Softball Re-certification is available to those coaches who have been previously certified in the Sport of Softball. If you have not been to a coach’s certification class in athletics you do not qualify to re-certify. To Re-certify, a coach must make sure that the Volunteer application and protective behaviors training is up to date. Please check the Certified Coaches List found on the Coach’s Corner page. Re-certification is not valid without an up to date volunteer application, protective behaviors class and concussion awareness.

Re-certification should only be done when you are close to expiration of your original certification. Please do not take the course until you have less than 3 months to go on your certification. Please check the Certified Coaches List found on the Coach’s Corner page. Certification is good for 4 years.

Eligibility

Special Olympics Softball is available to all persons age 8 and above, having been identified by an agency or professional as having an Intellectual disability, or a closely related disability which means having functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills ( such as recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care), and having registered to participate in Special Olympics.

Application for Participation

The Application for Participation in Special Olympics is commonly referred to as the Medical Release. This form is good for a specific 3 year period. The dates of the forms effectiveness is printed on the top center of the form. It is only good for this time period. Example – September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2013. Coaches should make copies of this form after completing all information. Please do not leave off any information. IF there is information that does not apply please write does not apply in that space. This form must be signed by a Physician, Physician’s assistant, Nurse Practitioner or a Clinical Nurse Specialist. It must also be signed by either an adult athlete ( with witness signature) or a Parent/ Guardian. Athletes will not be able to train or compete without the release. Coaches should have a copy of the medical release with them any time they have an athlete with them. Coaches are also responsible for updating the forms whenever a change has taken place, such as, medicine changes.

Coaches Responsibilities

Coaches have a lot of responsibility. It is imperative that coaches find enough assistant coaches to help cover all of the duties of a coach. The following is a list of responsibilities of the coach. This list will not cover everything a coach has to do in order for the team to be successful.

  1. Coaches must have enough help to supervise athletes at all times.
  2. Coaches must have a proper practice facility that is both safe and meets the needs of the athletes.
  3. Coaches must have medical releases with them at all times. Coaches must be aware of all medical issues of their athletes.
  4. Coaches must know first aid and have a phone available to call for help if needed.
  5. Coaches must train their athletes for no less than 8 weeks prior to competition. The training must be appropriate.
  6. Coaches must select sports and events that are appropriate for their athletes age and abilities.
  7. Coaches must insure that all athletes are uniformed appropriately.
  8. Coaches must know how to complete entry forms and do so on a timely basis.
  9. Coaches will be a positive influence on their athletes.
  10. Coaches must keep a written training plan for all of their practices.

Divisioning

Special Olympics divisions Athletes based upon their age, gender, and ability, with ability being the primary indicator. This aspect of Special Olympics is what separates Special Olympics from all other sports organizations. Every Athlete will receive an award. Athletes disqualified will receive a participation award.

Softball Divisioning is done through a bracket system. Brackets are determined by number of teams competing and the time allotted for the Softball facility. Teams are guaranteed at least 2 games in all brackets. The sport of Softball may not allow the event director to split Athletes by age and sex, which is acceptable.

Individual Softball skills will be divisioned by Age, Sex and preliminary scores. The scores are turned in by the coach and must reflect the true abilities of the Athlete. The event director may have to combine age divisions and gender divisions while using the preliminary score as the primary indicator for Divisioning.

Registration

All Special Olympics paperwork is now available on-line. Coaches may complete the entry forms, medical release, down’s addendum, and coaches card on-line, then print the forms and submit. The medical release and down syndrome addendum must be signed by an authorized person. All entry forms and medicals are due by the deadline that you will see on the schedule. Most can be mailed in but some must be hand delivered. You must pay attention to the directions in the schedule. The deadline is the date that paperwork must arrive, not when it is to be mailed. Mail your forms in time for the paperwork to reach the Event Director by the deadline. Please do not mail certified mail to Area or Sectional event directors, you may mail certified mail to the State office for Summer Games and Winter Games registration.

Special Olympics Oklahoma offers two different forms of Softball competition, Individual Softball Skills and Unified Softball. Individual skills are for those athletes not ready to play competitive softball or for those athletes that are not able to find a team to play on. Unified Softball has 3 levels of play, with the Low level utilizing a Tee for batting and the Highest level using ASA Slow Pitch Softball rules.

Coaches Responsibilities

1. Coaches Must have enough help to supervise Athletes at all times.
2. Coaches must have a proper practice facility that is both safe and meets the needs of the Athletes.
3. Coaches must have medical releases with them at all times. Coaches must be aware of all medical issues of their Athletes.
4. Coaches must know first aid and have a phone available to call for help if needed.
5. coaches must train their Athletes for no less than 8 weeks prior to competition. The training must be appropriate.
6. Coaches must select sports and events that are appropriate for their Athlete’s age and abilities. Softball can be a dangerous sport. It is very important that coaches not play Athletes in levels that they are above or below, for their safety and the safety of others.
7. Coaches must insure that all Athletes are uniformed appropriately.
8. Coaches must know how to complete entry forms and do so on a timely basis.
9. Coaches will be a positive influence on their Athletes.
10. coaches must keep a written training plan for all of their practices.

Special Olympics Inc. has coaching guides available on their website with 8 week training plans written out for you. You can access those plans at www.specialolympics.org These guides have a wealth of information that every coach should have. Please go to this website and read the Softball coaches guide.

Below you will find the Special Olympics Oklahoma rules of Individual Softball Skills and Unified Softball.

TRADITIONAL SOFTBALL SKILLS

LEVEL 1 – LOW SKILLS

1. Base Race

Description – Athlete is instructed to start on home plate and run around the bases in consecutive order as fast as possible, returning to home plate. The distance between the bases will be 16’.

Scoring – Athlete is timed from start signal to when he/she touches home plate after rounding all bases. The time is subtracted from 60 for the athlete’s score.

2. Bat for Distance

Description – Athlete is instructed to hit a large whiffle ball as far as possible off a batting tee. A large whiffle ball and whiffle bat will be used. Athlete is allowed 3 at bats to record a total score.

Scoring – Athlete’s score is distance the ball travels, in meters, from the batting tee to where the ball first touches the ground on the fly. The athlete’s score is the total distance of 3 hits.

3. Throw for Distance

Description – Athlete is instructed to throw the ball as far as possible in the air. The athlete must remain behind a throwing line. Athlete is allowed 3 throws to record a total score. A regular softball or a ragball may be used.

Scoring – The athlete’s score is the distance the ball travels, in meters, from throwing line to where the ball first touches the ground on the fly. The athlete’s score is the total distance of 3 throws.

4. Fielding Grounders

Description – Ground balls will be rolled to the athlete from an official 10’ away. The athlete must bend down & scoop up the ground ball in his/her glove. The athlete will have a total of 5 grounders to attempt to field.

Scoring – The athlete will receive 2 points for each ground ball successfully fielded. The score will be the total of all points from all 5 attempts.

LEVEL 2 – HIGH SKILLS

1. Base Running

Description – Athlete is instructed to start on home plate and run around the bases in consecutive order as fast as possible, returning to home plate. Each base path is 60’ in length. Athlete gets 2 attempts.

Scoring – Time starts when the athlete leaves home plate and stops when the athlete touches home plate after rounding all the bases. The time is subtracted from 60 for the score. The best of 2 trials is counted as the final score.

2. Fielding

Description – The athlete will receive a ball thrown in an easy arc from an official 15’ away. The athlete is instructed to attempt to catch the ball in the air with his/her ball glove and then throw the ball back to the official. The athlete receives 8 throws.

Scoring – The athlete will receive 2 points for each ball caught in the air. A 1 point bonus will be given for each ball successfully thrown back to the official. The score is the total of all points for catches and bonus points.

3. Hitting

Description – Standing in a regulations size batter’s box (7’6” x 3’8”) the athlete is instructed to hit the ball off a tee. Each athlete receives 3 hits. The athlete must keep both feet inside the batter’s box during each swing. The batting tee must be placed on home plate & can be adjusted in height for each batter.

Scoring – The distance of the longest hit is measured, in meters, from the batting tee to the point where the ball first touches the ground on the fly. The longest of the 3 hits is recorded as the athlete’s score.

4. Throw for Distance

Description – Athlete is instructed to throw the ball as far as possible. The athlete must stay behind a throwing line. The athletes receives 3 throws.

Scoring – The distance of the longest throw is measured, in meters, from the throwing line to the point where the ball first touches the ground on the fly. The longest of the 3 throws is recorded as the athlete’s score.

UNIFIED TEAM SOFTBALL RULES

ASA Softball Rules Apply

Playing Levels:
Level 1 – T-Ball: Low level ability, ALL players hit from a softball tee
Level 2 – Modified: Intermediate playing ability, basic understanding of the game
Level 3 – ASA Rules: Advanced playing ability, understands game and concepts.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: ALL LEVELS

  1. Matching T-shirts or Uniform style shirts with visible numbers on the back.
  2. Softball helmets ( must be worn when batting and running the bases)
  3. Softball bats only ~ must say *Official Softball Bat* on the bat barrel
  4. Athletic shoes or Softball cleats only. NO METAL CLEATS
  5. No more than 14 players on game roster per game.

RULES FOR PLAYING LEVEL 1 - T-BALL

  1. The coach will provide a lineup alternating athletes and partners, The infield will include 2 athletes and 2 partners, the outfield must include 2 athletes and 2 partners, the pitcher must be an athlete and the catcher must be a partner.
  2. A line will be placed in the outfield at 200’. The defense must attempt to stop the ball, if attempt is made batter is out if ball passes 200’ line. No attempt to make a play on the ball by a defensive player is ruled a double.
  3. Each player will be allowed 4 swings at the ball in an effort to hit a playable ball. The ball must travel past a marked 35’ neutral zone, which is in an arc in front of home and between 1st and 3rd baselines. Any interference by defender will result in an additional swing. *No physical assistance is allowed during batting.
  4. One coach may be on the field to give verbal assistance; physical assistance is prohibited.
  5. Thrown bats will receive a warning on the first incident, additional infractions will result in the player being called out.
  6. The distance between bases shall be 60’
  7. Batters will hit a 12” restricted flight softball (supplied by SOOK).

RULES FOR PLAYING LEVEL 2

  1. The coach will provide a team line up to the umpire and opposing coach prior to the start of the game. The line -up card shall provide the player numbers and the letter (A) for the athlete or (P) for the partner. The athlete and partner must alternate in the order evenly.
  2. The field will be marked by fence or painted line at 300’ . Any level 2 player who hits a ball over the fence or past the drawn line on the ground or in the air will be out. Each additional offense will result in the same call of player being an out.
  3. Level 2 will be a pitched ball. 8-11 year olds 40’. 16 plus age group 46’.
  4. Bases will be 60’ apart.
  5. A regulation game will be 7 innings or 50 min. which ever comes first.
  6. There will be a 6 run limit per inning. After a team reaches 6 runs scored or 3 outs they will switch positions in the field of play.
  7. Teams must have an athlete and a partner as Pitcher and Catcher, 2 athletes and 2 partners in the infield and 2 athletes and 2 partners in the outfield.
  8. Teams will bat the entire roster. (Requires equal number of athletes & partners for all partners to bat.)

RULES FOR PLAYING LEVEL 3

  1. The coach will provide a team line-up card to the umpire and opposing coach prior to the start of the game. The line-up card shall provide the player numbers and the letter (A) for the athlete and (P) for the partner. The athletes and partners must alternate in batting order evenly.
  2. The pitching distance will be as follows: 8-15 yr. old – 40’ and 16 yr. or older – 46’
  3. A regulation game is 7 innings or 50 min. whichever comes first.
  4. There will be a 6 run limit per inning. After 6 runs or 3 outs teams will switch positions on the field.

PLAYERS & SUBSTITUTES

  1. There are 10 players on the field. Pitcher and catcher (1 must be an athlete and the other a partner). Infield consists of 2 athletes & 2 partners; outfield consists of 2 athletes & 2 partners.
  2. All players on the roster may bat. (Requires equal number of athletes & partners for all partners to bat.)
  3. The roster size is limited to 14 players. If you have more than 14 – they may play as subs – playing for players who will sit out the game while they play. A roster may list no more that 14 players’ names.

Dominate Player rule in effect – a partner may not play outside bounds of his/her position. Violation of the rule will receive a warning then ejection of the dominant player from the game.

THE GAME

  1. A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings or 50 minutes whichever comes first.
  2. There will be a 6 run rule limit per inning. The team batting may only score 6 runs or receive 3 outs in an inning then the teams switch positions in the playing field.
  3. Winners will be determined by the score of the last completed inning if time stops the game.
  4. Ties will be broken using the International Tie Breaking rule. The last batter from the previous inning will be placed on second base with 2 outs. (only if time allows, otherwise a coin flip determines game winner.)

Softball Re-certification Test

Note: If you have not been to a coach’s certification class in softball you do not qualify to re-certify. To Re-certify, a coach must make sure that the Volunteer application and protective behaviors training is up to date. You cannot re-certify without an up to date volunteer application and protective behaviors class. SOOK only allows a limited number of attempts to take the softball re-certification test as we are charged for each test that is taken.

Take our online test