School Sports Partnerships

Special Olympics School Sports Partnerships are an expansion of the existing after-school sports programs that include training and competition for students with intellectual disabilities in conjunction with the interscholastic sports teams.

Supervision is provided by the school’s head coach in a particular sport or an assistant coach specifically assigned to coach the Special Olympics teams. District policy determines the size of the coaching staff, compensation, etc.

Athletes without intellectual disabilities from varsity and/or junior varsity sports teams serve as peer coaches, scrimmage teammates and boosters during competition.

In the Special Olympics School Sports Partnership, athletes with intellectual disabilities are able to earn athletic letters, wear school uniforms, ride the team bus, and are recognized in school sports awards ceremonies. Athletes represent their school in Special Olympics local, District, Regional and State level competitions.

Special Olympics Athletes

• Participate in conditioning programs with varsity/junior varsity athletes

• Practice skills with peer coaching by varsity/junior varsity athletes

• Scrimmage with varsity/junior varsity athletes, or mixed team of athletes drawn from all sports teams

Competition

• Conducted among athletes with disabilities as part of existing interscholastic competitions. At the end of the meet, individuals and school scores are tabulated for varsity/junior varsity and Special Olympics teams.

• Held prior to varsity/junior varsity competitions. Football (soccer), softball or basketball games may be played prior to and at the same site as the varsity/junior varsity game.

• Organized simultaneously for Special Olympics partnership teams as part of a varsity/junior varsity tournament

For more information, contact

Krysten Kirsch - Director of Youth Initiatives
kkirsch@specialolympicswisconsin.org

10224 N. Port Washington Rd.
Mequon, WI 53092
(262) 241-7786
(800) 924-5202