September 8 – November 20
This ten-week training program is Unified so both individuals with and without intellectual disabilities can train together. It can be fully done from home with materials provided and online resources available.
CALLING ALL SONC ATHLETES
All athletes are invited to participate! We will continue to accept sign-up’s even as the program gets started on September 8. Read more about the program here!
GET INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER
We need you! Join us as a partner working out alongside the athletes and play a vital role in inspiring and motivating. Read more about the program here.
How else can you help?
SONC has had an overwhelming response to this program with over 1,500 participants registered! Participation in all Special Olympics programming is provided at no charge and we are able to do that due to the generous support of individuals and sponsors. Will you be one of those?
WEEKLY EXERCISES
Throughout the program, you can find the detailed exercises for the current week prior to that week’s start. Check back for links to recordings once each week finishes!
Our Week 1 Sponsor
Thank you to this week’s sponsor – Red Hat!
Zoom Sessions this week
| Day | Date | Topic |
| Tuesday | 9/8 | Thank you to the 500 people who joined the Kickoff Zoom session Tuesday night 9/8. If you did not get to join, here is the recording! |
| Thursday | 9/10 | Training Thursday |
| Monday | 9/14 | Mindful Monday Yoga |
If you do not have the information to join these sessions, there are lots of ways to get it. Check your playbook, ask your coach, email or call SONC.
This Week’s activities
Tuesday – set your goal for the 10-week program
Wednesday – get those 8 hours of sleep
Thursday – time to start exercising
Friday – stretch it out
Saturday – strengthen those muscles
Sunday – go for a walk
Monday – try some yoga
If you don’t have a hard copy of the playbook, you can still get all of this week’s activities as well as your tracker right here:
- Week 1 activities and instructions
- Week 1 Tracker
- Check off the days that you do an activity (either the ones we provide or another activity of your choosing). Give your tracker to your coach or partner. And if you don’t know who that is yet, email sports@sonc.net or call 800-843-6276 ext. 0 to let us know what you’ve done!
Anyone who submits the Week 1 Tracker by noon on Tuesday, September 15, will be eligible for next week’s giveaways.
Our Week 2 Sponsor
Thank you to this week’s sponsor – the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
Zoom Sessions this week – all at 7:00 p.m.
| Day | Date | Topic |
| Tuesday | 9/15 | Recording – Weekly Kickoff and Training |
| Wednesday | 9/16 | |
| Thursday | 9/17 | Recording – Weekly training |
If you do not have the information to join these sessions, there are lots of ways to get it. Check your playbook, ask your coach, email or call SONC.
This Week’s activities
Power Up! – Eat 5 fruits and veggies each day
Tuesday – Do all 9 exercises
Wednesday – make a healthy snack with fruits and/or veggies
Thursday – Knock out those 9 exercises again
Friday – A great way to watch your TV show is to do it while stretching
Saturday – strengthen those muscles
Sunday – go for a walk
Monday – focus on positive messaging
If you don’t have a hard copy of the playbook, you can still get all of this week’s activities as well as your tracker right here:
Check off the days that you do an activity (either the ones we provide or another activity of your choosing). Give your tracker to your coach or partner. And if you don’t know who that is yet, email sports@sonc.net or call 800-843-6276 ext. 0 to let us know what you’ve done!
Anyone who submits the Week 2 Tracker by noon on Tuesday, September 22, will be eligible for the following week’s giveaways.
Our Week 3 Sponsor
Thank you to this week’s sponsor – Credit Suisse.
Get ready – Sports training starts this week!
Zoom Sessions this week – all at 7:00 p.m.
| Day | Date | Topic |
| Tuesday | 9/22 | Recording – Weekly kickoff and training |
| Wednesday | 9/23 | |
| Thursday | 9/24 | Recording – Live training – Virtual sports trainings start today! |
| Monday | 9/28 | Live Mindfulness Monday Yoga |
If you do not have the information to join these sessions, there are lots of ways to get it. Check your playbook, ask your coach, email or call SONC.
This Week’s activities
Power Up! – Drink 5 bottles of water every day
Tuesday – Do all 10 exercises
Wednesday – Join the Hydration Challenge
Thursday – Knock out those 10 exercises again but try a couple more reps
Friday – Do some stretches when you wake up and before bed
Saturday – Try completing the ABC Challenge
Sunday – take your walk by water today
Monday – try out some yoga poses
If you don’t have a hard copy of the playbook, you can still get all of this week’s activities as well as your tracker right here:
Check off the days that you do an activity (either the ones we provide or another activity of your choosing). Give your tracker to your coach or partner. And if you don’t know who that is yet, email sports@sonc.net or call 800-843-6276 ext. 0 to let us know what you’ve done!
Anyone who submits the Week 3 Tracker by noon on Tuesday, September 29, will be eligible for the following week’s giveaways.
Our Week 4 Sponsor
Thank you to this week’s sponsor – Lenovo.
Lenovo has generously donated several mini-tablets for our giveaways over the next several weeks. Check them out here!
Each week one will go to a randomly drawn person who submitted a tracker.
One will go to someone on the Tuesday night Zoom session so be sure to join us to win!
Zoom Sessions this week – all at 7:00 p.m.
| Day | Date | Topic |
| Tuesday | 9/29 | Weekly kickoff and training Make sure to have a large towel handy for this training. |
| Wednesday | 9/30 |
Wellness Wednesday |
| Thursday | 10/1 | Training – you can choose fitness or one of your sports |
If you do not have the information to join these sessions, there are lots of ways to get it. Check your playbook, ask your coach, email or call SONC.
This week’s activities
Power Up! – Choose a healthy snack
Tuesday – Do all 10 exercises
Wednesday – Try out trail mix as a healthy snack.
Thursday – Time for the 4 square workout
Friday – Even stretching your wrists helps!
Saturday – Strengthen up!
Sunday – Make that walk a bit longer.
Monday – Strong Breathing will get you through!
If you don’t have a hard copy of the playbook, you can still get all of this week’s activities as well as your tracker right here:
- Week 4 activities and instructions
- Week 4 Tracker
- Check off the days that you do an activity (either the ones we provide or another activity of your choosing). Give your tracker to your coach or partner. And if you don’t know who that is yet, email sports@sonc.net or call 800-843-6276 ext. 0 to let us know what you’ve done!
Anyone who submits the Week 4 Tracker by noon on Tuesday, October 6, will be eligible for the following week’s giveaways.
Our Week 5 Sponsor
Thank you to this week’s sponsor – Lenovo.
If you don’t have a hard copy of the playbook, you can still get all of this week’s activities as well as your tracker right here:
The perks:
- A variety of training sessions and materials
- A great, free workout routine
- Weekly giveaways from sponsors/SONC
- Motivation from a Special Olympics NC athlete
- Daily exercises/activities provided to keep up the momentum
- Incentive items and training equipment
- A unique volunteer experience for Unified partners that you can do from anywhere
Learn more about Special Olympics North Carolina Partner Up Power Up
- Promotional Video Get a quick overview of this fitness training program.
- Athlete Flyer A great one-pager to share with potential athletes to get them signed up
- Unified Partner Flyer A useful summary of this volunteer position for recruitment; also useful for anyone interested in serving as a coach
- Sponsor Flyer For any companies/organizations interested in sponsoring a week of the fitness program
- Snapshot Video (10-minute) A more detailed description of the program for athletes and Unified partners
- The complete playbook for Weeks 1-5 (September 8 – October 12)
Coaching this season will be unique and we look forward to many new volunteers accepting this role!
Partner Up Power Up will rely on coaches to ensure that everyone is staying in touch and staying motivated.
To get coaches started:
- Review this one-page summary of coach responsibilities.
- Take approximately 20 minutes to view the introductory training video.
- All coaches should have received some communications and a list of the assigned team. Start reaching out!
- An agenda and icebreaker will be provided shortly for the first team meeting you host.
SONC now has a summary of the Return to Activities Protocol. This guidance will be in effect September 8 – December 31, 2020 (no activities are allowed prior to September 8).
We now have a complete set of videos that anyone running in-person gatherings should review (more resources are listed further down on this page):
| Video Title | Duration | Notes |
| SONC Overview of In-Person Gatherings | 6 minutes | This video goes through the steps and shows the resources provided to host a successful, in-person gathering. |
| Preparing a Venue | 1 ½ minutes | Video from SOI that lays out how to successfully prepare a venue for a safe return to activity. |
| Travel/On-site screening | 4 ½ minutes | Video from SOI that lays out how to screen participants upon arrival at a venue. |
As laid out, SONC will allow small group gatherings assuming all of the following:
- Everyone involved is comfortable with in-person training. Any participant can opt out at any time.
- All in-person gatherings are held outdoors only (inclement weather results in cancellation).
- There are 10 or less in attendance.
- It is a consistent group of the same 10 or less people.
- The Who is at High Risk? Fact Sheet is shared with all participants. Everyone who attends an in-person gathering must receive this document which provides additional information and guidance on assessing the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
- The Participant Code of Conduct and Risk Acknowledgement Form is completed by each participant. This has the participant acknowledge that participation could increase risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. This can be completed online or printed out and returned to SONC. This only needs to be completed once to cover participants for all SONC activities!
- The status of Athlete Participation Packets is confirmed to ensure each athlete is properly registered.
- This summary document outlines how expired/expiring forms will be handled.
- We have made a brief 4-minute overview video to explain the process.
- Lastly, this graphic helps explain how forms will be handled.
- All guidelines for in-person gatherings provided by both the state of North Carolina, local entities and relevant facilities, and those laid out in the code of conduct are followed.
- The on-site screening process is conducted and followed. SONC should be made aware of plans for in-person training. SONC asks that all participants be screened on-site prior to participating. Finally, SONC asks that all those who participate in an SONC activity be tracked to help with contact tracing, should it be needed. A GMS report will be provided after registration to assist with this. Below are resources needed to help you successfully screen and track participants at an activity.
- Screening Protocol for SO Activities: This document lays out how those wishing to hold an in-person activity should conduct screenings prior to people participating.
- Screenings and Tracking Template for SO Activities: This template is provided as a way to screen and track participants during Special Olympics events.
- Screening Protocol Flow Chart: Visual showing the steps to take based off how a person presents during the screening.
- Travel to Activity and Onsite Screening: Video from SOI that lays out how to screen participants upon arrival at a venue.
- The venue is adequately prepared. The following steps should be taken to prepare a venue for an in-person activity:
- Make sure to arrive early to the venue to prepare the space.
- Start by ensuring the venue is disinfected or sanitized, especially the bathrooms.
- Put up signage that reinforces proper hygiene procedures, physical distancing and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (or PPE). Signage can be found in the Supplies Needed section.
- Make sure hand sanitizer and/or hand washing facilities are available.
- Set up a single entry with screening and single exit areas.
- Preparing a Venue: Video from SOI that lays out how to successfully prepare a venue for a safe return to activity.
- Training in a Safe Environment: SOI document that provides tips on how to create a safe environment to return to training.
- The local program orders and provides the appropriate equipment for a safe gathering.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Cleaning Supplies: SONC has a central ordering process for all programs. Use this link to place your order.
- Venue Signage: Signs that can be printed off and posted around venues. These include return to play field signs and training in a safe environment.
- Helping People with IDD Become Comfortable Wearing Face Masks: Resource created by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities that provides strategies supporters can use to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities become more comfortable with face masks.
This entire section is a living resource and will be updated as new protocols and guidance come out from the CDC, Special Olympics International and the state of North Carolina. The knowledge and circumstances around COVID-19 are changing constantly and, as such, Special Olympics assumes no responsibility or representation for the accuracy or completeness of this information. (Last updated on August 11)
ATHLETE SHOUT OUTS
Check back regularly to see what great things athletes across the state are doing to Power Up!
- September 9: A shout-out for Brogan DeBuhr who served as the co-emcee for Tuesday’s kickoff Zoom session. Great job, Ms. DeBuhr!
- September 16: Pam of Mecklenburg County: For serving as the co-emcee on Tuesday’s weekly kickoff Zoom session and for her stellar dance moves!
- September 21: William Kinsey of Mecklenburg County: For participating in SO Mecklenburg County’s first in-person cycling training officially bringing cycling back to Mecklenburg County!
- September 21: Andrew Fiumara of Guilford Greensboro: For his commitment to staying active and holding others accountable. Andrew works out at Planet Fitness 5 days a week plus challenges his mother to a corn hole match every night!
- September 22: Annie Tane of Orange County: For serving as the co-emcee on Tuesday’s weekly kickoff Zoom session and her commitment to helping improve the health of her fellow athletes through her role as a Health Messenger and co-emcee of Wellness Wednesdays!
WEEKLY WINNERS
Special Olympics NC will conduct weekly contests and give out giveaways on the Tuesday evening zoom sessions at 7 p.m. Winners and results will be posted here
Congratulations to these three athletes who were randomly selected for giveaways complements of our week 1 sponsor, Red Hat.
|
Athlete Winner |
Local program |
|
Sarah Bolden |
Beaufort-Hyde |
|
Owen Stuhr |
Mecklenburg |
| Spencer Morrison |
Brunswick |
Each athlete will receive a $150 credit to purchase shoes from Finish Line.
Next week’s giveaways will be provided by the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Anyone who submits an activity tracker by noon on Tuesday, 9/15, will be in the drawing.
Congratulations to these three athletes who were randomly selected for giveaways complements of our week 2 sponsor, NC Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
|
Athlete Winner |
Local program |
|
Teresa Williams |
Buncombe |
|
Emily McCoy |
Dare |
| Jayden Wells |
East Carteret High School |
Each athlete will receive items from the NC Torch Run Store.
Next week’s giveaways will be provided by Credit Suisse.
Anyone who submits an activity tracker by noon on Tuesday, 9/22, will be in the drawing.
Congratulations to these three athletes who were randomly selected for giveaways complements of our week 3 sponsor, Credit Suisse.
|
Winner |
Local program |
|
Kaitlin Moncol |
Wake |
|
Jodie Brian |
Gaston |
| Karen Fiumara |
Guilford/Greensboro |
The winners will receive Omega Sports & SONC Prize pack, Aveda Hand & Foot Spa Package, P.F. Chang’s and SONC prize pack respectively.
Next week’s giveaways will be provided by Lenovo.
Anyone who submits an activity tracker by noon on Tuesday, 9/29, will be in the drawing.
Sponsors
