SONC Unified Sports Track Resources

Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field started in 2015 in Wake County with two schools, Garner and Wakefield High. With the support of the Wake County District Athletic Director, Deran Coe, Wake County Athletics was the first county in North Carolina to endorse Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field. Since then, Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field has expanded to nearly 30 schools with over 200 students with and without intellectual disabilities practicing and competing together.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has long been a supporter of Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field. Special Olympics Unified Track and Field athletes first competed at the NCHSAA State Championships in 2015 in the 4x100m team relay. In 2018, the NCHSAA expanded their partnership with SONC by offering the 4x100m relay and 100m dash at the State Championships meet.

In 2018, Cumberland County Schools (CCS) was the first school district to offer Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field in all high schools.

SONC looks to continue to grow Unified Track and Field across the state of North Carolina. For more information on how to get started, contact sports@sonc.net.

Game On: Learn about the divisioning process that differentiates Special Olympics from other sport organizations.

Unified Track and Field Official Rules

SONC offers competition in 6 different track events, ranging in distances from 100 meters to 800 meters, as well as 2 field events. This range of events allows athletes of all ability levels the opportunity to train and compete successfully to the best of their abilities.

Unified Track & Field Events
click link to see diagram of event layout
100m/200m/400m/800m Dash
4 x 100 Relay
4 x 400 Relay
Running Long Jump
Shot Put (6lb/3kg)

Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track & Field is open to all students registered in a school. Students with an intellectual disability and students without an intellectual disability may join the team. All students must comply with NCHSAA student-athlete eligibility rules. For questions regarding student eligibility please contact sports@sonc.net.

• Students without an intellectual disability (Unified partners) who turn 19 on or before August 31^st are not eligible to compete.
• For further information, refer to the North Carolina High School Association (NCHSAA)eligibility rules.

Unified Track and Field teams must have a separate head coach responsible for leading the team. The head coach must be an adult who is not currently enrolled as a student at the school. Coaches may be a current teacher or other sports coach at the school or hired from outside the school. It is the school’s responsibility to abide by current school policy regarding outside coaches. Students are eligible to assist in coaching duties during the season.

Special Olympics North Carolina requires all Unified Track and Field coaches to complete the following trainings.

In addition to the coach education requirements, coaches are expected to:

• Manage track practice for both the Special Olympics athletes and the Unified Partners (traditional education students) throughout the regular track season.
• Regularly communicate with SONC regarding participation and competition schedule.
• Hold team practices at least 3 times per week.
• Submit required athlete and Unified partner paperwork before the first practice.
• Submit meet registration and rosters by the proposed deadline.
• Serve as liaison with the school at which you are coaching for further development of the program.
• Accompany the Unified track team to the countywide meet. (If athletes qualify)
• Accompany the Unified track team to the statewide meet. (If athletes qualify)
• Compete in at least 2 dual meet between other schools participating in Unified Track and Field.
• Participate in a post-season evaluation to provide feedback for future planning.
• Be available to share your experience with other coaches and schools.

Coaches must complete a memo of understanding (MOU) each year applicable for that track season. Any questions regarding coach requirements may be sent to sports@sonc.net.

Click here to find your coach certification status.

• Unified Track and Field Calendar
• Special Olympics Quick Start Guide – printable version
• Special Olympics Quick Start Guide – digital version
• Special Olympics Coaching Guide
• Quick Reference Coaching Special Olympics Athletes Guide
• Other SOI Coaching Resources
• Team Recruitment Strategies

This step by step guide will assist in starting a Special Olympics Unified Track and Field team at your school. Follow these steps to start the program at your school. Remember to reference the Unified Track and Field resource page for more information.

Step 1: Express interest with SONC and meet with the school Athletic Director 
Date: December 1

•  Express interest of starting a Unified Track and Field team to Special Olympics North Carolina.  If interested, contact sports@sonc.net.  Once SONC has been contacted, meet with the school Athletic Director.
• Introduce Special Olympics Unified Track and Field to Athletic Director.
  • Special Olympics Unified Track and Field is an additional athletic team within the school.
• Obtain approval from Athletic Director before moving to step 2.

Step 2: Identify the head coach
Date: December 15

• Once the Athletic Director has approved the team, it is time to start looking for the leader of the Unified Track and Field team.
• The head coach must be an adult who is not enrolled as a student at the school. Coaches do not have to be from the Special Education department. Schools may allow a coach from outside the school to lead the team but must receive approval from school administration.

Step 3: Complete Coach Requirements
Date: January 31

• Head coaches must complete the coach requirements set forth by Special Olympics North Carolina.

Step 4: Start recruiting the team
Date: December/January

• Use social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook) to inform the student population of the team.
• Utilize school announcements, newsletters, email communications to reach student population and parents.
• The coach should meet with the Special Education department to provide team information to students and parents.
• Unified Track and Field teams must have a proportionate number of students with and without an intellectual disability.

Step 5: Create a team practice schedule 
Date: January

• Work with the Athletic Director and/or varsity track coach to establish a Unified Track and Field practice schedule.
• Teams must practice after school at least 3 times per week.
• Unified Track and Field team should practice alongside the varsity track team, sharing the track and field areas.

Step 6: Create a team competition schedule
Date: January

• Work with Athletic Director and varsity track coaches to establish a schedule
• Teams must compete in at least 2 dual meets per season
• Unified Track teams should compete at already scheduled school meets against schools with Unified teams.
• Contact the competing school’s Unified Track and Field coach/Athletic Director to confirm meet.

Step 7: Hold an interest meeting for students and parents
Date: January 20

• Invite interested and potential participants and their parents to learn more about the program.
• Have practice and competition schedule complete prior to this meeting.

*Send your interest meeting dates to sports@sonc.net.

Step 8: Submit required student-athlete paperwork to your school Athletic Director.
Date: February

• Unified partners (students without an intellectual disability) AND Special Olympics athletes (students with an intellectual disability) must have the required NCHSAA student athlete paperwork completed to receive eligibility.
• For questions on what paperwork is required for student-athletes, refer to your school’s Athletic Director.
• The Athletic Director or Unified Track head coach should submit a team roster to sports@sonc.net. Team rosters must designate between Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners.

Step 9: Start practice
Date: February

• Set team expectations at beginning of the season with all students.

Step 10: Time to compete
Date: March/April/May

• The expectation should be that all team members attend scheduled meets.
• Make sure team has proper school uniforms and equipment ready for each meet.
• Teams must adhere to rules set forth by NFHS, NCHSAA and Special Olympics North Carolina.
• Compete in dual meets in March.  Teams must compete in at least two meets per season.
• Compete in county/conference meets in April.
• The NCHSAA State Championships are held in May.  Athletes and Unified partners must qualify to compete.

Unified Track & Field Registration Forms

Use these forms for county/conference meet registration. Make sure to include qualifying times and distances for each event registered.

Individual Registration Form
Relay Registration Form

Criteria For Advancement

Unified Track & Field athletes and Unified partners may qualify for participation in the NCHSAA State Championships track meet. Athletes and Unified partners must compete in their county or conference meet to become eligible. Official results from county and/or conference meets in the following events will be used to determine qualification.

Top 8 100m dash times
Top 8 4x100m relay team times

Participants who qualify will be notified by SONC, at the conclusion of all statewide county and conference meets. If an athlete is unable to compete, the athlete, Unified partner,  or relay team with the next fastest time will qualify.

*Qualification standards and events are subject to change due to factors outside of Special Olympics North Carolina control.

Special Olympics Athlete Forms (Any student with an intellectual disability that is over the age of 19 as of August 31^st, 2019 must complete)

• Athlete Participation Packet
• Athlete Participation Packet – Spanish

NCHSAA Physical – to be completed by ALL participating student-athletes

• Student-athletes should submit the completed physical form to their Athletic Director

Volunteer Forms

• Volunteer Screening Form

All required forms can be sent to registration@sonc.net or can be faxed to 919-719-7663.