Services

Special Olympics
Medina County

The mission of Special Olympics Ohio is to provide year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through successful experiences in sports, individuals gain confidence and build a postitive self-image which carries over into their home, job and community.

Athletes
To be eligible for Special Olympics an athlete must:
          • have a developmental disability
          • be eight years of age or older
          • have a valid physical examination and information release form on file
          • be a member of an accredited local Special Olympics organization.
            (Special Olympics Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities is
             an accredited organization.)

                                    Athlete Forms:
                                              Athlete Application for Participation
                                              Athlete Survey Form
                                              Athlete Code of Conduct - coming soon
                                              Special Olympics Medina County brochure

Special Olympics Calendar, Schedules and News
          General Sports Season Calendar
          Sports Schedules
          Special Olympics Weather Cancellations Procedure

          News Updates

Coaches
Special Olympic coaches provide the skills and spirit that help define a true athlete. They are role models, character builders and give athletes awareness of their own worth, ability and courage. Participation is seasonal by sport. Some head coaching positions are paid positions under contract.
Special Olympics coaches:
           • assist athletes in learning new skills and applying them to competition
           • encourage confidence and self-esteem through sport
           • obtain, with help from the Special Olympics Coordinator, necessary facilities and
             equipment for training
           • recruit assistant coaches when needed
To be considered as a head coach you need to be a minimum of 18 years old. To help as a assistant coach, you need to be a minimum of 14 years old. To be a partner and participate as a team member in a unified sport you need to be a minimum of 12 years old.

                                     Coaches Forms:
                                              Coaches Survey Form
                                              Coaches Code of Conduct - coming soon
                                              Unified Sports Partner Application

Volunteers
Volunteers are the backbone of Special Olympics. Each year over 11,000 individuals donate their time to provide the sports training and competition opportunities in Medina County and across the state. Whether you are interested in coaching, officiating or assisting with an event, we have ample opportunities for you to get involved.

Event Volunteers
Special Olympics would not exist without the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of volunteers. Volunteers are sought year-round to assist with sports competitions and special events. Volunteers are given a brief orientation prior to events and most volunteer positions are easy to learn. No experience is necessary. Some volunteer opportunities include:
             Athlete Escort - help athletes find their events during competitions
            Scorers and Timers - help with timing and scoring at sports competitions
            Awards Presenters - distribute awards to the athletes after the competition
            Spirit Section - groups who attend events to cheer the athletes in competition

Sports Officials
Registered/sanctioned officials are always sought for competition at the local, sectional and state levels. Sports rules for Special Olympics events are the same as they are for competition for able-bodied sports programs with a few possible modifications. For example, high school federation (OHSAA) rules are followed for Special Olympics basketball and TAC rules govern athletics.

                                    Volunteer Forms:
                                            Youth "A" Volunteer Application (ages 14-17)
                                            Adult "A" Volunteer Application (ages 18 and over)
                                            Unified Sports Partner Application

Support
Special Olympics Medina County is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation funded through private and corporate donations and fundraising projects. In addition to monetary contributions, Special Olympics also accepts a variety of in-kind donations of goods and services. Special Olympics is not a United Way agency and does not receive any federal funds. Donations to Special Olympics are carefully managed so that the athletes benefit the most from the program. Nearly 77 percent of funds raised go directly towards programs and services for the Special Olympic athletes. Generally donations are tax deductible. For more information on how to donate locally, please contact the Special Olympics Coordinator at 330.725.7751 ext. 249

Fundraising
Volunteers are needed to help raise funds and awareness for local Special Olympics activities. The funds raised pay for items such as the cost of training athletes, uniforms, housing, meals and transportation for events.

Contact Us
         Special Olympics
         Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities
         4691 Windfall Road
         Medina,Ohio 44256

          Medina 330.725.7751             Brunswick 330.225.0533       Wadsworth 330.336.8444
          Special Olympics Medina County Coordinator ext. 249.

To request more information or submit a question about Special Olympics Medina County, email specialolympicsinfo@mcbdd.org

Special Olympics Links
Special Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics Team USA
Special Olympics International