What are Sport Development Teams?
Special Olympics North Carolina Sport Development Teams are comprised of key leadership volunteers who represent each of SONC's 20 sports. Typically, these individuals represent a variety of levels within their respective sports, both inside and outside of Special Olympics.

Special Olympics North Carolina sports include: Alpine skiing, athletics, aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, cycling, equestrian, figure skating, floor hockey, golf, gymnastics, powerlifting, roller skating, soccer, softball, speed skating, tennis and volleyball. From local sports training and competitions to national and world games, Special Olympics has opportunities for athletes of all ages and skill levels!

What are the goals of Sport Development Teams?
The primary goals of Special Olympics North Carolina sport development teams include effectively promoting the sport within the Special Olympics community, increasing awareness of and athlete participation in the sport, and working to improve the quality of coach/athlete training and competition opportunities for the sport they represent.

Who are Sport Development Team Members?
Special Olympics North Carolina Sport development team members come from a variety of backgrounds, including high school and college coaches and officials, professional instructors, representatives from sport governing bodies and organizations, and local program coaches, athletes and family members. Each sport development team strives to have representatives from across the state.

Sport development team members agree to a two-year commitment and are eligible for re-appointment. Each sport development team is led by a volunteer sport director who serves as chief administrator as it develops resources throughout the state. The team plans coach and athlete trainings, clinics and demonstrations, and public awareness efforts.

Sport Development Team Directory

What are Sport Development Team Responsibilities?
The Special Olympics North Carolina Sport Development Team members are committed to the philosophy and mission of Special Olympics and create quality sports programs based on these beliefs.
Members work with the SONC Sport Director to regularly serve as a clinicians, or assist in the recruitment of qualified clinicians, at coaches’ training schools. The schools meet the guidelines and standards of SONC/SOI. These SOI and National Governing bodies standards will be used in rules interpretation and updating. Special Olympics Sport Development Team members are proactive and continually network to establish and develop sports-related resources for volunteers, facility contacts, organizations, media outlets and fundraising sources. Members counsel SONC community games management teams insuring the quality and effective operation of both training and competition, and assist area directors in providing the necessary local program support to develop and maintain their sport programs.
Annually, each SDT develops a written operational or action plan that includes established goals and objectives for a sport program over the short and long-term.

Want more information?
Contact Andrea Stamm , SONC Sr. Sport Director, at 800-843-6276, ext. 105 (NC only).