Massachusetts

Unified Sports®

Project UNIFY

Is a strategy launched in 2008 for engaging schools and using tools & sports programs of Special Olympics

Is youth-centered, school focused

Encourages youth to be agents of change - fostering inclusion, acceptance, respect and human dignity for all students with and without intellectual disabilities

Utilizes Unified Sports®, Inclusive Student Leadership and whole school awareness activities as a deliberate catalyst to transform and enhance a school or community

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About Unified Sports

• Special Olympics introduced Unified Sports in 1984. Massachusetts was the first state!

• 19 of the 24 sports that Special Olympics MA offers are unified.

• Unified Sports Track and Field in the schools is currently in it’s 3rd year in the Mid Wachusett Region.

• MASC High Schools can participate in Unified Recreational Bocce

Unified Sports ExperiencesFan Development & Alliance Building

About Unified Track and Field

• There will be at least 13 teams this season maybe more

• MIAA Varsity Sport with 8 events

• Most schools have two practices a week and one meet a week

• Sometimes teams combine with the varsity track team during practices

• This sport reinforces the family aspect of a team

• Compete against the people with your speed not athlete or partner status.

• There will be a state meet on May 24. This is against all teams in the state.

Mid-Wach League Schools

Algonquin-WestboroughFitchburgGraftonGroton- DunstableHudsonMarlboroughMilford

NashobaNorth MiddlesexOakmontOxford Lunenburg Shrewsbury (New this year)

Unified Recreational Bocce

• Unified Bocce is offered through the student council organization in many schools (MASC) and in partnership with SOMA

• 2nd Annual Bocce Tournament was held this past Nov. 17th at Greenfield High School & Grafton High School.

• 18 schools participated between the 2 venues and another 17 schools came to watch as Fans in the Stands

There are also many community level programs such as

soccer, basketball, and volleyball.

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Additional Unified Sports Offered

• Special Olympics, MA offers 24 sports through out the year.

• 17 unified sports are offered at the local program community level. They are:

Basketball Flag Football Bowling

Volleyball Tennis Soccer

Softball Track and Field Aquatics

Bocce Cycling Golf

Fishing Sailing Roller Skating

Cheerleading Ice Skating

Fans In the Stands

Meets are a fun time to show off practiced skills and have some competition. They are even more fun if there are fans in the stands to encourage you.

• One recommendation to spread the word – create tickets and

have athletes and partners hand them to teachers and students

in classes.

Our Stories

Warm-Up!

• Track stretches

• Volley Ball Challenge: Find a partner from another school and try to pass the volleyball around. The pair that has the highest amount of passes will get a prize! You will get one try to do this.

How to Get Started:

If your school has a student council chapter and is connected with the MASC, talk with them to either get involved in a recreational bocce team or start a new team!

If your school is interested in Unified Sports Track and Field, contact Patti Doherty (patti.doherty@specialolympicsma.org)

Questions?

Our Emails

Lkoziel21@gmail.com Lexie

Caitlynomalley10@gmail.com Caitlyn

Zachb1042@gmail.com Zach

drdukey0069@aol.com James

*Feel free to email us with any other questions, ect.*

Video From State Meet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkjZM51d2Hc

Massachusetts

Thank you!