When you participate in Special Olympics sports training you will be engaging in a lifetime of healthy lifestyles.  The uniqueness of our training programs will go with you from the fields of training and competition to your own daily life.  All participating athletes engage in extensive training programs designed to develop fitness and sport skills, as well as learning rules and strategies from your volunteer coaches. 

Special Olympics athletes train for a minimum of eight weeks prior to participating in an area-level competition.   Participation at an area-level competition qualifies the athlete to then participate in a the corresponding state-level competition.  Volunteer coaches are responsible for providing training the athletes. 

Unique from other sports organizations, Special Olympics Arizona offers many types of athletic training to accommodate a wide range of athletic interest and ability levels.  They are as follows:

Unified Sports® Training

Unified Sports® teams are designed to integrate athletes with and without intellectual disabilities in training and competition programs as well as social activities. They give Special Olympics athletes the opportunity to participate in sports side by side with their non-disabled peers. These programs can be implemented in the schools, intramural leagues, or other community events. 

How does Unified Teams work?

• Each team consists of about half athletes with intellectual disabilities and half without.
• Ideally, the athletes are all of similiar abilities and ages.

Why?

• Unified Sports® give athletes with higher skill levels new challenges.
• The program enhances self-esteem in the athletes.
• It increases inclusion in the community by enabling family members and friends to participate as a team member and coaches.
• Unified Sports® build lifetime friendships between athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.
• It ensures meaningful inclusion for everyone.

Traditional Team & Individual Sports Training

Traditional team and individual sports are any sport that is officially approved by

Special Olympics Inc., such as basketball, softball, track and so on.  For a complete of sports click here.    Special Olympics athletes train and compete in these individual or team sports with other Special Olympics athletes of similar age, gender and athletic capabilities.

Individual Skills Training

Individual Skills Training is a training program designed for lower ability athletes who have not yet developed the skills necessary to participate on a team.  The ultimate goal is to have the athlete work toward and prepare for team participation. The purpose of each event is to develop and measure an athlete’s skill in the particular task that is required to progress to the team sport level of training.

MATP Training

The Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) is designed for people with severe disabilities whose physical and/or behavioral limitations preclude participation in traditional team or individual sports training.  The emphasis is on participation of tasks rather than competition. The program is set up so that people with severe disabilities can participate in appropriate recreational activities geared to their ability level.   This training is typically done on site at schools and large residential facilities. In school settings, this program can help physical education teachers, occupational/physical therapists, or teaching assistants to integrate students with severe disabilities into regular physical education classes. MATP will introduce athletes with severe disabilities to age-appropriate and functionally appropriate motor and sport activities. These activities include: mobility, dexterity, striking, kicking  and wheelchair activities.

Young Athlete Training

Special Olympics Arizona offers two training options for children who do not meet the age requirements of eligibility. 

Under 8, Can’t Wait

For children younger than eight years old who want to begin sports training, our Under 8, Can’t Wait – Athlete Training Program  is for children who are six and seven years who “can’t wait” to begin their Special Olympics experience. The “Under 8” athlete(s) must meet all other eligibility requirements.  “The Under 8” athlete(s) train in regularly scheduled practice sessions in sports such as bowling, track and field along with other Special Olympics athletes.   Then, along with other Special Olympics athletes, the “Under 8” athlete is eligible to compete in a six and seven-year-old classification division at Area-Level competitions.  Once an athlete in the Under 8, Can’t Wait Training program becomes eight years of age, he/she is then eligible to advance to compete at state, national and international level competitions.

Young Athletes

Special Olympics Arizona is proud to announce the initiation of this new and innovative sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7, designed to strengthen physical development and self-esteem by building skills for future sports participation and socialization.   

If you are interested in joining Special Olympics Arizona, click on the Athlete Interest Form at the top of this page and then complete and submit the form.