Management of sport to improve the performance and status of the wellbeing of people with disabilities

The goal of the research project, which is also the subject of this paper, is twofold. It aims to demonstrate that through the appropriate management of a sports program, specifically of water polo, it is possible to achieve both an increase in the sports performance by a group of disabled athletes, and an increase in their health and well-being level. The 10 athletes were subjected to a series of trainings, planned and performed by staff specialized in water polo and in the management of individuals with disabilities, for a period of 8 months, and have performed two series of assessments at the beginning and at the end of such period of sports activity. Improvements both in terms of the sports skills and in terms of the level of psycho-physical well-being of all individuals with disabilities who took part in this project were recorded. This proved that sports activity, if managed efficiently, can provide benefits on the athletic performance and on quality of life for persons with disabilities.