Interscholastic Unified Track and Field Resources

• November 15 – Declare a team
• January 31 – All paperwork to your AD
• February 14 – Start of practice
• February 19 – Claim MileSplit account
• February 26 – Competition begins
• March 1 – MOUs sent out
• March 15 – Finalize rosters in MileSplit
• May 17 – NCHSAA State Championships
• July 16 – NCCA Coaching Clinic

Upcoming Webinars

• September 18 – Unified Track 101
• January 29 – Everything MileSplit
• February 12 – Meet Preparation
• March 11 – Story Time!
• April 29 – Post-Season To Dos

Webinar Recordings

• 2023 SONC Unified Track and Field Season Kickoff

The SONC Unified track and field rules listed below are intended to be used in conjunction with NFHS and NCHSAA track and field rules. Therefore, those rules are not repeated here but they will be enforced unless in direct conflict to SONC modifications. View the Unified Track and Field Rules.

SONC offers competition in six different track events, ranging in distances from 100 meters to 800 meters, as well as two 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 and 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 (8lb/3.6kg)
• 4 x 200m Relay

NCHSAA State Championship Events

• 100m Dash
• 4 x100m Relay
• 200m
• Shot put

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

Team scoring
Due to the growth of the program and increase in size for many teams, only teams with a minimum roster of 10 will be scored at conference/county championship meets. Teams with fewer than 10 participants will still be able to compete and receive individual place finishes but will not accrue team points.

The team scoring formula found in the official SONC rules will be used for county/conference meets.

ALL students will need to complete the NCHSAA physical in order to be eligible for participation. We will no longer accept Special Olympics North Carolina athlete physical forms for students with intellectual disabilities under the age of 19*. NCHSAA physicals must be completed and submitted to the school Athletic Director prior to the first practice.

*Please note: For students with an intellectual disability who turn 19 on or before August 31, 2023, a Special Olympics North Carolina physical will be required.

Identifying Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
A person is considered to have intellectual disabilities for purposes of determining his or her eligibility to participate in Unified Sports® if that person satisfies any one of the following requirements:

1. The person has been identified by an agency or professional as having intellectual disabilities as determined by their localities; or
2. The person has a cognitive delay, as determined by standardized measures such as intelligent quotient or “IQ” testing or other measures which are generally accepted within the professional community in that Accredited Program’s nation as being a reliable measurement of the existence of a cognitive delay; or
3. The person has a closely related developmental disability. A “closely related developmental disability” means having functional limitations in both general learning (such as IQ) and in adaptive skills (such as in recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care). Persons whose functional limitations are based solely on a physical, behavioral, or emotional disability, or a specific learning or sensory disability, are also eligible to participate as Unified athletes or partners.

Student Athlete Medical Physical Assistance Voucher
Through a partnership with the MinuteClinics found in CVS and Target locations, with this voucher, a physical can be completed for $44. This will help give athletes and their families/caregivers a way to get physicals completed and turned in.

Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) requires Unified track and field coaches to complete the following trainings:

• NFHS Track & Field Resources
• NCHSAA Track & Field Resources
• Special Olympics Quick Start Guide – printable version
• Special Olympics Quick Start Guide – digital version
• Team Recruitment Strategies
• Starting a Unified Track Program
• Using MileSplit
• Working with your School
• Special Olympics Divisioning
• Meet Preparation Checklist
• Post-Season Guide

• Special Olympics NC Unified Track and Field Timeline
• Additional Resources: Interest Meeting Agenda Example

MileSplit Registration
To align the program with the existing track teams, participating schools must use MileSplit to house their rosters and register for meets. Each school has had a Unified track team page set-up by MileSplit. The list of schools and their assigned MileSplit accounts is below. Follow the directions below to activate your account and start using MileSplit.

• 1. Click HERE to access the MileSplit link.
  2. When your team page comes up, click on “claim team”
     • It will prompt you to either login or register an account. If you have an existing account, login. If you do not have an account, register for a new account. Accounts are free.
  3. Once you claim the team, an email will be sent to MileSplit. They will verify your claim and you will have access to your team account.
  4. Change your password and update your profile
  5. Enter your team roster

Unified Track MileSplit Accounts

For questions regarding MileSplit, contact Hailey Miller.

View out the meet schedule here. Are you hosting or attending a meet that is not on this spreadsheet? Let us know by emailing hmiller@sonc.net.

Location
North Carolina A&T State University

Criteria For Advancement
Unified track and field athletes and Unified partners may qualify for participation in the NCHSAA State Championships track meet scheduled for May 19-20, 2023. Athletes and Unified partners must compete in their county or conference meet to become eligible.

Official results from county and conference meets in the following events will be used to determine qualification:

• 100m dash times
• 4x100m relay team times

The top eight athletes from both county and conference meet results will qualify by May 10, 2023. 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.

• SONC Unified Track and Field Guidelines for Athletic Department: The resource helps explain the role of an Athletic Director in the Unified track and field program.
• Athletic Director Resource Packet

• Parent Packet
• Welcome Back Letter