlete, anyone can play. We encourage parents who are unsure if their child can participate, to bring them out!

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If you're interested in being placed on a waitlist for a program that's full, feel free to contact us at programs@jacobschance.org to be placed on the list!

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Upcoming Sports:

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Soccer Season  |  4/11 - 5/23 

Kickball Clinic with DMC  |  4/19

Pass the Hat Baseball Clinic  |  4/25

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RCBB Registrations

Basketball Season

*Registration open through December 17th, or until at capacity

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Get ready to kick off an exciting 7-week season of basketball! Each week we will work on skills and drills, and then play games! Beginners and experienced friends of ALL abilities are welcome!

 

Returning in 2026 is the Jacob's Chance competitive basketball time slot! Each week we will work on skills and drills, and then play games! Friends in this time slot can expect a faster-paced game than our typical non-competitive sports, including score keepers and stricter game play. The competitive league will also have weeknight practices!

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We ask that friends register for one time slot only.

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Non-competitive Leagues

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Location: St. Christopher's School - Lower Gymnasiums
(699 Pepper Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226)

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Dates: Saturdays, January 10th - February 21st (7 weeks)

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Times:

9:30-10:30am (ages 5-16) FULL!
10:45-11:45am (ages 17-40)​ FULL!

 Stick around to cheer on our competitive league during their game time 12:00-1:00pm!

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Ages: 5-40

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Cost:  $50​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

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​Competitive League

Practices:​

Location: Flo and Tony Guzman Community Center at the Faison School
(5200 Fitzhugh Ave, Richmond, VA 23230)

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Dates: Wednesdays, January 7th - February 18th (7 weeks)

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Time: 6:30-7:30pm

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Games:​

Location: St. Christopher's School - Lower Gymnasiums
(699 Pepper Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226)

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Dates: Saturdays, January 10th - February 21st (7 weeks)

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Time: 12:00-1:00pm

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Ages: 17-40

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Cost:  $75​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

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Bowling Season

*Registration open through February 25th, or until at capacity

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Join us for an exciting 5 weeks of bowling at Bowl America Short Pump! Join your friends each Tuesday for 2 hours of strikes, spares, and good times. Beginners and experienced friends of ALL abilities are welcome!

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Location: Bowl America Short Pump

(4400 Pouncey Tract Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060)

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Dates: Tuesdays, March 3rd - March 31st (5 weeks)​​​

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Time: 6:00-8:00pm

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Ages: 5-40

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Cost:  $80​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

Individualized Sports Registrations

Taekwondo
With Taekwon Park

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*Registration open through January 4th, or until at capacity

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Our Taekwondo program has been so popular that we're excited to offer a week-day adaptive taekwondo class in Midlothian through TaekwonPark! Join us for our first session with the awesome Master Park! Participants of all ages and abilities welcome to join. This private class will be exclusive to those signed up through Jacob's Chance. Through these classes, participants will build skills in confidence, self-discipline, focus, respect, safety, and leadership while staying active and gaining strength.

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New and returning friends welcome

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Location:  Taekwon Park Martial Arts
(13987 Raised Antler Cir, Midlothian, VA 23112)

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Dates: 

Thursdays, January 8th - February 26th (8 weeks)

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Time:

4:20-4:50pm

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Ages: 5-40

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Cost:  $165 - There will be an additional $20 fee given to Master Park for each additional belt earned as your participant progresses (typically at the end of each 8 week session)​​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

Taekwondo
With K-TOP Martial Arts

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*Registration open through January 6th, or until at capacity

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Join your peers in an adaptive Taekwondo program through Jacob's Chance! Participants of all ages and abilities welcome to join. This private class will be exclusive to those signed up through Jacob's Chance. Through these classes, participants will build skills in confidence, self-discipline, focus, respect, safety, and leadership while staying active and gaining strength.

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New and returning friends welcome

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Location:  K-TOP Martial Arts 

(9050 Staples Mill Rd, Henrico, VA 23228)

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Dates: 

Saturdays, January 10th - February 28th (8 weeks)

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Times:

10-10:30am  |  beginner/intermediate class

10:35-11:05am  |  advanced class

11:10-11:40am  |  beginner/intermediate class

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Ages: 5-40

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Cost:  $165 - There will be an additional $20 fee given to Master Ko for each additional belt earned as your participant progresses (typically at the end of each 8 week session)​​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

Archery Clinics
with VA Department of Wildlife Resources

*Registration open through February 4th, or until at capacity

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Join us for an archery clinic led by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)! Beginners and experienced friends are welcome to try your hand at this classic sport!

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Location: DWR Warehouse

(7870 Villa Park Dr #400, Richmond, VA 23228)

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Dates: 

Tuesday, February 10th

Tuesday, February 17th

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We kindly ask families to only register for one date to allow other participants the opportunity to do archery with us.​​

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Time: 6:30-7:30pm

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Ages: 13-40

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Cost:  $15​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

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Mile Makers

with Sports Backers

NEW!

*Registration open through March 3rd, or until at capacity

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Get moving, make friends, and explore Richmond’s beautiful parks with us! This brand NEW 6-week program in partnership with Sports Backers invites participants ages 17-40 to run, jog, roll, or walk while building confidence, strength, and community. Each week, led by a coach from Sports Backers, brings a new park and new adventures—all leading up to a 1-mile celebration event on April 13th where we will cheer each other across the finish line! We will visit locations such as Deep Run Park, Three Lakes Park, Rockwood Park, and more! We will have a back-up indoor studio location in case of inclement weather.

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Locations: 

3/9: Deep Run Park
3/16: Huguenot Park
3/23: Bryan Park
3/30: Rockwood Park
4/6: Three Lakes Park
4/13: Byrd park - VITA Trail

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*Locations are subject to change*

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*Backup locations due to inclement weather will be in an indoor studio*"

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Dates: Mondays, March 9th - April 13th (6 weeks)​​

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Time: 5:30-6:30pm

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Ages: 17-40

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Cost:  $60​

​Partial and full financial assistance is always available 

Inclusive Fitness and Health (I.F.H.) is a Program created in 2018 by Jacob's Chance and the VCU Kinesiology and Health Science (KHS) Department's current instructor and Exercise Physiologist, Matthew Scott. Matthew Scott and the KHS department are working in conjunction with Jacobs Chance, meaning the two organizations are working together to create the best possible experience for any member! IFH is designed to generate fun fitness programs that are individualized to each member needs! On top of trying to improve fitness levels and have a fun social environment, the program also seeks to educate the importance of living a health lifestyle. This will be done within the program for each member, but will also be available for families/caretakers/friends/etc. through a series of health talks! This program will follow the successful "buddy" model that Jacob's Chance implements in all of their programs. Volunteers will be made up of current VCU KHS students who are studying how to properly implement fitness and health programs for various populations. 

Come and join the fun!

Inclusive Fitness & Health

Details

Jacob's Chance Fitness promotes overall wellness through sports, health and fitness education, and social interaction for individuals with intellectual and physical challenges. Our fitness program is designed for youth and young adults 10-40 years old.

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Check out this article written by a student journalist at VCU to get the inside scoop on this program and our partnership with VCU!

Winter 2025

Location:

St. Christopher's lower school gymnasium

(699 Pepper Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226)

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Dates:

Sundays, February 1st - April 19th (9 weeks) â€‹

*There will be no session 3/8, 3/15, & 4/5

 

Times:

3:00-4:00pm (ages 10-19)

4:15-5:15pm (ages 20-40) FULL!

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Cost:

$60​

Partial and full financial assistance always available

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Matthew C. Scott, M.S.

Instructor, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Sciences 

Program Coordinator, Exercise Science Concentration

Virginia Commonwealth University

ACSM EP-C

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