Volunteer Opportunities
Special Olympics Maryland is made possible by the time and energy of dedicated volunteers.
Volunteers come from across the state and from all walks of life to support our 26,121 participants in many ways. Everyone from high school and college students to professionals and retired individuals have found their place in our many programs. Whether you are looking for a one-time opportunity or a more consistent experience, Special Olympics Maryland will provide a fulfilling experience for all involved. Volunteer FAQs Group Interest Form
Scroll down to check out our available opportunities!
There’s plenty of ways to be involved with Special Olympics Maryland! Click on each tab below to learn about different available opportunities! Curious about the best opportunity as a first time volunteer? Register for a statewide competition under “competitions!” Were you asked by a local program to submit volunteer paperwork? You can submit that here! Please only submit paperwork if you were specifically asked to by a staff/management team member!
Competition Volunteers provide our athletes and unified teammates with a high-quality competition experience. With many sport- and non-sport-based volunteer roles available, no previous sport experience is needed to make an impact with our athletes!
Please click on the red text below to sign up for any of our upcoming competitions. After registering, you will receive an email confirmation sent to the email address that you provide.
Open for Registration:
Sunday, October 18, 2026: Cycling State Tournament: Click Here to Register! Lexington Exchange, California, MD. Join us for an incredible day of racing as a part of our annual Fall Sports Festival! Our Cycling Competition will feature 500 Meter, 1K & 2K Time Trials, as well as a 5K, 10K, & 15K road race. Volunteers are needed to assist as course marshals, timers, scorekeepers, and more.
Sunday, October 25, 2026: Soccer State Championships Click Here to Register! Crown Sports Center | Fruitland, MD 21826. Join us for an action-packed day of soccer as part of the Special Olympics Maryland Soccer State Championships! ⚽ Our tournament will feature 7v7 Team Competition, 5v5 Team Competition, and the Individual Skills Competition (ISC). Spend the day cheering on incredible athletes, meeting fellow volunteers, and earn valuable service hours along the way.
Sunday, November 15, 2026: Regional Bowling Tournaments Click Here to Register! Volunteer at 1 of our 5 Regional Tournaments. Is volunteering right up your alley? 🎳 Special Olympics Maryland is hosting regional bowling tournaments across 5 counties. Athletes will compete for a chance to advance to the state bowling championships. Volunteers are needed as scorekeepers, lane marshals, awards helpers, and in a variety of logistics roles.
Allegany County: White Oak Lanes @ Cumberland, MD 21502
Anne Arundel County: Crofton Bowling Centre @ Crofton, MD 21114
Baltimore County: AMF Perry Hall Lanes @ Baltimore, MD 21236
Howard County: Bowlero Normandy @ Ellicott City, MD 21043
Montgomery County: Lucky Strike @ Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Coming Up: Event Registration typically opens 2 months before the competition date. Please check back for event registrations to open for the following events:
- October 17: Fall Sports Festival (Powerlifting, Flag Football, Tennis, Long Distance Running) Please email volunteers@somd.org for registration link.
- November 10: IUS Tennis Championships
- November 17: IUS Flag Football Championships
- December 6, Bowling State Championships
For more information about these events, email volunteers@somd.org.
Each year, SOMD hosts 20 Statewide competitions across Maryland. The events tend to take place around the same dates in the same places, unless there is a venue change or scheduling conflict. Volunteers are needed/welcomed for any of the following events, as well as others we may add to the volunteer page on our website throughout the year. Event registrations get posted here: https://www.somd.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/
The 2026 Program Year is as follows:
| Event Date(s) | Event Name | Event Location |
| Jan. 28th-Jan. 31st, 2026 | MSP Polar Bear Plunge | Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis MD |
| Feb. 10th, 2026 | Interscholastic Unified Sports: Indoor Bocce | Hagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, MD |
| Feb. 17th, 2026 | Interscholastic Unified Sports: Strength & Conditioning | Worcester County Recreation Center, Snow Hill, MD |
| March 28th-March 29th, 2026 | Basketball State Championships | University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD |
| May 5th-May 7th, 2026 | Baltimore City Spring Games | Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore MD |
| May 12th-May 13th, 2026 | Interscholastic Unified Sports: Track and Field | PG County Sports and Learning Complex, Landover, MD |
| May 19th, 2026 | Interscholastic Unified Sports: Outdoor Bocce | Washington College, Chestertown, MD |
| June 12th-June 14th, 2026 | Summer Games: Cheerleading, Swimming, Bocce, Athletics (Track & Field) | Towson State University, Towson, MD |
| June 13th-June 14th, 2026 | Summer Games: Softball | Kiwanis Wallas Park, Ellicott City, MD |
| June 28th, 2026 | Pickleball State Championships | Pickleball House, White Marsh, MD |
| August 1st, 2026 | Kayaking Time Trials | Washington College, Chestertown, MD |
| August 8th, 2026 | Kayaking State Championships | Washington College, Chestertown, MD |
| September 27th, 2026 | Golf State Tournament | Queenstown, MD |
| October 17th, 2026 | Fall Sports Festival: Powerlifting, Long Distance Running, Flag Football, Tennis | Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, MD |
| October 18th, 2026 | Cycling State Tournament | Lexington Exchange, California, MD |
| October 25th, 2026 | Soccer State Championships | Crown Sports Complex, Fruitland, MD |
| November 10th, 2026 | Interscholastic Unified Sports: Tennis Championships | Junior Tennis Champions Center, College Park, MD |
| November 15th, 2026 | Bowling Regionals | Montgomery County: Lucky Strike, Gaithersburg, MD Howard County: Bowlero Normandy, Ellicott City, MD Anne Arundel County: Crofton Bowling Centre, Crofton, MD Allegany County: White Oak Lanes, Cumberland, MD |
| November 17th, 2026 | Interscholastic Unified Sports: Flag Football Championships | Goucher College, Baltimore MD |
| December 6th, 2026 | Bowling State Championships | Crofton Bowling Centre, Crofton, MD |
Special Event Volunteers support the many fundraisers and events hosted by Special Olympics Maryland throughout the year. These volunteer opportunities ensure that our athletes get to train and compete in the sports they love free of charge!
Plungefest 2026:
Check out the Plunge Volunteer Information Guide Here!
Wednesday, Jan. 21st and Thursday, Jan. 22nd, 2026 | 6PM-9PM | SOMD, HQ : Plunge Admin Nights!
For this year’s plunge, we are asking volunteers to join us in office the week before Plunge Packet pick-up to assist with preparing the office and packet pick-up materials! You do not have to register for both days. Register to volunteer here!
Saturday, Jan. 24th, 2026 | 9AM-12PM | Sandy Point State Park: Superplunge Breakdown
Meet us onsite at Sandy Point State park to assist with switching the park over from Superplunge (Where Superplungers who have raised $10,000 will plunge every hour for 24 hours!) to Plungefest for Cool Schools, First Responders, Corporate, and the MSP Polar Bear Plunge! Register to Volunteer here!
Monday, Jan. 26th, 2026 and Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 2026 | 10AM-2PM | Sandy Point State Park: Plunge Park Set-Up
Help us get the park ready for plungers! Assist with signage placement, material unloading, and making sure the registration, Rams Head, and even more tents are ready for action! You do not have to register for both days. Register to Volunteer here!
Wednesday, Jan. 28th, 2026 | 8AM-3PM | Sandy Point State Park: COOL SCHOOLS PLUNGE DAY 1
Volunteers are needed Wed., Jan. 28th, 2026 from 8AM-3PM at Sandy Point State Park to assist with registration, cleaning up the beach in between plunges, sweatshirt distribution, and food distribution! Want to learn more about the Cool Schools Plunge? Check it out here: https://plungemd.com/plunges/cool-schools-plunge/
Thursday, Jan. 29th, 2026 | 8AM-3PM | Sandy Point State Park: COOL SCHOOLS PLUNGE DAY 2
Volunteers are needed Thursday, Jan. 29th 2026 from 8AM-3PM at Sandy Point State Park to assist with registration, cleaning up the beach in between plunges, sweatshirt distribution, and food distribution! Want to learn more about the Cool Schools Plunge? Check it out here: https://plungemd.com/plunges/cool-schools-plunge/
Friday, Jan. 30th, 2026 | 8AM-2PM | Sandy Point State Park: FIRST RESPONDERS’ PLUNGE
Volunteers are needed Friday, Jan. 30th 2026 from 8AM- 2PM at Sandy Point State Park to assist with registration, cleaning up the beach in between plunges, sweatshirt distribution, and food distribution! Want to learn more about the First Responders’ Plunge? Check it out here: https://plungemd.com/plunges/police-plunge/
Friday, Jan. 30th, 2026 | 12PM-5PM | Sandy Point State Park: CORPORATE PLUNGE
Volunteers are needed Friday, Jan. 30th 2026 from 12PM- 5PM at Sandy Point State Park to assist with registration, cleaning up the beach in between plunges, sweatshirt distribution, and food distribution! Want to learn more about the Corporate Plunge? Check it out here: https://plungemd.com/plunges/corporate-plunge/
Saturday, Jan. 31st, 2026 | 8AM-5PM | Sandy Point State Park: MSP POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
Volunteers are needed Saturday, Jan. 31st, 2026 from 8AM- 5PM at Sandy Point State Park to assist with registration, cleaning up the beach in between plunges, sweatshirt distribution, and food distribution! We do have shifts available. Want to learn more about the MSP Polar Bear Plunge? Check it out here: https://plungemd.com/plunges/maryland-plunge/
Special Olympics Maryland Coaches (Head & Assistant Coaches) deliver our sports programs to Athletes and Unified Teammates on a weekly basis throughout our sport seasons. Coaching requires a season-long commitment, along with coach training and certification. Click here to learn more about becoming a Special Olympics Maryland Coach!
SOMD is currently recruiting coaches for Fall and Winter Sports for Fall 2026 and Winter 2027!
Soccer, Flag Football, Powerlifting, Tennis, Basketball, Bowling, Long Distance Running, Cycling
Please contract Mike Myers (Myers@somd.org) if you are interested in supporting Special Olympics Maryland Athletes as a coach!
Special Olympics Maryland’s Young Athletes Coaches facilitate our sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities, ages birth to 7 years old. Young Athletes introduces basic sport skills, like running, kicking, and throwing. Young Athletes offers families, teachers, caregivers, and people from the community the chance to share the joy of sports with all children.
For more information about these opportunities, email YoungAthletes@somd.org
Management Team Members are leadership volunteers that support program delivery in area programs and state competitions. These opportunities typically require special skills and/or experience, along with at least 1 year commitment.
Area Program Management Team Opportunities are leadership opportunities that deliver programs in a specific geographic area. Learn more about our area programs here.
- Area Director, Washington County- SOMD- Washington County is looking for a new Area Director. This person is responsible for leading a team of volunteers to deliver SOMD programs throughout the county. The Area Director attends monthly Area Director calls hosted by SOMD, and hold Washington County Management Team Meetings. Email Mike Myers if interested.
Sport Management Team Opportunities are leadership opportunities that help deliver sports seasons, competitions, and coach education. Significant experience in a specific sport is typically needed. Learn more about the sports we offer here.
- Tennis Management Team– The tennis management team is looking for knowledgeable tennis players to serve as tournament staff, officials, and coach trainers for our Fall 2024 Tennis Season. Email Jeff Abel if interested.
Health & Fitness Volunteers provide opportunities for our athletes to improve their physical, social, and emotional well-being through important health screenings and fitness classes. Training & Certifications are typically required for these opportunities.
SOMD Medical Team Volunteer: Doctors, Nurses, and EMTs are needed to provide medical coverage at our competitions to ensure the safety of our competitors. Medical Volunteers assist on site providing first aid and medical assistance during our competitions. If you are interested in supporting in this way, please contact SOMD Medical Director, Pam Greenwood.
Healthy Athletes Volunteers: Medical Professionals and students are welcome to join our Healthy Athletes Team! Clinical Directors and Clinical Volunteers are needed for the following disciplines:
- Health Promotion (General Health & Wellness)
- Fit Feet (Podiatry)
- Opening Eyes (Optometry)
- Special Smiles (Dentistry)
- Strong Minds (Social/Emotional Well-Being)
- Fun Fitness (Physical Therapy)
- Healthy Hearing (Audiology)
- MedFest (Sports Physicals)
- Healthy Young Athletes (Pediatrics)
For more information about Healthy Athletes Volunteer Opportunities, contact volunteers@somd.org
Service Hours
There’s no better way to fulfill a service requirement than with Special Olympics Maryland! Whether your volunteering for school, scouts, or just because, Special Olympics Maryland can engage you in hands-on, meaningful, and impactful service to fulfill any service requirement! Need your hours verified? Fill out our Service Hour Verification Form! Service Hour Verification Form
Matching Gifts for Volunteer Hours
Did you know that some companies offer matching gift donations in exchange for volunteer employee hours? Click here to see if your company participates.