LOCAL COMPETITION

Opportunities for local competition are critical to the success of a Unified Sports™ team. Participation in a local program should lead to entry into higher levels of competitions at the Sub-Program, Program, Regional, National, or World levels. The following are some models for creating local competition opportunities:

1) Special Olympics Unified Sports™ League – A league is sanctioned by Local, Sub-Program, or Program Special Olympics when three or more Unified Sports™ teams compete a minimum of five times. It is suggested that these competitions are conducted on a weekly basis and Special Olympics awards presented at the end of league play. 

2) Unified Sports™ Local Tournament – If weekly league competition is not possible, one or two-day tournaments may be held with each team competing at least twice in the tournament. Special Olympics may sanction these tournaments. This is a good alternative for teams from rural areas.

3) Community League – A Unified Sports™ team may participate in a community recreation league (sanctioned by the Parks and Recreation Department, YMCA, etc.) against non-Unified Sports™ teams. A Unified Sports™ team would participate according to the community league’s rules and guidelines and would receive awards according to their standards. Special Olympics would sanction the team, not the league.

Unified Sports™ teams competing in a community league should check the ability level of the league to ensure their team would be compatible with the rest of the teams. The coach, if possible, should watch a practice, scrimmage, or competition of teams in the league before registering the Unified Sports™ team.