Joining a Special Olympics team, either as an athlete or as a Unified Partner, gives individuals an opportunity to not only train and compete in sports, but meet new friends and develop a social network that lasts long after any event.
To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, you must be at least 8 years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays as measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require or have required specially designed instruction.
Children ages 2 through 7 can participate in The Special Olympics Young Athletes™ program.
Individuals with profound disabilities can participate in the Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Program (MATP), developed by physical educators, physical therapists and recreation therapists. The MATP emphasizes training and participation rather than competition.
Check out our Sports and Competitions section to see the variety of sports and events you can participate in; and then use our convenient Program Locator tool to find a team in your area that best fits your interests.
Once you have an idea of which team you'd like to join, or if you need additional assistance, please contact Brenda Zullo at 302-740-1045 or bzullo@udel.edu.
Note: Each athlete/unified partner must have an SODE application on file before participating in any practice or competition. More information on these forms will be provided to you when you contact us to get involved.
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