Sports Descriptions
Alpine Skiing
Alpine skiing is an exciting winter sport that challenges the athlete's downhill racing ability and coordination. Special Olympics Minnesota offers alpine skiing events from novice to advanced levels, as well as the glide event for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic alpine skiing skills. The development of these basic skills are necessary prior to advancing to other competitive events. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
Aquatics
Because of the wide array of events offered, aquatics is appropriate for a range of ages and ability levels. Aquatics competition events are conducted with a variety of strokes. Special Olympics also offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic aquatics skills. The development of these basic skills are necessary to progress to other competitive events. Athletes also can participate in Unified Sports® relays. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender. In addition to competing in aquatics at Spring Games, athletes can also participate in area competitions.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
Athletics/Track and Field
Athletics events offer a wide range, from the 100 meters and hurdle events to the marathon, from the high jump to the long jump, shot put, relays and wheelchair events. In addition, Special Olympics offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic athletics skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to longer competitive events.Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® relay events. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to events, ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
Basketball
Basketball is a favorite among Special Olympics athletes. In addition to team competition, Special Olympics Basketball also offers individual skills competition, which allows athletes to train and compete in basic basketball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team play. These events include target pass, ten-meter dribble and spot shot. A player's final score is determined by adding the scores together achieved in each of the events.
Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® basketball team competition. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition.
In Unified Sports® basketball, the roster must contain a proportionate number of Special Olympics athletes and partners; during competition, the line up shall never exceed three athletes and two partners at any time (two Athletes and one Partner for 3-on-3). Each team shall have a non-playing head coach responsible for the line-up and conduct of the team during competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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Bocce - Now Offered Through the South Region Stars
Bocce is a game of skill and strategy. The object is for one team to get as many of their balls closer to the pallina than the opposing team's closest ball. There can be anywhere from two to eight players in a game. Each player is given two balls and then players take turns rolling the balls toward the pallina, which has already been thrown onto the field. The players are given points for the balls rolled closest to the pallina. Players may also throw on the fly, striking the pallina to move the point ball. Balls, including the pallina, may also be displaced by the balls of other players. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® competition. In Unified bocce, a doubles team would consist of one Special Olympics athlete and one partner; a team would consist of two Special Olympics athletes and two partners.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
Bowling
Bowling is one of the fastest growing Special Olympics sports. Although there are some modifications made for athletes with physical disabilities, most athletes compete under the same rules and circumstances as athletes on a professional tour. In addition to offering traditional singles, doubles and team events, Special Olympics athletes also can participate in Unified Sports® doubles and team events. The State Bowling Tournament in the fall provides competition for traditional bowling along with competition in Unified Sports® bowling events.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Cross Country Skiing - Not offered through South Region Stars
Cross country skiing is a winter sport that promotes superior physical conditioning while providing enjoyment for athletes of all ages. Special Olympics cross country skiing events are designed to be appropriate for athletes of every ability level. Individual events offered in cross country skiing range from a 500 meter to the 10K. In addition to these traditional events, Special Olympics offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic cross country skiing skills. The development of these basic skills is necessary to progress to other competitive events. Athletes can also participate in a Unified Sports® relay. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Equestrian - Not offered through South Region Stars
Special Olympics athletes who compete in the equestrian events learn to ride, develop sports skills and gain the self-confidence to direct and control a horse. Athletes are able to compete in a variety of individual English and Western-style events and drill teams. Athletes also can participate in Unified Sports® drill teams. During an equestrian competition, Unified Sports® drill teams would be made up of two athletes and two partners. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level and age (equestrian athletes are not separated by gender).
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Figure Skating - Not offered through South Region Stars
Figure skating is one of the few judged Special Olympics sports. Special Olympics figure skating features singles and pairs jumps, lifts and many feats of strength and precision. Ice dancers concentrate on interpreting the rhythm and tempo of music through dance steps on the ice. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® Ice Dancing and Pairs events. A Unified ice dancing or Unified pairs team would consist of one Special Olympics athlete and one partner. Note that for Unified Sports figure skating training and competition, it is preferred that the pair be of similar age; it is required that the pair possess similar skating ability.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Floor Hockey
Poly hockey is adapted from the game of ice hockey. Unlike alpine or cross country skiing, Special Olympics floor hockey gives athletes who live in warm climates the opportunity to compete in Special Olympics winter sports. Poly hockey once was, but is no longer, a recognized Special Olympics Incorporated sport as is floor hockey, which is played with wooden sticks (without blades) and pucks that are large felt discs with an open center.
Special Olympics Minnesota, along with a few other Special Olympics programs such as Special Olympics Michigan, has chosen to offer poly hockey instead of floor hockey. Poly hockey is played in a rink covering the surface of a gymnasium floor, not ice. The teams are composed of six players, including a goalie. The athletes use plastic sticks and soft plastic pucks. A poly hockey game consists of three nine-minute periods. Special Olympics poly hockey also offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic poly hockey skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team play. Individual skills includes shooting, passing and stick handling. A player's final score is determined by adding the scores together achieved in each of the events. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level and age (poly hockey is not divisioned by gender as there are typically not any teams comprised strictly of male or female athletes).
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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Golf - Not offered through South Region Stars at this time
Like most golfers, Special Olympics athletes are driven by the opportunity to compete. Program planning is designed to develop individual golf skills that enhance performance, allowing the athlete to achieve success in playing the game. Both on the practice area and on the course, Special Olympics athletes participating in golf have gained the respect of their golf peers. The Special Olympics golf program is centered on two educational phases designed to encompass all skill levels: learning to swing a golf club and learning to play the game. Athletes may participate in skills, 9-hole stroke play or 18-hole stroke play.
Special Olympics Minnesota currently offers four levels of golf competition. Individual skills competition (Level 1) and 3-hole competition provide meaningful competition for athletes of lower ability, allowing them to train and compete in basic golf skills. In order for athletes to advance to Levels 2 (individual 9-hole) or 4 (alternate shot 9-hole), they must achieve a total of 40 points in the Individual Skills Test. Those athletes scoring less than 40 in the Individual Skills Test have the opportunity to compete in 3-hole individual or alternate shot events. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® Team Play. In Unified Sports golf, a team would include one Special Olympics athlete and one partner.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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Gymnastics - Not offered through South Region Stars
Special Olympics gymnastics combines strength, flexibility and artistry. Competitions are offered for men in the artistic events and women in artistic and rhythmic events. Male and female gymnasts may compete in all events offered (All Around) or may be specialists, competing in one, two, or more (but not all) events. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.Men's Events include Floor Exercise,
Pommel Horse,
Rings, Vaulting,
Parallel Bars,
Horizontal Bar, and
All Around (combination of all six event scores). Women's Events include Vaulting,
Uneven Bars,
Balance Beam, Floor Exercise, and
All Around (combination of all four event scores). Women may also compete in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Powerlifting - Not offered through South Region Stars
Powerlifting is about much more than squats, bench presses and deadlifts. It is about barriers, perseverance and success. Training, determination and attitude determine the fine line between success and failure. The bar may test an athlete's physical abilities, but an internal desire to improve — to not settle for less — is the drive behind the strain and dedication of the sport. Special Olympics powerlifters are eligible to compete in three lifts: the bench press, the deadlift and the squat, or in combinations of the above events. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competitive divisions according to ability level, age and gender. Special Olympics athletes must be 16 years of age before competing in powerlifting.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Roller Skating - Not offered through South Region Stars
Roller skating is a Special Olympics sport with many different facets. Athletes are given the option to compete in artistic events or speed events. In addition to the choice of sport, athletes may choose to use in-line or quad skates, depending on their strengths. For artistic competition, men and women compete separately. The competition is further divided into four levels, each level progressively more difficult and requiring different elements. Speed events offer a variety of distances for all skill levels, as well as relay and slalom events. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® relay and team competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Snowboarding - Not offered through South Region Stars
The physical demands of this fast-paced sport are challenging for any athlete. At a minimum, snowboarding requires a combination of quick reflexes, good balance and strong physical fitness. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Softball
Softball is an exciting team sport in Special Olympics. Athletes can participate in slow-pitch softball, which involves two teams of 10 athletes each, tee-ball or in the individual skills competition. The softball individual skills competition allows athletes to train and compete in basic softball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team competition. These skills include base running, fielding and throwing. A player's final score is determined by adding together the scores achieved in each of the events. Athletes also can participate in Unified Sports® softball team competition. While Unified Softball is an option, Special Olympics Minnesota has not had enough interested teams to offer this competition in the past.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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Soccer
Soccer is one of the world's most popular sport for children and adults. Similarly, it is one of the most popular sports for Special Olympics athletes. Playing soccer requires very little equipment, and because it is easy to learn, is appropriate for a wide range of age and ability levels.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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Table Tennis
Table tennis is a fast-paced sport that requires excellent hand and eye coordination. Special Olympics athletes demonstrate the necessary elements of power and finesse in order to play table tennis. In addition to offering traditional singles, doubles and mixed doubles events, Special Olympics table tennis offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic table tennis skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to match play. These skills include racket bounce, forehand and backhand volley and serving. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® doubles and mixed doubles events. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
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Tennis
Like mainstream tennis, Special Olympics tennis gives athletes the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of skills that can be played throughout life. In addition to offering traditional singles and doubles events, Special Olympics offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic tennis skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to match play. These skills include racket bounce, "ups," forehand volley, backhand ground stroke, serve-deuce court, serve-advantage court and alternating ground stroke with movement. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® doubles events. In Unified Sports tennis, a doubles team would consist of one Special Olympics athlete and one partner. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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Volleyball
Athletes participating in Special Olympics volleyball benefit from the camaraderie that comes from competing in a team sport, as well as the training that enables them to successfully serve and return a volleyball. Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® volleyball. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Click here to read more about this sport at the Special Olympics of Minnesota website.
Or, click here to read more about participating on our team!
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