Athletes & Family
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Torch Run
Crossing the Finish Line

Get Certified!

Get Certified!

Do you want to get certified in this sport? Do you need to be recertified? Contact Andrea Stamm or visit Coaches Education.

Is This Sport in My Area?

Is This Sport in My Area?

Check your local program to see if they offer this sport.

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship Course

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) developed a complimentary course to give you a better understanding of sportsmanship and how it impacts your specific role in modeling it at all practices and competitions. Insight is shared throughout the course from fans, players, parents, coaches and officials.
The free course takes about 15 minutes to complete and can be found in the NFSH website. This is an extra resource for local programs and coaches, but it is not currently a part of SONC's certification process. Once the course is complete, each coach will receive a certificate. If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Stamm.

Aquatics

Aquatics was first introduced to Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) in 1974, making it one of the oldest competition events. Throughout the past 35 years, aquatics has become one of the most popular sports and a staple event at Summer Games.

Rules

Resources

Events Offered

SONC offers competition in 28 different aquatics events, ranging in distances from 10 meters to 1,500 meters, and featuring all strokes (backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle).

Individual events are offered for all strokes, and relay events are offered to athletes in two of three levels. SONC offers walking and flotation events for athletes of lower ability.

SONC also offers relay events in the Unified Sports model, featuring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities (called Unified Partners) to compete together.

Athletes may select up to three events from Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3, but must stay within their level. Athletes competing in Level 2 or Level 3 events are eligible for two relay team events.

Developmental
15m Walk
10m Assisted Swim
15m Unassisted Swim
25y Flotation Race

Level 1
15m Unassisted Swim
25y Freestyle
25y Backstroke

Level 2
25y/50y Backstroke
25y/50y Breaststroke
25y/50y Butterfly
25y/50y Freestyle
100y Individual Medley

Level 3
50y/100y/200y Backstroke
50y/100y/200y Breaststroke
50y/100y Butterfly
50y/100y/200y/500y/1000y/1650y Freestyle
100y/200y Individual Medley

Relay Team Events (Traditional & Unified Sports)
4x25y Medley Relay
4×25/4×50 Freestyle Relay

Competition Opportunities

Aquatics qualifiers are designed to help division (a competitive grouping by age, gender and ability) athletes for state-level events. Attendance at an aquatics qualifier is mandatory for athletes in order to advance to state-level competition. Qualifiers for aquatics take place typically in April.

SONC Summer Games is the state-level competition features six sports and takes place in Raleigh typically the first weekend in June.

The Special Olympics Multi-State Aquatics Invitational is hosted by Special Olympics Wake County. This event features aquatics athletes from surrounding states, as well as some from as far as Ohio. It is typcially held the last Saturday of March. For more information, contact the Special Olympics Wake County local program coordinator.

Aquatics Calendar

Registration Forms

All forms must be submitted by the local program coordinator.

Qualifier Coach Roster
Aquatics Qualifier Individual Entry Form
Aquatics Qualifier Relay Form

Summer Games Sport Registration Forms

Below are the sport-specific registration forms which must be submitted by the local program coordinator along with the remainder of the Summer Games registration.  Click here for a full list of Summer Games registration forms.

Summer Games Aquatics Entry Instructions
Summer Games Relay Entry Form
Summer Games Deck Pass Application

Sport Development Team

These volunteers advise SONC staff regarding sport rule modifications, competition and also train coaches in their sport! For more information on the aquatics sport development team, contact one of the members below or Michael King, SONC staff liaison.

Colleen Gillan, Aquatics SDT Director
Marion, NC

Kory Blair
Greenville, NC

Mary Dwyer
New Bern, NC

Patti Wilkerson
Marion, NC

Certified Clinicians

In addition to the sport development team, these volunteers are able to conduct local sport specific training schools on behalf of SONC. Contact the clinician in your area if you would like to schedule a training (their county of residence is located under their name). For more information on becoming a certified clinician, contact Andrea Stamm.

Peter Cowick
Mecklenburg