Special Olympics
Mission Statement
Special Olympics Illinois provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skill and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Overview of Special Olympics Illinois
Special Olympics Illinois is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that raises funds through private means, such as donations and grants. Special Olympics Illinois is accredited by Special Olympics, Inc., which operates in all 50 states and in more than 170 countries worldwide. Special Olympics Illinois supports nearly 22,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities, more than 20,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities and 40,000 coaches and volunteers as they compete in 19 Olympic type sports in 180 competitions annually.
General Eligibility – Special Olympics Illinois Policy
Special Olympics Illinois training and competition is open to every person with intellectual disabilities who is at least 8 years of age, with no maximum age limit for participation. All athletes must register with the Special Olympics Illinois and complete an Application for Participation in Special Olympics Illinois along with a sports physical completed by a physician, which is to be renewed every 2 years.
General Eligibility Requirements – HISRA
Required Paperwork
In order to participate in HISRA’s Special Olympics Program a participate must:
- Complete a signed registration form by the registration deadline for the specific sport
- Complete a Annual Information Form or have a current one on file
- Have a current and approved, Application for Participation in Special Olympics Illinois, on file with both Special Olympics Illinois and HISRA
Special Olympics Sports Offered Through HISRA
All Special Olympics Illinois programming and competitions shall be conducted in accordance with the Sport Specific Rules. Special Olympics Illinois sports competitions are intended to operate in accordance with rules established by the National Governing Body (NGB) of each sport. The Rule Interpretations are provided to reinforce critical NGB rules or to illustrate modifications made to them by Special Olympics Illinois. In order to advance to the state competition, athletes must receive a gold medal (unless otherwise stated) at the district tournament or area qualifier.
Basketball
Season Runs: October – January
District Competition: January
State Competition: March
The HISRA Special Olympics Basketball program consists both an individual skills training program as well as teams, which are divisioned based on age and levels of ability. The HISRA basketball program will practice weekly in addition to participating in multiple scrimmages against teams throughout our Area. Those who choose to compete will participate in the District Qualifier held in mid January. Those who qualify will continue with practice until mid March completing their season at the Special Olympics Illinois State Basketball Tournament.
Aquatics
Season Runs: January – April
Districts Competition: April
State Competition (Summer Games): June
The HISRA Special Olympics Aquatics team consists of individual competition as well as relay events. Athletes can choose to participate in a wide range of individual events of various strokes and distances. With practice meeting weekly, the team as a whole will compete in the District Aquatics Meet held in early April. Those who qualify at this event will continue with regularly scheduled practices and complete their season at the State Meet, which will be held at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games held in mid June.
Athletics
Season Runs: March – April
Districts Competition (Spring Games): April
State Competition (Summer Games): June
The HISRA Special Olympics Athletics team consists on numerous individual field events as well as walking and running events both individuals and teams. All events are adapted into a wide variety of options based on an athletes abilities and levels of functioning. Athletes and coaches work together at weekly practices leading up to the District Qualifier, the Spring Games, held in late March. Those who qualify for the state competition will continue with weekly practices and complete their season at the State Meet, which is held at the Special Olympics Summer Games held in mid June.
Softball
Season Runs: May – July
Districts Competition: July
State Competition (Outdoor Fall Sports Festival): September
The HISRA Special Olympics Softball program offers athletes the opportunity to participate in both an individual skills training program as well as team play which is divisioned based on level of ability. The HISRA softball program will practice weekly in addition to participating in multiple scrimmages against teams throughout our Area. Those who choose to compete will participate in the District Qualifier held in late July. Those who qualify will continue with practice until mid September completing their season at the Special Olympics Outdoor Sports Festival.
Golf
Season Runs: May – September
Qualifier: August
State Competition (Outdoor Fall Sports Festival): September
The HISRA Golf program consists of and individual skills training program as well as individual and unified course play. Those athletes who participate in course play may select to complete 3, 6 or 9 holes. The HISRA Special Olympics Golf program also provided athletes the opportunity to play alongside a Unified Partner (an athlete without a disability). Those athletes who choose to compete along side a unified partner will only be eligible to compete in the 9-hole course play option. Weekly practice along HISRA staff as well as Peoria Park District Golf Pros will train athletes for their first competition, the District Qualifier, held in early August. Those who qualify for the state competition will continue with weekly practices and complete their season at the State Tournament, the Special Olympics Outdoor Sports Festival in mid September.
Bowling
Season Runs: June – December
Area Competition: August
Sectional Bowling: October
State Competition: December
The HISRA Special Olympics Bowling program consists of multiple events for athletes to choose from. Individual bowlers may compete with or without ramp assistance. Doubles can be formed between a pair of Special Olympic athletes as well as a Special Olympics athlete and Unified Partner (an athlete without a disability). As well as a Team which can consist of 4 athletes in a combination of Special Olympic athletes as well as Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners. All athletes will compete in weekly practices leading up to Area Competition held in late August. Those who qualify will continue with weekly practice leading up to the Sectional Competition held in mid October. Practice will once again continue for those who qualify with the completion of the season at the State Bowling Tournament held in early January.
