Game On: Learn about the divisioning process that differentiates Special Olympics from other sport organizations.
SONC offers three types of soccer competition: individual skills, 5-a-side team and 7-a-side team.
Individual skills competition allows Special Olympics athletes to develop sports skills in a competitive format designed to serve as a stepping stone to team competition. The individual skills offered for soccer are dribbling, shooting, and run-kick.
5-a-side team competition allows athletes who have mastered individual skills to compete on a team in a traditional soccer match. This type of competition is the most popular type of play for soccer in SONC.
7-a-side competition is new to SONC in 2018. This type of competition is for teams that have a good understanding of the game and can play on a larger field with a larger goal.
Athletes participating in traditional team play on a modified soccer field with a size 5 soccer ball.
Click here to find your coach certification status.
Always communicate with your local coordinator if you are interested in submitting registration for an event.
Fall Tournament/Invitational Registration Forms
Local program coordinators should submit entries along with the remainder of the Fall Tournament registration. Click here for a full list of Fall Tournament registration forms. These forms will be available closer to the event date.
Assessment Forms
For coaches’ use only – do NOT submit with event registration.
2019 SONC Fall Tournament
SONC Fall Tournament will be held November 1-3, 2019 in Charlotte.
Gaston County Soccer Invitational
Gaston County is hosting a soccer invitational on Saturday, September 14 at Gaston Day School located at 2001 Gaston Day School Road, Gastonia, NC 28056. Soccer skills will not be offered at this event, only soccer teams. Lunch and ribbons are included. The schedule for this event is as follows:
8:30 a.m. – Registration opens
9:00 a.m. – Competition begins
2:00 p.m. – Competition concludes
Registration is open now until Tuesday, September 9. Please email Ashley Anderson to register and click here for more information.
New Hanover County Multi-Sport Invitational
New Hanover County is hosting a multi-sport invitational on Sunday, October 6! This invitational will feature basketball, bocce, soccer and tennis competition and will be held in various locations throughout Wilmington. Soccer will be held at Legion Stadium Sports Complex located at 2149 Carolina Beach Rd., Wilmington, NC 28412. Currently, this invitational is only open to invited programs. For more information, contact newhanover@sonc.net.
Durham County Soccer Invitational
Special Olympics Durham County is hosting a soccer invitational open to all programs on Saturday, October 26. Competition will include 5-a-side and 7-a-side soccer. The schedule for the event is as follows:
Team check-in starts: 8:30 a.m.
Games begin: 9:00 a.m.
Games end: 2:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, contact Kristen Randall at durham@sonc.net. There is no fee for this event.
Invitationals
Athletes and Unified partners also have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in various local invitationals. Check the soccer sport calendar for upcoming invitationals being hosted by local programs.
Local programs are also encouraged to host and invite neighboring counties to participate in invitationals, scrimmages, or leagues. Click here for some basic steps on how to get started. If you are interested in hosting an invitational, you can also contact the sports department at sports@sonc.net.
About Soccer: Played in just about every country, the sport’s success is due to the fact that it can be played by boys, girls, men, and women of just about any physical build and ability. Soccer requires little in the way of specialized equipment and is organized using simple, intuitive rules.
Differences of Special Olympics Soccer: The length of halves, substitution, and overtime rules are defined by each Special Olympics Program organization.
History: Soccer has emerged as one of the fastest growing sports in the Special Olympics North Carolina program, since its first demonstration at the 1984 Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games.
By the Numbers:
- In 1989, numbers for soccer grew to such an extent that soccer moved from Summer Games to Fall Games.
- Special Olympics North Carolina started offering regional competition in 1991 as an additional opportunity. The regional events were held in Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and Charlotte.
Sport Development Teams (SDT) are responsible for assisting with local and state-level programs and competition, educating coaches and officials, and promoting active engagement among athletes throughout the year. Click here for more information.
John Gillan
Marion
Ian Gillan
Marion
Certified Clinicians receive additional training in presentational skills to conduct training schools in their community. In order to become a Certified Clinician one must have a Special Olympics North Carolina level 2 sport certification in this sport.
For more information on becoming an SDT member or a Certified Clinician, contact sports@sonc.net.
