|
UNIFIED SPORTS™ TEAM MEMBER GUIDELINES
The best team is one in which all teammates (athletes and partners) play a meaningful role and contribute to the success of that team. On a good Unified Sports™ team everyone…
Makes a Commitment – Joining a team is fun, but it also comes with a serious commitment. Each Special Olympics Unified Sports™ team is expected to train at least eight weeks before the culminating competition. Practice is essential to the development of physical conditioning, sports skills, game strategies, teamwork, and team spirit. Each team member attends practice regularly.
Knows the Rules – All Special Olympics Unified Sports™ competitions are conducted according to a specific set of rules. Learning these rules and competing by them in a sportsmanlike manner ensures a positive experience.
Does their Best – Every competitor on a Unified Sports™ team should compete to the best of his/her abilities within the framework of the team. Teammates that dominate competition when doing his/her best should be placed on a team more compatible with his/her skill level. The coach should recruit another individual whose abilities are similar to the other members on the team.
Is a Good Teammate and Team Player – It is the teammate’s responsibility to establish peer relationships with the other team members and to compete within the framework established by the coach. Practices and competitions are only part of the experience of sports. Utilize time before or after organized team activities to get to know new teammates.
Suggested Guidelines for Unified Team™ Membership (athletes and partners):
1. Each team member must attend a minimum of least 80% of team practices.
2. Transportation to practices is normally on an individual basis. Individuals who drive may help transport others on the team, but this is not a criterion for membership on the team.
3. Determining team strategy and directing individual involvement is the role of the coach, not the players (partners). All players must respect each other’s equality as teammates, and allow the coach to provide primary leadership of the team.
4. When the Unified Sports™ team attends a game, tournament, or other event:
a. All team members are expected to travel together as a team.
b. All team members are expected to attend related activities (such as Opening Ceremonies, Olympic Town, Dances, and Clinics) as a team.
c. If an overnight stay is involved, all team members will be housed together in the same hotel, dormitory, etc. The coach, based on input from team members, makes room assignments.
5. The coach will make exceptions to Guideline #4 on an individual basis. Under no circumstances will exceptions be made that significantly diminish the goals of team unity.
Note: During extended events (e.g. World Games), policies and procedures may be established that allow team members to participate in some activities outside of the delegation.
Training Division
This model can be used to establish a training division, which will benefit the Special Olympics athletes by better preparing them for traditional Special Olympics competitions. Official Special Olympics medals and ribbons are not awarded for competitions in these training divisions. Special Olympics Inc.
(SOI) recognizes that programs may need to develop non-competition opportunities for teams that do not accomplish the age and ability matching. These opportunities should be designed to enhance sports skill development and promote future participation in traditional Unified Sports.
Training
Unified Sports™ teams should participate in a minimum of eight weeks of training (that includes practices, scrimmages, and competitions) before competing in Sub-Program or Program level competition. Participation in leagues or other competitive experiences inside or outside Special Olympics is highly encouraged as an additional means of preparing for higher-level competition.
|
