Special Olympics Oklahoma offers 19 Olympic-style individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities. Oklahoma is divided into 14 geographic areas that are managed by volunteer Area Management Teams. In the spring, Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes train and compete in their area to advance to Summer Games. The athletes also train and compete in their area in the fall to advance to Winter Games. In addition, athletes who train in their areas qualify to compete not only in the State competitions, but they also are eligible to compete in National/Regional and World Games.
Our Sports
Athletics
The sport of Athletics encourages athletes of all abilities and ages to compete at their optimum level. Through the track-and-field-based athletics training program, participants can develop total fitness to compete in any sport. As with all Special Olympics sports, Athletics offers athletes the opportunity to learn through skill development and competitive settings and to be involved in large social settings.
Athletic Events
25M Walk – 25M Partner Walk – 100M Walk – 400M Walk – 50M Run – 100M Run – 200M Run – 400M Run – 800M Run – 1500M Run – 25M Manual Wheelchair Race – 25M Electric Wheelchair Race – 30M Manual Slalom – 30M Electric Slalom – 4x100M Relay – Running Long Jump – Standing Long Jump – High Jump – Shot Put – Wheelchair Shot Put – Softball Throw – Turbo Jav – Pentathlon
Athletics Director
Scott Moore
405-732-5283 H
405-850-5105
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Athletics
Basketball
Basketball is one of the top sports at Special Olympics. Players take it up at all ages and at all abilities, from young players learning to handle the ball and keep it under control while dribbling to older, more experienced players who have the moves and know the strategies to play challenging ball.
It’s also one of the favorite sports for the Special Olympics Unified Sports initiative, when players with and without intellectual disabilities form teams to play other unified teams. It’s a learning experience that’s also a lot of fun.
Basketball Director
Bob Weckstein
580-723-4543 W
580-723-4518 H
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Basketball
Bocce
Bocce is an Italian game. The basic principle of the sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a palina. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. Bocce is the third most participated sport in the world and one of the most popular sports with our athletes.
Bocce Events
Traditional Singles – Traditional Doubles – Unified Doubles
Bocce Director
Curtis Boyer
405-366-5932 W
405-550-6690 Cell
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Bocce
Bowling
Ten-pin Bowling commonly called “Bowling” in the US, is a competitive sport in which a player (the “bowler”) rolls a bowling ball down a wooden lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible. Although Bowling does not belong to the Olympic sports, it is among the most popular sports in Special Olympics. It is a particularly beneficial sport to people with intellectual disabilities, irrespective of their age or sports abilities, since it ensures physical exercise and at the same time participation and social integration. Plus, it’s great fun!
SOOK Bowling Events
Traditional Singles – Unified Doubles – Unified Team
Bowling Director
Justin Van Brunt
405-306-3820
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Bowling
Cross Country Skiing
Cross Country Skiing is offered as one of three Special Olympics Oklahoma snow sports, along with Alpine Skiing, and Snowshoeing. Cross Country Skiing has been a Special Olympics official sport with events at the World Games since 1977. There are more than 41,000 athletes who participate in the sport of Cross Country Skiing across six global regions. Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles.
Cross Country Skiing Competition
Heartland Games – Missouri & Kansas
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Cross Country Skiing
Equestrian
Equestrian is one of the most fascinating sports during the Special Olympics World Games. The balance, the stability and the right communication between the horse and the rider is a key element for success in Equestrian sport.
Equestrian Events
Barrel Race – Figure 8 Stake Race – Rail Class – Showmanship – Unified Relay – Western Riding – Working Trails
Equestrian Director
Rachel Royston 405-404-0190
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Equestrian
Esports
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Esports
Flag Football
Football is an amazingly popular American sport, and Unified Flag Football is becoming extremely popular within Special Olympics. Unified Flag Football is a non-contact game played with flag belts designed to be safe and fun for all players. Athletes and Unified Partners train and play together in this highly competitive sport.
Unified Flag Football Events
Unified 5-a-side competition – State competition only
Flag Football Director
Craig Jones
cajone@aep.com
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Flag Football
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes. The game is played on golf courses, each of which features a unique design, although courses typically consist of either 9 or 18 holes.
Golf Events
Skills – Partner Play Alternate Shot 9 Holes – Individual Play 9 or 18 Holes
Golf Director
Mark Clemons
405-834-1276 W
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Golf
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people (or two teams of two people) using four horseshoes and two throwing stakes set in a lawn or sandbox area. Players alternate tossing the horseshoes in this game of skill and fun.
Horseshoes Events
Singles – Traditional Doubles – Unified Doubles
Horseshoes Director
Curtis Boyer
405-366-5932 W
405-550-6690 Cell
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Horseshoes
Motor Activities
The Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) is designed for athletes who are unable to participate in official Special Olympics sport competitions because of their skill and/or functional abilities. MATP is designed to assist athletes to prepare for sport-specific activities appropriate for their ability levels.
MATP Events
13 total events – Gross Motor – Fine Motor – Locomotor – Propelling classifications
Motor Activities Director
Debbie Nobles
918-241-6627
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Motor Activities
Powerlifting
Every athlete aims is lifting more weights than the opponent using specific moves. In Special Olympics Powerlifting is much more than deadlift, squat or bench press. It is effort, persistence and loyalty. Training, determination and attitude, are the key facts that define the balance between a successful or a failed attempt. The barbell, despite testing the physical strength, is also highlighting the athlete’s inner wish to improve, “not to make compromises.”
Powerlifting Events
Bench Press – Deadlift – Squat – 2 Combo events
Powerlifting Director
Dean Paynter
405-640-8577 H
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Powerlifting
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is quickly becoming a favorite for outdoor winter activity. Combining aerobic activity with ease of walking over snow without sinking in, snowshoeing is an activity for all ages. Snowshoe races are part of the Heartland Winter Games and the Special Olympics Winter Games.
Snowshoeing Competition
Heartland Games – Missouri & Kansas
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Snowshoeing
Soccer
Soccer (football in other parts of the world) is possibly the world’s most popular team sport. It is also Special Olympics’ most popular sport. Athletes compete on a Unified 5-aside team against other teams of similar age and ability.
Soccer Events
Unified 5-a-Side – State competition only
Soccer Director
John Seals
918-481-1234
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Soccer
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. Every team aims in scoring as many runs possible, against the opponents by striking the ball with the bat. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand. The game is played on a smaller diamond than in baseball and despite the game’s name, the standard softball is not soft; in fact, it is harder than a baseball.
Softball Events
Skills – Unified Team play
Softball Director
Matthew Dickerson
mdickerson@bixbyok.gov
918-899-8868
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Softball
Swimming
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in world. Unlike other sports, swimming is a life skill that is taught, first, to ensure safety and, secondly, for sports and competition purposes. Swimming covers a great variety of skills, from short sprints to longer events and relays.
SOOK Swimming Events
25M Front Flotation – 25M Back Flotation – 4x25M Floatation Relay – 25M Freestyle – 25M Backstroke – 25M Breaststroke – 25M Butterfly – 25M Ind. Medley – 50M Freestyle – 50M Backstroke – 50M Breaststroke – 50M Butterfly – 50M Ind. Medley – 100M Freestyle – 100M Backstroke – 100M Breaststroke – 100M Butterfly – 200M Freestyle – 4×25 Free Relay – 4x25M Medley Relay – 4x50M Free Relay – 4x50M Medley Relay
Swimming Director
Nancy McChesney
ocsharks@yahoo.com
918-756-5308 H
918-759-8470 C
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Swimming
Volleyball
The game of Volleyball is attractive to all types of players, from competitive to recreational, young and old. To play volleyball players need to acquire a few basic skills and learn a few rules. The game requires very little equipment, and can be played almost anywhere from the beach to the gym. The aim of the sport is to score more points by hitting the ball with the hands and sending it over the net to the opponent’s court.
Volleyball Events
Skills – Unified Team play
Volleyball Director
Ashley Hurney
918-408-5611 Cell
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