This session examines how flag rugby creates pathways to athletic participation for all students through intentional collaboration with Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Special Education professionals. The flag-first, co-taught model supports neurodivergent learners, integrates with IEP and inclusion goals, and builds genuine leadership skills in general education students. Critically, every athlete has a real high performance pathway including recruitment by USA Rugby, World Rugby, Special Olympics, Paralympics, and Team USA, as well as collegiate and elite programs. Inclusive sport is not the end of the road. It is the beginning.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Participants will leave with 4 hours of USA Rugby continuing education credit and a complete, ready-to-implement one-week flag rugby curriculum aligned to SHAPE America standards for Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, and High School, including adaptive and unified PE versions, so they can bring flag rugby into their gym the very next week without the "Sunday Scaries".
2. Participants will be able to identify and build strategic partnerships with Special Education teachers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and nonprofit organizations to design and sustain inclusive adaptive and unified PE programming that meets every student where they are.
3. Participants will be able to create leadership pathways for general education students within inclusive sport programming while understanding the full athlete development continuum from first-time flag rugby players all the way to recruitment by USA Rugby, World Rugby, Special Olympics, Paralympics, and Team USA.
Exhibitor Profile:
Hopkins Rugby Club is a Minneapolis-based 501c3 youth rugby club committed to inclusive sport for every child in every gym and on every field. We partner with PE teachers, Special Education professionals, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists to deliver co-taught flag rugby programming across general education, adaptive, and unified PE settings. Our done-for-you curriculum is free, SHAPE America aligned, and ready to implement from day one. Visit our booth to pick up your complete PreK-12 flag rugby curriculum, earn 4 free USA Rugby CEUs, and connect with certified coaches ready to co-teach in your school.
Megan Zweber Lamke is a SHAPE America keynote speaker, EdD candidate in Educational Leadership with Special Education emphasis at the University of St. Thomas, and a 27-year
Minnesota rugby community leader and former elite rugby player. Megan coaches Adaptive and Unified Flag Rugby at Hopkins Rugby Club, she organized the Women's Elite Rugby Deaf and Disability Day in partnership with Fraser MN, PACER MN, Special Olympics MN,
and Courage Kenny, Metro Deaf School, and Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and Blind. Megan is a professional speaker, successful entrepreneur turned fourth-generation teacher, she champions inclusive sport and human excellence for all students in every
classroom, in every gym, and on every field.
Saturday November 14, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am
CST
Campana
