"On the field we're teammates, off the field we're friends."

  Unified Sports® a registered program of Special Olympics International, combines individuals with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and individuals without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. The Unified Sports® program pairs an athlete and a partner of similar age and athletic ability. The two compete side-by-side, each one a meaningful and integral part of the Unified Sports® team.

Schools and communities across Vermont are participating in Unified Sports®.

Five of the twelve sports include a Unified component.

Unified Sports Opportunities/ Competition Calendar

    Individual Sports
        Aquatics – Unified Relay
        Athletics – Unified Relay Early June/Summer games
        Bocce -Early June/Summer games
        Bowling-December
        Golf-August
        Snowshoeing-March/Winter games

   Team Sports
        Basketball-Early May
        Soccer (Football)-October
        Softball-Early June/Summer Games                       

What are the benefits?

  The Unified Sports® program provides a forum for positive social interaction between students of all abilities. As athletes and partners train and compete together, they foster ties that develop into friendships both on and off the athletic field. Benefits include the following: 

• Positive social interaction between students with and without intellectual disabilities.
• Develop friendships on and off the field
• Improves self-esteem
• Positive changes in attitude, behavior and performance.
• Unified Sports increases public awareness of the spirit, skills and abilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Prepares all participants for engaging in healthy activities throughout their lifetime.

To start a Unified Sports® program in your school, you will need:

• two(2) or three(3) students who meet the Unified Sports® eligibility criteria for "athletes"
• at least two (2) typically developing students to become "partners"
• an interested staff member who can become certified as the Unified Sports® coach;
• available athletic equipment/facilities for team practices
• application for participation on file for each participant (partners and athletes)
• applications for volunteers to assist in program
• the support of the principal and parents.
• follow the steps to start a local program
• Unified Sports Handbook
  

Need help getting started? Questions? Contact Joan Martin, Unified Sports Coordinator (jmartin@etsd.org)