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Softball is an exciting team sport in Special Olympics.
Athletes play slow pitch softball, which
involves two teams of 10 players to start the
game. Athletes who can not yet play the game are
able to participate in tee-ball or individual
skills competitions with events that emphasize the basics
of the game, such as base running. As in all
Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in
competition divisions according to their
ability level, age and gender. There are currently 30,336
athletes representing 63 programs worldwide.
WORLD GAMES HISTORY
At the 1995 World Games, 404 athletes
from six countries competed
in this event. An exciting addition
to these World Games was Unified
Sports softball competition,
which included nine teams. Unified Sports
pairs athletes with
and without mental retardation on one team. The
1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games held
in Raleigh, North
Carolina hosted 413
athletes representing 7 worldwide programs in
traditional
softball and 120 athletes in Unified Sports softball.
HIGHLIGHTS
Special Olympics softball offers a new
program, Special Olympics
Officials Program for Athletes (SOOPA), where
interested athletes
train to become certified officials.
The athletes pass the same
requirements as all other officials and are
certified to referee softball
competitions. The American Softball Association (ASA)
has welcomed Special Olympics softball athletes and coaches. Both
ASA and Special Olympics share the goal to expand
softball worldwide. The ASA includes Special Olympics coaches in their
clinics, as well as conducting Special Olympic sessions
as a part of their coaches education.
The Canada Cup-a world class softball tournament-held
in Vancouver, Canada, in July of 2001, included a Special Olympics
division. Programs in four of the western provinces
competed-Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. The
Saskatoon Diamond Devils won the Special Olympics
division of the tournament.
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EVENTS OFFERED
1. Slow Pitch Team Competition
2. Tee Ball Competition
3. Unified Sports Slow Pitch Competition
The following event provides meaningful competition
for athletes with lower
ability levels:
4. Individual Skills Competition
5. Base Race
6. Bat for Distance
7. Unified Sports Individual Skills Competition |