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Special Olympics offers training and competition opportunities in 30 Olympic-type sports for athletes 8 years or older.  For children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7, Special Olympics provides a Young Athletes Program. Special Olympics coaches have a unique opportunity to work with athletes in competitive situations to assist in their training for life. As a grass-roots organization, Special Olympics relies on volunteers at all levels of the movement to ensure that every athlete is offered a quality sports training and competition experience. Individual donors, corporate partners and many others make it possible for Special Olympics to offer children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy through participation in the program.
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Upper Body

Chest Opener
Chest Opener
  • With partner, place hand/arm of one hand on the partner
  • Turn chest, facing outward, away from your partner
  • Feel stretch in chest
  • Repeat with other arm
 
Side Stretch   Shoulder Stretch
Side Stretch   Shoulder Stretch
  • Bend to one side with or without hand over head
  • Feel stretch in side
  • Repeat on other side
 
  • Take elbow into hand
  • Pull to opposite shoulder
  • Arm may be straight or bent
  • Repeat with other arm
 
Shoulder Shrugs
Shoulder Shrug - up   Shoulder Shrug - down
  • Raise top of shoulder to ear
  • Relax shoulders downward
 
Arm Circles   Neck Stretch
Arm Circles   Neck Stretch
  • Swing arms forward in large circles
  • Repeat going forward and backward
 
  • Roll the neck from shoulder to shoulder with chin touching body at all times
  • Do not perform full circles as they may hyperextend the neck
  • Tell athlete to roll neck to right, center and left; never have the athlete roll neck backward
 
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Special Olympics
1133 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036 USA
+1 (202) 628-3630
Fax: +1 (202) 824-0200