Sports Offered
Athletics
Athletics is the largest sporting event for Special Olympics in Arkansas. We have area meets in 17 areas of the state with the number of athletes competing in the area meets ranging from 300 to 1,200. The area meets are usually held on Saturdays during the month of April. The State Athletics Meet is held during the Summer Games with 2,000 athletes competing. Athletics includes 18 track events and six field events, as well as the Pentathlon.
Aquatics
Meets are held during April and May with the State Aquatics Meet being held during the Summer Games. Aquatics are exciting to watch and we would like more and more athletes to become involved in training and competition.
Basketball
Basketball is getting more popular, with new teams entering each year! District Tournaments are held during the month of February with the overnight State Basketball Tournament being held the latter part of March.
Bocce
Italian Lawn Bowling, a sport offered for Masters Age Division athletes (22 & up). After the Arkansas Team represented our state so well in Minneapolis at the 1991 International Games, the sport has caught on like wildfire. Bocce is offered on the local level in April and during the State Summer Games.
Bowling
Area Tournaments for Special Olympics take place during the months of December and January. The State Bowling Tournament is held at Professor Bowl in Little Rock in December. Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Team Bowling is held.
Cycling
Regional cycling races take place in September and April with the State Cycling Competition taking place at the Summer Games in May.
Speed Skating
Special Olympics Ice Skating training takes place year round with emphasis on September through December. Competitions occur in February. Males and females compete on all ability levels and we are currently trying to reach out to more athletes to get involved in the program.
Floor Hockey
Team floor Hockey Competition takes place in February during the Winter Games. The sport is played on a floor ( not ice ), such as a gym floor or roller rink. It is very competitive and exciting, which is obviously the reason the number of teams at the Winter Games seems to double each year.
Football (Soccer)
Team soccer competition is offered during the Fall and Unified soccer is offered during the summer Games in May. Arkansas teams compete each year in the Memphis-McKesson Soccer Tournament. Five-A-Side unified soccer takes place during the Summer Games and involves teams that consist of 50% athletes (Special Olympics) and 50% athletes (partners) playing together on the same team as teammates.
Golf
Special Olympics Golf is a relatively new sport to the programs offered through participation in Arkansas Special Olympics. Golf Competition consists of Individual Skills, nine-hole play, 18-hole play and Unified golf. Golf takes place in the months of March and April.
Gymnastics
Competition has been on the decline over the past few years, so major emphasis has been placed on developing the sport. New rule books are out with the compulsory routines and are available at gymnastic coaches certification clinics or through the director Anita Vandiver. New sport skills books are available as well.
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a new sport to Special Olympics Arkansas but it has rocketed into a very popular sport among the athletes. Special Olympics athletes competed in the State championships- NASA ( Natural Athletes Strength Association) and will be competing year-round in regular competitions. Power-lifting is offered as one of the sports during the Summer games.
Softball
Team Softball competition takes place both in the Fall during September and October (tournaments and league play) and in May during the Summer Games. Also, Unified Softball competition is constantly increasing. Teams consist of 50% S.O.A. athletes and 50% partners. The Tournament is held in Cabot.
Tennis
Tennis is a relatively new sport to Special Olympics Arkansas- coaches training clinics are now being coordinated around the state.
Volleyball
Tournaments are held in Cabot during November.
Special Olympics Arkansas is proud to offer a wide varitey of sports programs to all the athletes in the state of Arkansas. If you are interested in any of these programs please contact our office.
Athletics is the largest sporting event for Special Olympics in Arkansas. We have area meets in 17 areas of the state with the number of athletes competing in the area meets ranging from 300 to 1,200. The area meets are usually held on Saturdays during the month of April. The State Athletics Meet is held during the Summer Games with 2,000 athletes competing. Athletics includes 18 track events and six field events, as well as the Pentathlon.
Aquatics
Meets are held during April and May with the State Aquatics Meet being held during the Summer Games. Aquatics are exciting to watch and we would like more and more athletes to become involved in training and competition.
Basketball
Basketball is getting more popular, with new teams entering each year! District Tournaments are held during the month of February with the overnight State Basketball Tournament being held the latter part of March.
Bocce
Italian Lawn Bowling, a sport offered for Masters Age Division athletes (22 & up). After the Arkansas Team represented our state so well in Minneapolis at the 1991 International Games, the sport has caught on like wildfire. Bocce is offered on the local level in April and during the State Summer Games.
Bowling
Area Tournaments for Special Olympics take place during the months of December and January. The State Bowling Tournament is held at Professor Bowl in Little Rock in December. Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Team Bowling is held.
Cycling
Regional cycling races take place in September and April with the State Cycling Competition taking place at the Summer Games in May.
Speed Skating
Special Olympics Ice Skating training takes place year round with emphasis on September through December. Competitions occur in February. Males and females compete on all ability levels and we are currently trying to reach out to more athletes to get involved in the program.
Floor Hockey
Team floor Hockey Competition takes place in February during the Winter Games. The sport is played on a floor ( not ice ), such as a gym floor or roller rink. It is very competitive and exciting, which is obviously the reason the number of teams at the Winter Games seems to double each year.
Football (Soccer)
Team soccer competition is offered during the Fall and Unified soccer is offered during the summer Games in May. Arkansas teams compete each year in the Memphis-McKesson Soccer Tournament. Five-A-Side unified soccer takes place during the Summer Games and involves teams that consist of 50% athletes (Special Olympics) and 50% athletes (partners) playing together on the same team as teammates.
Golf
Special Olympics Golf is a relatively new sport to the programs offered through participation in Arkansas Special Olympics. Golf Competition consists of Individual Skills, nine-hole play, 18-hole play and Unified golf. Golf takes place in the months of March and April.
Gymnastics
Competition has been on the decline over the past few years, so major emphasis has been placed on developing the sport. New rule books are out with the compulsory routines and are available at gymnastic coaches certification clinics or through the director Anita Vandiver. New sport skills books are available as well.
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a new sport to Special Olympics Arkansas but it has rocketed into a very popular sport among the athletes. Special Olympics athletes competed in the State championships- NASA ( Natural Athletes Strength Association) and will be competing year-round in regular competitions. Power-lifting is offered as one of the sports during the Summer games.
Softball
Team Softball competition takes place both in the Fall during September and October (tournaments and league play) and in May during the Summer Games. Also, Unified Softball competition is constantly increasing. Teams consist of 50% S.O.A. athletes and 50% partners. The Tournament is held in Cabot.
Tennis
Tennis is a relatively new sport to Special Olympics Arkansas- coaches training clinics are now being coordinated around the state.
Volleyball
Tournaments are held in Cabot during November.
Special Olympics Arkansas is proud to offer a wide varitey of sports programs to all the athletes in the state of Arkansas. If you are interested in any of these programs please contact our office.
