EFL 2018: Meet the under-14 East Ringwood Roos players learning sign language for their deaf teammate

A JUNIOR football team is kicking goals on and off the field by learning sign language to help their deaf teammate.

Deaf footballer Max Beasley, 14, centre, teaches a few signs to his East Ringwood Roos teammates Satchi Halit and Joel Tanzen. Picture: STUART MILLIGAN.

A JUNIOR football team is kicking goals on and off the field by learning sign language to help their deaf teammate.

East Ringwood Roos player Max Beasley, 14, joined the club two years ago and became a team favourite.

Max is one of two deaf junior players at the club and in the Eastern Football League. His parents and most of his siblings are also deaf.

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After watching Max give it his all on the field, parent Diana Fayle and the club arranged for Auslan translators to visit and teach his teammates basic phrases.

The players have since learnt the sign alphabet, how to sign their names, and certain phrases to communicate better with him on the field.

The East Ringwood Roos have been learning sign language to support teammate Max Beasley, centre, who is one of only two deaf junior footballers in the Eastern Football League. Picture: STUART MILLIGAN

President Shaun Halit said he was proud of the club embracing deaf players and learning new skills.

“We didn’t even look at it as a special thing, we looked at it as normal thing, but the communication breakdown was huge,” he said.

“He (Max) is already right in there amongst it and geeing everyone up, and now we have the tools to communicate, and the kids can have a platform to have discussions with him.”

Coach Dan Coucher said the team previously typed up messages and had to run out to Max to give him instructions on the field.

“It’s great for him, but also great for the other boys as well, and i’m sure they’ll use it.”
“Hopefully it will encourage some other deaf kids to come and play — it hasn’t stopped him (Max), that’s for sure.”