2017-2018 Sport/Organizational Updates/Reminders
Athlete Ambassador Program
SONC started the Athlete Ambassador program this past year to capture athletes who would like to be more actively involved in representing the organization at various events such as Torch Run events, sponsor store openings, sponsor promotions, etc. Over 70 athletes statewide have already signed up but we would love to have lots more. Contact Kristine Hughes at for more information.
SOFit Program and MedFest
Ellen Fahey, SONC health director, has provided the resources to hold a 16-week health and fitness program called SOFit for all programs interested in offering this additional opportunity to contribute to athlete health, either during the sport training season or during the off months.
Additionally, there are also materials available if your local program would like to host a MedFest event where athletes are brought together for free completion of their Athlete Participation Form and an introduction to current sport offerings.
Sport Calendar
A tentative calendar for 2017-2018 has been shared to give an idea of what is already being planned for this next program year. Please note:
· State-level event dates are set.
· Some additional competition opportunities are noted.
· If an event is listed under a month but with no specific date, it means that all details are still being worked out and it will basically happen in that season.
· We want to capture all multi-county events that are taking place so please share plans back to us throughout the year.
· This document is intended to give programs a snapshot of plans for the program year but you should always reference the calendar on the web site for the latest version. Significant changes to the calendar will be noted on the Updates page of the web site.
Unified Sports
Additional competition opportunities are being created for Unified Sports. This is being done in anticipation of potentially removing all Unified competition from state-level events but SONC is not prepared to make this change. All Unified competition will remain status quo at state-level events for 2017-2018.
There are already more and more opportunities for Unified Sports as it is intended to provide additional competition, not replace traditional competition. This includes sports offered through SO College for the young adult athletes as well as the activity in public schools across the state.
Training and Communication with Local Programs
· A fall and spring updates webinar will be held for all local coordinators (or representatives) to join.
· A preview webinar will be offered for those programs planning to attend Fall Tournament and Summer Games.
· Additional event training webinars will be offered and links from this past spring’s webinars will be made available. Local programs will be surveyed to identify topics.
· The spring games toolkit is being completely revamped and will be featured on its own web page by the fall.
· Networking opportunities will be held separately.
· GMS training will be handled on a case-by-case basis with sport staff now able to use a tool to access your computer and actually do some of the instruction directly on your work stations (the same as what Curt, the information technology director, is able to do.
Financial Reporting
SONC will continue the same practice of financial reporting to ensure local programs are properly informed of the status of both the pooled bank account as well as investments. Reports will go out every other month. An investment summary will be provided in June 2018 as well as a fully audited year-end report of the bank account.
Athlete Participation Forms
We are still not going with the new form so keep doing what you are doing! The only places you may see the new form used will be MedFest events and USA Games registration.
Rosters
SONC will continue to ask all local programs to submit rosters from local events – primarily spring games. Additionally, training rosters for the sport season are now routinely requested. The information provided to SONC through these rosters has been invaluable. Please continue to let your community resource director know if there is anything SONC can do to help ensure you can fulfill these requests.
Coach certification levels
SONC is updating the coach education program with updated coaching “levels” as well as an updated training school format. The change in levels reflects changes from Special Olympics North America. Additionally, it brings SONC in line with other sports organizations. A quick explanation of the changes is provided below with a full chart available to fill in the details:
· Sport Assistant: not a coach, but more than a chaperone – New Level
· Level 1 Coach – similar to previous Certified Coach status - eligible to coach local and state level events
· Level 2 Coach - similar to previous Advanced Certified Coach - eligible to apply as coach for Special Olympics Team North Carolina) –
· Level 3 Coach -eligible to apply as Special Olympics USA coach for World Games – New Level
Maximum Effort
The maximum effort rule will still be in effect for athletics and swimming events for Summer Games. We have made some adjustments this past year on how this rule is applied and enforced, and will continue to apply the rule in that fashion. If at any time you have questions regarding this rule, please contact the sport department at .
In-Person Training Opportunities
If you would like to offer some trainings for a group of your coaches, you can request Coaching Special Olympics Athletes and Making the Most Out of Your Practice which is a non-sport specific training that focuses on the elements of an effective training session, and then coaches put together a practice with a group of athletes. We think it is so great, we will come to you! SONC Sport Staff or volunteer trainers will meet with your coaches pre-season so they can use what they start their season with new energy and new tools. Contact your regional sport director (Nathan Brookins – East, Lauren Saulter – West) for more information.
Sports Information
All of the sport web pages will be updated with rules, etc. and webinars will be posted by the first of August. You are encouraged to have all of your coaches view this webinar!
Event & Sport Updates
Equestrian Tournament
Hunt Horse Complex, Raleigh
September 29-October 1, 2017
· For the 2017-2018 program year, the test patterns will be Test #7 for trails and showmanship; Test #1 for dressage and western riding. These are posted on the SONC equestrian web page.
· In fall of 2017, Western classes will start, followed by English.
· Only two riders are allowed to compete on one horse. If two riders share one horse, only one of them can be A level, unless previously cleared by SONC.
· All athletes in mounted classes are required to ride in divisioning “classes” on Friday afternoon to be eligible to compete during the weekend.
· Athletes will compete at a walk or walk/trot for gymkhana and/or relay team races.
· Coggins tests will be checked when you arrive at the horse complex for state-level competition and a copy must be posted on the stall door. These should be dated after October 1, 2016 (completed within the last year).
· Unified Partners and relays will be allowed for the 2017 SONC Equestrian Tournament. SONC and the sport development team are looking at ways to incorporate Unified Sports in other ways throughout the year. This is being done in anticipation of potentially removing all Unified competition from state-level events starting in the 2017-2018 program year.
Fall Tournament
Charlotte
November 3-5, 2017
State-Level Event Update: Traditional 3v3 and Masters 3v3 competition will be held in the Fall of 2018, with Traditional 5v5 in Fall of 2017. 3v3 and 5v5 play will alternate years.
General Basketball
· A uniform check will be administered before each game by the officials. Non-compliance of uniforms is not protest-able. If a team does not follow the uniform regulations, officials will enforce and assess penalties prior to tip-off.
· Shirts worn under jerseys are considered part of the uniform and therefore must be the same color as the predominant color of the jerseys. Undershirts are not required, but if worn by more than one team member, they must be the same color and style. Teams with reversible jerseys must have undershirts that match both sides.
· Home and away teams will be assigned at competition: home = light, away = dark.
· Teams should have the following jersey/uniform options in order to be prepared for home/away assignments:
o Two colors of jerseys and t-shirts (light and dark)
o Pinnies,
o Reversible jerseys and t-shirts
· Players are allowed to wear medical devices like knee braces or wristguards, but they must be approved by the competition manager and/or official before the start of the game. Depending on the severity of the device and any safety issues, a doctor’s note may be required in order for the player to wear this device at state-level competition.
· Shorts: It is not necessary that shorts match the color of the jersey, but all team members must match. Socks do not need to match.
· Headgear, wrist/arm gear, and shoes
o Compression sleeves, headbands and wristbands must be unadorned and be the predominant color of the jersey, white, black, or beige. If worn, all players must wear the same color compression sleeves, headbands and/or wristbands.
o Athletics shoes with non-marking soles.
o All jewelry is prohibited (medical ID tags, if worn, must be taped to the person).
o Athletes wearing eyeglasses must also have an eyeglass strap.
3-on-3 Team Competition
· The maximum allowable roster size is 6 players for 3-on-3.
· Defensive players must allow an arm’s length of space for the offensive team to in-bound the ball (same as 5-on-5 rules stating that defensive players cannot reach to slap or crowd the offensive player in-bounding the ball).This space applies on all sides of the inbounding player. The foul line to the X is a good rule of thumb for the distance that should be allowed.
· If a game is tied at the end of regulation a one-minute, stopped clock period will be played; with initial possession being determined by a coin toss. If a tie remains after the one-minute period, the game will be decided by the team that scores the next basket (i.e. sudden death). If, at any point during overtime, a team reaches 20 points, that team will be the winner.
5-on-5 Team Competition (Fall Tournament 2017)
· The maximum allowable roster size is 12 players for 5-on-5. A game consists of four eight-minute quarters with a running clock, except for the last minute of the second and fourth quarters, all shooting fouls, time outs, and during substitutions. If a team leads by 20 points or more, a running clock will occur for the rest of the game. The clock will only stop for time-outs or at the request of an official.
· 5-on-5 competition will use a tip-off to determine possession at the beginning of a game.
· If a game is tied at the end of regulation, a one-minute overtime period will occur. The clock will be stopped on all dead balls, foul shots, and timeouts. If the game is still tied after the one-minute period, the game will be decided by the team that scores the next basket (i.e. sudden death). This untimed period will occur following a one minute break.
· A substituting player must notify the scorekeeper and wait for the referee’s signal to enter the game. Substitutions will only be made during dead balls.
· The penalty for a double personal, double technical and simultaneous fouls will result in an alternating possession throw-in to resume play from the point of interruption.
· If a player participates after being disqualified (fouled out), the coach will be penalized with a direct technical foul.
· There may only be 4 defensive and 2 offensive players permitted on marked lane spaces during free throws, with the spaces closest to the free-throw line remaining vacant.
· One and one free throws are awarded on the 7th team foul.
· Team control exists during a team throw-in. The defending team, if in bonus, is no longer granted free throws if the throw in team commits a foul.
· When an opponent contacts the thrower-in, an intentional foul will be charged to the offender.
· Five second closely guarded count begins as soon as the ball is in play.
Bocce
· The three attempt rule has been updated from SOI. The team possessing the pallina will have three attempts to place the pallina between the 30’ and 50’ line. If the team is unsuccessful after three attempts, the opposing team will have one attempt to place the pallina. If no team successfully places the pallina between the 30’ and 50’ line, the referee will then place the pallina in the center of the 40’ line.
· No part of an athlete’s foot or apparatus will be allowed to come in contact with the foul line.
· Additional competition opportunities are being created for Unified bocce doubles and team. This is being done in anticipation of potentially removing all Unified competition from state-level events starting in the 2017-2018 program year.
Golf
· There are no event or rule changes for 2017-2018 at this time.
· Additional competition opportunities are being created for Unified Sports golf levels 2 and 3. This is being done in anticipation of potentially removing all Unified competition from state-level events starting in the 2017-2018 program year.