SOUT Coaches & Student Requirements

All required forms can be found on Sepcial Olympics Utah website at http://sout.org/soutuhsaa-soccer/

Info

1. UHSAA Participating Schools

2. Soccer Team Assessment Drills

Unified Sports® is a registered program of Special Olympics that combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without intellectual disability on sports teams for training and competition. All Unified Sports® players, both athletes and Unified Sportsl partners, are of similar age and matched sport skill ability. Unified Sports® teams are placed in competitive divisions based on their skill abilities, and range from training divisions (with a skill-learning focus) to high level competition.

In 2012, as part of an effort to reach school-aged athletes, Special Olympics Utah formed a partnership with the UHSAA to bring Unified Sports® to Utah's high schools. The UHSAA/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program operates throughout the school year and closely follows the school calendar.

To start a Unified Sports® program in your school, you will need:
1. an interested staff member to serve as the Unified Sports® coordinator/coach
2. at least three (3) students who meet the Unified Sports® eligibility criteria.
3. available athletic equipment/facilities for team practices
4. the support of the principal and parents

The Unified Sports® coordinator/coach is responsible for assembling a team and coordinating the practice schedule. These tasks can be easily accomplished with the cooperation of your special education and physical education personnel. If the coordinator/coach is not qualified to coach a Unified Sports® team, he/she can recruit assistance from a faculty member, school coach, parent or community member who has a familiarity with sports.

For questions and/or further information, contact Jon Oglesby, UHSAA Assistant Director, at joglesby@uhsaa.org.