Virtual Sports

Snowshoe:

For January, Virtual Sports is offering Snowshoe – Traditional and Unified.  Event participants can compete in the 25M, 50M, 400M and/or 1600M.  Mother nature was kind enough to give us some snow – so take advantage of it!  If you want to compete, but don’t have snowshoes, please reach out to your Region office to see if they can help.  Entry paperwork is located below.

Jump Start Your January!

Welcome to 2021!  January’s Fitness challenge is Jump Start Your January with Jumping Jacks (Fitness calendar is below).  There is no GMS registration required to participate in the fitness component.  Simply track your Jumping Jack totals and email your results in to fitness@soill.org. Don’t forget to share pictures of yourselves doing the Jumping Jacks or with your results.  Photos will be shared on the Special Olympics Health & Fitness Page.

We are excited to announce we have developed and created a new opportunity for our constituents called Virtual Sports. This unique virtual experience will help to engage athletes, coaches and families from across Illinois and give them the chance to showcase their athletic skill and their incredible “Let me be Brave in the attempt” attitude! It will also help keep the competitive spirit of our athletes alive! 

Who is eligible to participate? 

  • Anyone with an intellectual or cognitive disability is eligible.  
  • Unified Partners are encouraged to participate in the Unified competitions.*  
  • Agencies that are currently practicing for sports are encouraged to enter.  
  • Athletes can enter as individuals or Agencies can enter as a Delegation. 
  • If you do enter as a Delegation you will need to complete the Screening and Tracing form in case there is a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 on your team. 
  • Coaches are encouraged to reach out and coach their athletes*.  Parents are encouraged to become Coaches to their athletes at homes.    

*Please keep in mind the CDC and IDPH guidelines about contact and social distancing if your Partner or Athlete does not share your residence.* 

What do I need before I participate? 

  • Anyone registering as a Partner or Coach will need a valid Class A on file or complete one on line – Class A Form 
  • Valid Medicals are not required to compete. If you know someone who has encountered barriers to competing with Special Olympics Illinois because of issues related to getting this form completed, this is a great way to get them involved. 
  • A Participation waiver will be required for each athlete unless they have a valid Medical on file.

How Virtual Sports works:  

  • One to two skills/games will be featured each month.  
  • These are state-wide competitions.  
  • Most of the sports offered are designed to be able to practice and record scores in backyards, front sidewalks or local parks.  Detailed descriptions on setting up for each sport will be included in the registration process. â€Ż 
  • Multiple levels in each sport will be offered to make these events accessible to everyone.  
  • Please contact your Region office to see if there is equipment you may borrow to participate.  
  • Participants can also apply for funds to purchase equipment through Special Olympics Illinois’ new Outreach Grant.  That information can be found by following this link: https://www.soill.org/outreach-grant/   

Registration Process:  

  • Registration can be emailed, faxed or by phone if you have challenges with computer or internet access.  You can call your Region office to have information and entry paperwork mailed to you.  
  • Submit your entries to your Region office.  

Competitive Leaderboard: 

  • A Leaderboard will be on the website showing all of the participants’ standings.  Athletes will be able to see where they stand and the score they need to move up on the board.  Leaderboard updates will be made by 5:00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. 
  • Scores will be accepted for the duration of the month the sport/s are being offered.  Multiple score submissions for each sport are allowed, so participants are encouraged to keep practicing all month long.   
  • Updated scores can be emailed to vsports@soill.org.  Please submit updated scores for each skill – not a total updated score and please do not re-submit entry forms. 
  • The last Wednesday of each month is the last date updated scores will be accepted. The last Friday of each month final divisions will be created and final results posted on the Special Olympics Illinois website.  

Resources:

Virtual Score Entry Form

  • Snowshoe Times:

  • Minutes:Seconds Format (Ex. 1:26)
  • Minutes:Seconds Format (Ex. 1:26)
  • Minutes:Seconds Format (Ex. 1:26)
  • Minutes:Seconds Format (Ex. 1:26)

  • In consideration of participating in Special Olympics Illinois virtual competitions or activities (“Activity”), I represent that I understand the nature of the activity and that I or my minor child/ward am qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such Activity. I understand that a physician’s approval is highly recommended prior to participating in any type of fitness or exercise activity, and I hereby represent that I have either obtained a signed approval from my or my child’s/ward’s physician or that I or my minor child/ward acknowledge the risks inherent in such Activity but have elected to engage in said Activity without seeking prior approval by a physician. I acknowledge that if I or my minor child/ward believe event conditions are unsafe, I or my minor child/ward will immediately discontinue participation in the Activity.

    I fully understand that the Activity involves risks of serious bodily injury, including viral infections, bacterial infections and other communicable diseases and illnesses, permanent disability, paralysis and death, which may be caused by my own actions, or inactions, those of others participating in the event, the conditions in which the event takes place, or the negligence of the "releasees" named below; and that there may be other risks either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I or my minor child/ward incur as a result of my or my minor child’s/ward’s participation in the Activity.

    I hereby release, discharge, and covenant not to sue Special Olympics Inc., Special Olympics Illinois, its respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, volunteers, and employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the "RELEASEES" herein) from all liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages on my account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the "releasees" or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release, waiver of liability, and assumption of risk I, or anyone on my and/or my minor child's/ward’s behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the releasees from any loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as the result of such claim.

    I have read this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, AND PARENTAL/GUARDIAN CONSENT AGREEMENT, understand that I have given up substantial rights by registering for this event and procedure forward freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.

    I give permission to Special Olympics Inc. and Special Olympics Illinois (collectively Special Olympics) and any of it employees, contractors, coaches or representatives to use my name and photo/video likeness in all forms to spread the mission and objectives of Special Olympics and for use in media for advertising, exposition displays, trade and any other lawful purpose.