Dear Volunteer, Special Olympics Texas would not exist today and could not have been created

d without the time, energy, and dedication of thousands of volunteers throughout Texas. Volunteers are the backbone of this organization. On behalf of the over 3,000 athletes we serve in the Greater Fort Worth Area, thank you for your interest in the World of Winners Special Olympics! This packet has been developed to give you an understanding of Special Olympics Texas and the many important roles that volunteers play in our organization. Special Olympics Texas fact sheet A description of volunteer opportunities Tips on volunteering with people with intellectual disabilities Only with Special Olympics can you walk out on the athletic field in your own community and watch your investment of time & talent make an immediate impact. If you have more questions feel free to call us or check us out on the web at www.sotx.org Sincerely, Joel Maxwell, Program Director Greater Fort Worth Area 6707 Brentwood Stair Road Ste 218 Fort Worth, TX 76112 (817) 332-3433 (office) (817) 446-3420 (fax) jmaxwell@sotx.org Jamie Brockway Area Volunteer Coordinator sotxvolunteers11@sbcglobal.net

Know the Facts

Special Olympics Texas provides year-round athletic training and competition to more than 36,000 children and adults with intellectual retardation and other closely related developmental disabilities, who compete throughout the year. win. Each participant receives a medal or ribbon following his or her events.

Training
Special Olympics athletes train intensely for eight weeks prior to each sports competition. Volunteer coaches are responsible for training the athletes. Volunteers must complete a certification program prior to becoming a Special Olympics coach and must attend training schools before each season. Competition officials and event directors are also required to attend training schools.

Vision
Special Olympics Texas aspires to be the premier provider of Special Olympics training and competition in the world. The organization strives to be cutting-edge, approaching each endeavor with a single intent to improve the quality of life for the athletes.

Volunteers
Volunteers are the lifeline of the Special Olympics program. More than 30,000 volunteers in Texas and more than 1.5 million individuals worldwide currently dedicate their time to Special Olympics. These volunteers serve as coaches, officials, committee members, competition assistants, speech coaches and much more. Whether they participate for one day or for years, volunteers make a difference in the lives of Special Olympics athletes and in their communities.

Mission
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for persons with intellectual and other closely related developmental disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic Athletes and the community.

Participants
Special Olympics is the worlds largest program of year-round sports training and competition for persons with intellectual disabilities. More than one million athletes participate in Special Olympics in over 180 countries worldwide. In Texas, over 36,000 athletes participate in the program. Individuals must be at least eight years old to compete, but children between six and seven are eligible for training. Athletes must be 12 years old to attend Summer Games, Fall Classic and Winter Games.

Funding
Special Olympics Texas is a registered 501(c)(3), non-profit organization supported by private donations from individuals, corporations and organizations throughout the state. Special Olympics is "the most credible charity in America" according to a survey in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The board of directors also established an endowment fund for Special Olympics Texas in 1992.

Sports
Summer Athletics Basketball Cycling Equestrian Gymnastics Soccer Tennis Kayaking Fall Classic Aquatics Bocce Golf Sailing Softball Triathlon Flag Footbal Winter Bowling Figure Skating Powerlifting Roller Skating Speed Skating Table Tennis Volleyball

Training for Life

When they train, when they compete, the athletes of Special Olympics Texas are training for life. The social skills they develop through interaction with others can lead to a lifetime of benefits that include employment, independent living and enhanced physical fitness.

Competition
Special Olympics Texas holds 180 competitions annually on area, regional and state levels. Event divisions are based on age, gender and ability level to give athletes an equal chance to

Volunteering with Special Olympics Texas

The impact of volunteering for Special Olympics Texas is immediate: your contribution, whether it is time, expertise, goods and services, or money directly affects our athletes, coaches, and families. Volunteers increase integration and socialization opportunities for Special Olympics athletes. The dedication of Special Olympics volunteers provides inclusive experiences for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Some of the volunteer opportunities available to you through Special Olympics include:

Volunteer Code of Conduct

As a volunteer, you are expected to Fulfill the responsibility of your assignment: Carry out all aspects of your assignment Attend all required meetings Notify the volunteer coordinator if you cannot complete an assignment Set an example for the athlete: Refrain from smoking, consuming alcohol or using profanity when acting as a volunteer Be discreet in your personal relationships with the athletes and avoid any behavior, which may be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Be helpful to and supportive of everyone associated with Special Olympics Demonstrate good sportsmanship: Support the decisions of referees, judges and committees, and use proper dissent processes Be respectful during ceremonies and help your athlete be the same Praise the athletes for their efforts and encourage them to be happy for the success of other athletes. Support and encourage other volunteers and staff Be continually vigilant and cognizant of the safety of the athlete: Never leave an athlete unattended Report anything you observe, either in the physical environment or in an individuals behavior, which you feel may cause potential harm. Be loyal to your commitment and to Special Olympics: Look for constructive ways to overcome obstacles Take advantage of the opportunities Special Olympics offers you: Be open to new ideas and new ways of doing things Become an active participant by extending your involvement to other roles of leadership and training Delight in the change that your involvement makes in the life of someone you know and in the many lives of those youll never meet

Volunteer Opportunities
Sports Training
Become a certified coach Organize, coach or play on a Unified Sports Team. Use specific sports expertise to help set up sports clinics or Special Olympics training schools. Train individuals with more severe disabilities through the Motor Activities Training Program. Become a trainer and hold training schools to train coaches and individuals interested in SOTX Competitions

Competitions
Become a certified competition director or a certified games director Organize special events, such as Athlete Village and Opening Ceremonies for the athletes. Act as a day of event volunteer in multiple capacities such as greeter, timer, stager, escort, statistics recorder, measurer, line judge, pit crew, ball runner, spotter or more Setup and support the event area for competition (marking lines, putting up tents and tables, filling water coolers, etc.)

Schools
Start Special Olympics Unified Sports teams Open school facilities to Special Olympics events Help start Special Olympics Partners Clubs. Organize members of school sports teams to become certified Special Olympics coaches or officials Conduct Special Olympics sports competitions or demonstrations during regular sports events

Fund Raising
Support the Law Enforcement Torch Run for SOTX through corporate sponsorship or AdoptA-Cop Make financial or in-kind donations as individuals or through a business Conduct fund raising campaigns in schools or through a civic group, church, or other organization Name Special Olympics as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, will, or employee payroll deduction

Professional
Establish a Special Olympics program in workplaces employing individuals with intellectual disabilities.

 Provide medical support including free physicals and x-rays; provide pro bono legal or accounting services. Become a clinical director for the Healthy Athletes program in Texas Sponsor or adopt Special Olympics teams Make donations of goods, services, or vital office supplies to local Special Olympics programs.

Public Relations
Provide strategic public relations assistance Assist with implementing public relations initiatives for the organization Assist with building media contacts statewide Write articles about Special Olympics Texas in the Daily Torch Serve as a speaker for the organization Volunteer photography, graphic design, and web design services

Administration
Serve on chapter board of directors, chapter or area committees Help special education teachers or Special Olympics coaches prepare registration and medical forms Contribute general office help in Special Olympics Texas offices (data entry, filing, answering phones, etc.) Distribute materials for a Special Olympics event

Civic Groups
Provide support for Special Olympics programs Adopt local Special Olympics teams Organize Unified Sports teams by combining group members with Special Olympics athletes

Special Olympics Volunteer Oath

I promise to give of the time in my life so that Special Olympics athletes can have the time of their lives. I promise to support Special Olympics not just as an expression of charity, but as a form of respect for my fellow human beings. I promise to spread the word of volunteerism because, in giving, I receive so much more in return.

Tips for Volunteering

Special Olympics is one of the most exciting movements today, combing sport with the opportunity to interact with athletes who have intellectual disabilities. Intellectual disabilities are a condition characterized by slowness in learning for various reasons. Individuals with intellectual disabilities learn at a slower pace; however, they do learn. The vast majority of citizens with intellectual disabilities can live productive and independent lives, having the same needs, wants, and aspirations as you and I. A disability is just a small part of a human beings life and the person with intellectual disabilities has the potential to be successful in all aspects of life. The following brief suggestions are meant to help you and the athletes you meet feel more comfortable in your interactions.
1. Remember, people with special needs and people without special needs are more alike than different. If you are unsure how to respond to a person with special needs, ask yourself how you would want someone to treat you. If you follow through, you cant go wrong. 2. Be yourself. Use your normal voice and give support, but try not to over praise. 3. Both children and adults compete in Special Olympics events. Remember that an adult athlete is an adult. It is appropriate to refer to them as the athletes rather than the kids. 4. Hugging athletes after they compete in an event has become a standard in Special Olympics. Excessive hugging and kissing however, is not appropriate. Encouraging pats on the back or handshakes are often the preferred way of praising athletes for their accomplishments. 5. Get to know the athletes. There will be opportunities to sit and talk to a child or an adult and get to know who they are, where they work or go to school, etc. 6. Expect the athletes to behave themselves throughout the event. Appropriate behavior and sportsmanship are two skills emphasized in Special Olympics training. 7. At most events, athlete will be wearing wristbands or name badges with their name, team name, sex and age. 8. As volunteer, you will want to do everything you can to respect the dignity of the athletes you meet and the competition. Thats probably as important as anything else you will do during the games. 9. If you have a question, please ask a key volunteer or a Special Olympics Texas Staff member.