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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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Competition Venue Requirements

The goal of the Competition Management team is to offer the athletes a high quality, challenging competition. Safety and access must be of utmost concern for athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, families and spectators when previewing a golf or practice area for competition.
 
Below are general venue planning tools for consideration when assessing a facility for competition. Ask the questions: Where? Who? How many? How long? What will follow? It is best to establish a committee or Chairperson for each or a combination of these areas.
 
If you are a coach participating but not hosting a competition, this list will also be helpful to you in managing and familiarizing your athletes with a particular competition venue.
  1. Opening/Closing Ceremony
  2. Registration for athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, families, caddies, golf cars
  3. Athlete staging prior to and during competition
  4. Scoring Area/Computer
  5. Schedule and Tee Time Assignments
  6. Awards
  7. Hospitality
  8. Housing
  9. Public Relations/Media
  10. Food/Beverage
  11. Emergency/Medical/Inclement Weather
  12. Restrooms
  13. Security
  14. Special Events/Entertainment/Clinics
  15. Transportation: Arrival, Departure
  16. Warm-Up or Practice Areas
  17. Equipment Storage
  18. Conditions of Play: Please refer to Article IX of the Special Olympics Summer Rules edition for the appropriate dimensions of each skills station and specific golf course yardages.
  1. Level 1: Skills Competition
    Wood, Iron, Pitch, Chip, Bunker, Long Putt, Short Putt Stations
    *Safety is critical in reviewing where, how and flow of each station.

  2. Level 2-5: On Course Competition
    • Start holes and scoring areas should be clearly defined
    • Assure course can be set up and marked in accordance to the USGA Rules of Golf and SO Golf Rules
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