The deaf have long been competing in sports, though they usually compete against other deaf athletes. The Akron Club for the Deaf in Ohio sponsored the first national basketball tournament in the United States in 1945, and established the American Athletic Union of the Deaf (USDAF, 2006). This later became the American Athletic Association of the Deaf, and in 1997, the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It was created to promote and regulate uniform rules of competition and to provide a social outlet for deaf athletes and their friends. It serves as the parent organization for national sports organizations, conducts annual athletic competitions, and assists US teams in participating in international competitions.
The late Art Kruger left an imprint on much of the infrastructure of deaf sports in America (Kruger, 1997). He chaired the first national basketball tournament for the deaf in 1945, and founded the American Athletic Association of the Deaf. He pioneered the Deaf All-American selections in basketball and football in schools for the deaf and greatly expanded the role of the USA in the World Games for the Deaf. Kruger worked for fifty years as a sports writer and was working on a 15-volume encyclopedia of the deaf in sports right up until his death. Lacking the size or the talent to play football, basketball or baseball himself, he became involved with team management at a time when that meant scheduling, fund raising, purchasing equipment, hiring and firing coaches and posting tryout notices, along with everything else. Kruger did play baseball at Gallaudet, but was the last man on the team and rarely played. He was bestowed an honorary doctorate by Hofstra University
USADSF is the only national athletic association which coordinates the participation of American deaf and hard of hearing athletes in international competitions, and is affiliated with the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (Organi...