Special Olympics Unified Bags registration

I'm excited to open registration for a new sport our Region is piloting! Unified Bags is strictly a Unified Sport where a Special Olympics Athlete is partnered with a Unified Partner, which is someone who does not have any disabilities, and they compete as a team. The scores for both Athlete & Partner on each team are used to determine the outcome of the games. A Unified Partner could be a family member, friend, student, etc. For this sport, the Athletes and Unified Partners must be at least 18 years old. Athletes must have or submit a current Medical completed by a medical professional, and Unified Partners must have or complete a current Special Olympics Class A Unified Partner registration that includes a background check. In addition, there is paperwork required by both Special Olympics and Special Connections to be completed before you will be allowed to practice.

The turnaround timeframe for getting this sport rolling is rather quick. I was waiting on practice venue information and some other things. In the email I sent in December to gauge interest, I mentioned that practices would probably be on Wednesdays, however that will not be the case. Practices will be on Mondays at Shabbona School on School St. in Morris 7-8pm, and may be divided into 2 shifts to accommodate the maximum number of people. I wanted to start practices next Monday, Jan. 23rd but instead we will use that hour to hold an in-person meeting to fill out paperwork, go over rules, and I will bring at least 2 laptops for those who need to complete the Class A Unified Partner registration. If you are not sure if you want to register, then come to the meeting to hear more about it. MEDICALS AND CLASS As ARE DUE TO ME NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 13TH OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND COMPETE. There is NO GRACE PERIOD on this!

Anyone 18 years or over is welcome to register. The cost is $15 per person, and the roster limit is 16 teams. I will create a waiting list if needed. If you replied to the interest email in December, then I have you on the list as tentative. Please register if you are still interested in participating. If you are now not interested anymore, please let me know so I can take you off my list. If you are a current Athlete or Unified Partner, then I will let you know if your Medical or Class A is valid or if you'll need a new one. Medicals and Class As must be valid through at least April 1st. I will send emails to those on the list with the forms attached that I need completed, and that will make things go a lot quicker on Monday if you can print and fill out at home to bring that night. Registration will close Thursday, January 26th and paperwork will be due by the beginning of practice on January 30th. You can register by replying to this email, on our website specialconnections.org, or call Tina Nall at 815-230-1877. Commenting on the facebook post will not be a valid registration.

***According to the response in December, I am still in need of 3 Unified Partners to pair up with Athletes. If you are registering as an Athlete, and do not already have a Unified Partner set up, then I cannot guarantee there will be a Unified Partner available to pair up with you. You will not be able to participate as an individual. If anyone knows anybody that might be a good Unified Partner then please share this information with them!***