Volleyball is one of the sports that encourages the development of Special Olympics Officials Program for
athletes. This program involves interested Special Olympic athletes who want to become certified volleyball officials.
These athletes take the same course and meet the same requirements set forth by the United States V - olleyball
Association for all volleyball officials and are then certified to officiate volleyball competitions. Volleyball stars Karch
Kiraly and Bryan Ivie have been involved with Special Olympics, as have many universities. The Big 10 Conference in
the United States officially entered a joint partnership with local Special Olympics Programs. Every school in the Big 10
conducted a volleyball clinic, welcomed Special Olympics athletes to their matches, and/or posed for pictures and signed
autographs with local Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics Volleyball is also supported by United States
Volleyball. In 1996, Special Olympics International conducted the first Special Olympics Unified sports Volleyball
Invitational as part of the USA National Open Volleyball Championships in Dallas, Texas. The Official Special Olympics
Sports Rules govern all Special Olympics Volleyball. As an international sports program, Special Olympics has created
these rules based upon Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) and the National Governing Body (NGB) rules for
volleyball. FIVB or NGB rules are employed except when they are in conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports
riles. In such cases, the Official Sports Rules apply. Special Olympics is the first organization other than a National
Olympic Committee, to be officially recognized and endorsed the International Olympic Committee.