COMPETITION Sports Competition Sports by Season Spring Sports Summer Sports ... Sports Development 2003 Upcoming Softball Tournaments
Howard County (Click Here for more Information) Softball is an exciting team sport in Special Olympics. Athletes play slow pitch softball, which involves two teams of 10 athletes each. Athletes of lower ability can compete in tee-ball or individual skills contests with events that emphasize the basics of the game, such as base running. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to their ability level, age and gender. At the 1995 World Games, 404 athletes from six countries competed in this event. An exciting addition to these World Games was Unified Sports® softball competition, which included nine teams. Unified Sports® pairs athletes with and without mental retardation on one team. This allows family members to participate alongside siblings or children with mental retardation. Special Olympics softball offers a new program, Special Olympics Officials Program for Athletes®, where interested athletes train to become American Softball Association certified officials. The athletes pass the same requirements as all other officials and are certified to referee softball competition. | |
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