Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements for Special Olympics Arizona/Arizona
Interscholastic Association Unified Sports®

Unified Sports® were created and developed to give individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in sports activities. To be eligible for participation in Unified Sports®, a competitor must agree to observe and abide by the official AIA Unified Sports® rules. The following Unified Sports® programs are offered to AIA member schools: flag football, basketball, cheer, and track & field. Refer to the Unified Sports® Handbook for full information.

Section 1. ELIGIBILITY FOR UNIFIED SPORTS®

1. To be eligible for participation in AIA Unified Sports®, an outgrowth of Special Olympics, a competitor must agree to observe and abide by the official AIA Unified Sports® rules.

2. AIA Unified Sports® were created and developed to give individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in sports activities with non-intellectually disabled partners on a high school level. No person shall, on the grounds of sex, race, religion, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of AIA/Special Olympics Arizona sports.

3. Eligibility for participation in Unified Sports®:

1. General Statement of Eligibility. Every person with intellectual disabilities is eligible to participate in AIA Unified Sports® if they are enrolled in any AIA member school.
   
   
2. Age Requirements. Special Olympics Athletes can compete up to age 22. Partners must follow AIA age guidelines.
   
   
3. Identifying Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. A person is considered to have intellectual disabilities for purposes of determining his or her eligibility to participate in Unified Sports® if that person satisfies any one of the following requirements:
   
   
   • The person has been identified by an agency or professional as having intellectual disabilities as determined by their localities; or
   • The person has a cognitive delay, as determined by standardized measures such as intelligent quotient or “IQ” testing or other measures which are generally accepted within the professional community in that accredited program’s state as being a reliable measurement of the existence of a cognitive delay; or
   • The person has a closely related developmental disability. A “closely related developmental disability” means having functional limitations in both learning (such as IQ) and in adaptive skills (such as in recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care). However, persons whose functional limitations are based solely on a physical, behavioral, or emotional disability, or a specific learning or sensory disability, are not eligible to participate as Special Olympic/AIA athletes, but may be eligible to volunteer for AIA Unified Sports®.

Section 2. UNIFIED PARTNER ELIGIBILITY

1. Definition

Unified Sports® is a program that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. Unified Sports® was developed to provide Special Olympics athletes with the choice of a sports program that brings about meaningful inclusion with their non-disabled peers.

2. Partner Eligibility

1. Any student of an AIA member school that is currently not competing in a team sport (Flag Football and Basketball) at the varsity or junior varsity level is eligible to compete as a partner in AIA Unified Team Sports
   
   
2. Any athlete who is already participating in an individual sport (Cheer and Track & Field), is eligible to participate as a partner in AIA Unified Individual Sports.

Questions regarding the eligibility requirements can be directed to Scott Brown, AIA and Unified Sports® Director at sbrown@aiaacademy.org or by phone at 602-690-4250.