ConVal’s Unified Basketball team begins its 10th season at home Thursday against Wilton-Lyndeborough at 3:30 p.m.

Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. According to coach Kevin Carne, it was inspired by the principle of training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Teams are made up of people of similar age and ability, which is intended to make practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all.

ConVal plays in the recreational division, in which players have a limited understanding  of the rules and limited ability to dribble, pass and shoot. Only Unified student-athletes can score, and there is no guarding in the backcourt. 

A team must have at least three Unified student-athletes and no more than two Unified student partners on the floor at all times. Coaches will ensure that all participants have “meaningful involvement” based on the Special Olympics document titled “Principle of Meaningful Involvement,” and coaches meet before the game to share specific athlete needs.

Modifications include wheelchairs and walkers on the court, traveling and double dribbles being allowed, aides allowed on the court to assist an athlete, coaches being allowed to coach from the floor and modifications of the court or basket. 

Games are played with a regulation women’s basketball, and games consist of four, eight-minute quarters. If the score is tied after regulation, the teams play four-minute overtimes until a team wins.

This season’s schedule is as follows:

-- Home against Wilton-Lyndeborough, Jan. 9. 3:30 p.m.

-- At Keene, Jan. 15, 4:15 p.m.

-- Home against Souhegan, Jan. 22, 3:30 p.m.

-- Home against Alvirne, Jan. 29, 3:30 p.m.

-- At Wilton-Lyndeborough, Feb. 3, 4:15 p.m.

-- Home against Milford, Feb. 6, 1:15 p.m.

The Milford game is a school-wide assembly, which the team has held for the past few seasons.