CIAC
(Athletics Division)


Upcoming Unified Sports® Meetings
Sat., 11/21, 10:00am-12:00pm - Unified Sports Middle School & Elementary Skills (Jack Jackter Intermediate , Colchester)
Sun., 12/6, 10:00am-3:00pm - Winter Games Coaches Meeting (Conference Center C2)

Upcoming Unified Sports® Events/Deadlines
Mon., 1/25 - Unified Sports Basketball Intent-To-Enter Forms Due
Tue., 1/26, 3:00-9:00pm - SOCT annual/board meeting
Mon., 3/1 - Unified Sports Basketball Roster Forms Due
Mon., 3/15 - Unified Sports Intent-To-Enter Due for 4/10 Elementary Day

Complete Unified Sports Calendar | Complete CAS-CIAC Calendar

Unified Sports® News & Announcements

BE A FAN -SPECIAL OLYMPICS/UNIFIED SPORTS

Special Olympics has recently launched a new program which is entitled, "Be A Fan". The idea is that you can get involved with Special Olympics in one of four ways. [more]

CAS-CIAC H1N1 CONTINGENCY PLAN

The CAS and CIAC Boards have approved the following contingency plan in relation to CAS-CIAC events: [more]



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

  1. What is Unified Sports®?

    Unified Sports® is a registered program of Special Olympics that combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without intellectual disability on sports teams for training and competition. All Unified Sports® players, both athletes and special partners, are of similar age and matched sport skill ability. Unified Sports® teams are placed in competitive divisions based on their skill abilities, and range from training divisions (with a skill-learning focus) to high level competition.

  2. What is the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program?

    In 1992, as part of an effort to reach school-aged athletes, Connecticut Special Olympics formed a partnership with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference to bring Unified Sports® to Connecticut's schools.

    The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program operates throughout the school year and closely follows the school calendar. Unified Sports® events are organized each sport season for elementary, middle and high school students. All public and parochial schools in Connecticut are invited to participate. At the elementary level, students engage in non-competitive athletic activities designed to develop skills in a variety of sports. At the middle and high school level, students compete in statewide Unified Sports® tournaments. The CIAC currently holds tournaments in the sports of soccer, basketball, volleyball, and softball. And, as the program continues to grow, new sports are sure to be added!

    This innovative approach has had and will continue to have a dramatic impact on the number of school age children who now have the opportunity to participate in organized team sports through their school. The CAS/Connecticut Special Olympics Unified Sports® program currently boasts a participation of more than 1300 athletes and partners, and 120 schools throughout the state.

  3. What are the benefits of the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program?

    The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program provides a forum for positive social interaction between mentally disabled and non-disabled students. As Special Athletes and Special Partners train and compete together, they foster ties that develop into friendships both on and off the athletic field.

    Participation in Unified Sports® leads to new friendships, improved self-esteem and positive changes in attitude, behavior, and performance.

    The CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program helps to foster an inclusive school community where the values of tolerance, patience and sensitivity are cornerstones.

    "Special Athletes and Special Partners train together, learn together and laugh together. Out of this experience, attitudes are changed and friendships are born."


  4. What does a school need in order to get involved in Unified Sports®?

    To start a Unified Sports® program in your school, you will need:

    1. an interested staff member to serve as the Unified Sports® coordinator/coach
    2. at least three (3) students who meet the Unified Sports® eligibility criteria. (NOTE: there is no minimum number of athletes required for participation in elementary Unified Sports® activities.)
    3. available athletic equipment/facilities for team practices
    4. the support of the principal and parents

    The Unified Sports® coordinator/coach is responsible for assembling a team and coordinating the practice schedule. These tasks can be easily accomplished with the cooperation of your special education and physical education personnel. If the coordinator/coach is not qualified to coach a Unified Sports® team, he/she can recruit assistance from a faculty member, school coach, parent or community member who has a familiarity with sports.

For questions and/or further information, contact Lou Pear, Director of Unified Sports, at lpear@casciac.org

DOWNLOAD HANDBOOK/FORMS

ENDORSEMENTS

"Passing a ball across a court or racing down a field side-by-side teaches tolerance and acceptance in a way that is rarely achieved in the classroom." -- K. Riordan, Coach, Memorial Middle School

"Unified Sports® competition drew out more self-confidence and courage in my students than I had seen in my classroom all year." -- Ellen Cunha, Coach, Glastonbury High School

"Just a wonderful concept: athletes of all ability levels coming together to work towards a common goal. Our students can hardly wait until next year's events begin." -- Steve Garneau, Coach, Pleasant Valley Elementary School

" It makes me feel good that I can make a difference in someone's life, to see the special education students so happy and enthusiastic to work with me." -- Tracy Eissa, Special Partner, Manchester High School

" The State Department of Education has a commitment to enhance and promote the integration of special education students in their local schools as well as increase their participation in their local communities. CAS-CIAC has demonstrated its commitment to this mission through its recognition of the need for this type of activity in Unified Sports®." -- Vincent Ferrandino, Former Commissioner of Education

"At the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Volleyball Tournament at John Winthrop Junior High School, I could see and feel the enthusiasm from both Special Athletes and Special Partners. It was thrilling. It represented a terrific example of the collaborative model in action, with everybody willingly helping each other for the sheer joy of the experience." -- John Proctor, Superintendent, Regional School District #4

"The Unified Sports® Program helps our young people to appreciate their differences as well as their similarities in the athletic arena. It is an excellent counterpart to our academic mainstreaming efforts." -- Dr. Marjorie Bradley, Principal, Fawn Hollow Elementary, Monroe

"There was a significant increase in the skill level of the Special Athletes; and, what an excellent opportunity for growth for Special Partners. Partners noticed how good they felt to be able to help. They also felt a new understanding for their peers with special needs. The two Unified Sports® events I have participated in have been among the most rewarding experiences in my 21-year career in education." -- Kevin O'Donnell, Unified Sports® Coach

"Not only did I teach, but I learned; not only did I give, but I received. Little did I know how much a smile and a new friend would effect my life." -- D. Coleman, Special Partner

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

I. To be eligible for participation in Unified Sports(TM), an outgrowth of Special Olympics, a competitor must agree to observe and abide by the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules.

II. Unified Sports(TM) and its parent-arm, Special Olympics, were created and developed to give individuals with intellectual disability the opportunity to train and compete in sports activities. No person shall, on the grounds of sex, race, religion, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of Special Olympics.

III. Eligibility for participation in Unified Sports(TM) :

a. General Statement of Eligibility. Every person with intellectual disabilities who is at least five years of age is eligible to participate in Unified Sports(TM).

b. Age Requirements. The minimum age requirement for participation in Unified Sports(TM) is five years of age.

c. Degree of Disability. Participation in Unified Sports(TM) training and competition is open to all persons with intellectual disabilities who meet the age requirement of this Section, regardless of the level or degree of that person's disability, and whether or not that person also has other mental or physical disabilities, so long as that person registers to participate in Unified Sports(TM) as required by these General Rules.

d. Identifying Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. A person is considered to have intellectual disabilities for purposes of determining his or her eligibility to participate in Unified Sports(TM) if that person satisfies any one of the following requirements:

1) The person has been identified by an agency or professional as having intellectual disabilities as determined by their localities; or

2) The person has a cognitive delay, as determined by standardized measures such as intelligent quotient or "IQ" testing or other measures which are generally accepted within the professional community in that Accredited Program's nation as being a reliable measurement of the existence of a cognitive delay; or

3) The person has a closely related developmental disability. A "closely related developmental disability" means having functional limitations in both general learning (such as IQ) and in adaptive skills (such as in recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care). However, persons whose functional limitations are based solely on a physical, behavioral, or emotional disability, or a specific learning or sensory disability, are not eligible to participate as Special Olympics athletes, but may be eligible to volunteer for Unified Sports(TM).

YOUNG ATHLETE PROGRAM

The Connecticut Association of Schools and Special Olympics Connecticut have successfully partnered over the past fifteen years to bring Unified Sports to thousands of students across the state. Unified Sports combines athletes with special needs and typical peers for sport skill development and training. With this partnership, basic skills are learned and friendships develop, improving the life of children and building acceptance and understanding.

We are excited to announce the Young Athlete Program, a new Pre-School program offering all of the same wonderful benefits as Unified Sports, but now to children as young as 3, capturing the children at the very earliest phase of their educational and social development! The goal of the program is to teach the children basic skill activities, such as, walking and running, jumping and throwing by incorporating them into activities of coordination and balance to help children improve, physically, cognitively and socially.

Secondly, we hope to raise awareness by educating the public about the diverse abilities of children with special needs and the unique bond that naturally occurs while working and learning along side their typical peers. We will be monitoring the success of our efforts and will have the opportunity to meet with teachers from other communities implementing the Young Athlete Program to share strategies and successes. Special Olympics provide FREE equipment and instruction on improving school readiness and skills.

Use the links below for more information and/or registration: