Special Olympics Athletics registration

SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETICS (TRACK AND FIELD)

Athletes, ages 8 and up, interested in competing in track and/or field events may sign up for Special Olympics Athletics. There will be an informational Zoom meeting Wednesday, February 15th at 7:00pm. The link for this meeting is below. I encourage everyone interested, or if you just need more information, to attend the meeting. We will go over paperwork, practice/competition information, and current rules/policies. I am happy to announce that Josie Markus will be returning as the Athletics Head Coach this year! She is ready and excited to lead our athletes and assistant coaches for a great season! The roster will be capped at 40 athletes, and precedence will be given to athletes who participated and competed at the 2022 Regional competition. If I have more than 40 registrations, then a waiting list will be created on a first come, first served basis. The cost to participate the entire season is $15.

Practice will be held every Wednesday (*please note the new day of the week), weather permitting, starting March 1st, 4:45-6pm and then starting March 15th, 5:45-7pm at Minooka District 201 Track and Field located at the Intermediate/Jr High campus at the corner of McEvilly and Ridge Rd, Minooka. Spring Games (regional competition) will be May 6-7 (we will commute there and back both days) at Thornwood HS in South Holland; Summer Games (state competition), for those who qualify, will be June 9th-11th at ISU Bloomington/Normal. All athletes are expected to complete the season, however athletes competing in relays MUST commit to the entire season. Athletes who advanced to Summer Games in doubles or team for bocce or a relay in swimming are not eligible to join a track relay team, but can still do individual events. **Bocce state qualifiers will not be able to register for Athletics at all because the practice day is the same for both sports** See Tina if you have questions about this. Transportation to practice is the athlete's responsibility. The SC buses will be used for competitions.

Registration will close Feb 21st, and I will start pulling from the waiting list on the 22nd provided there is room on the roster. Completed paperwork (for athletes & coaches) and fee will be due to me by the beginning of the first practice on March 1st, or you will not be able to attend practice. Medicals must be valid through June 11th. If you are not sure when your Medical expires, I can check that for you. If you need a new Medical it must be turned in to me by March 22nd or you will not be able to compete. Coach Class A registrations must also be completed by this date.

Volunteer Assistant Coaches ages 14 and up are needed at practices and competitions. Complete knowledge of track and field events is not required. Please respond if you are interested in volunteering at practice and possibly at competitions, and I will get you set up to help. A current Class A registration through Special Olympics that includes a background check for those 18 and older as well as some paperwork is required to be an assistant coach. If you have coached in the past, and are not sure of the expiration date of your Class A, I can look that up for you.