Game On: Learn about the divisioning process that differentiates Special Olympics from other sport organizations.
SONC offers two types of softball competition: individual skills and slow-pitch 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 indvidual skills offered for softball are base running, throwing, fielding, and hitting.
Athletes participating in traditional slow-pitch team competition play on a softball field, with modified base paths and pitching mounds for lower divisions.
Click here to find your coach certification status.
Always communicate with your local coordinator if you are interested in submitting registration for an event.
Summer Games/Invitational Registration Forms
- Softball Individual Skills Competition Registration Form
- Softball Team Registration and Rating Form
Local program coordinators should submit entries along with the remainder of the Summer Games registration. Click here for a full list of Summer Games registration forms. These forms will be available closer to the event date.
Assessment Forms
For coaches’ use only – do NOT submit with event registration.
SONC Summer Games will be held May 29-31, 2020 in Raleigh.
Invitationals
Athletes and partners also have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in various local invitationals. Check the softball 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.
Unified Sports
While SONC does not offer Unified Sports competition for softball team, programs are welcome to create a Unified Sports Softball team and compete outside the state. Programs interested in these opportunities should contact the sports department at sports@sonc.net.
About Softball: Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. Every team aims at scoring as many runs possible, against the opponents by striking the ball with a specific bat. The game is played on a smaller diamond than in baseball and despite the game’s name, the standard softball is not soft; in fact, it is harder than a baseball.
Differences of Special Olympics Softball: Special Olympics Softball has some modifications to the rules of the International Softball Federation. All batters and runners must wear a helmet with a chin strap at all times. The catcher also wears a helmet with a mask and a chest protector. At first base, a safety orange bag is attached. There are also two home plates used. The runner will tag the outside plate, where the catcher receives throws at the original home plate. Pitching distances will range for each pitcher, rather than just one distance.
History: The Special Olympics North Carolina softball program has grown significantly since it was first introduced at the 1984 Summer Games.
By the Numbers:
- Davidson county started the unified softball program in 1990. This was also the first unified team of any kind at Special Olympics North Carolina.
- A team consisting from Pasquotank and Perquimans counties participated in the Northern Virginia Unified Softball Tournament in June of 1992.
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.
Horace Blue
Garner
Peggie Kotynski
Wake Forest
Christie Stancil
Raleigh
Pat Conway (for Tee Ball)
Chapel Hill
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.
Kathie Anthony
Gastonia
Glenn Burgess
Gastonia
Vicenta Theroux
Charlotte
For more information on becoming an SDT member or a Certified Clinician, contact sports@sonc.net.
