Game On: Learn about the divisioning process that differentiates Special Olympics from other sport organizations.
SONC offers four types of volleyball competition: individual skills, traditional, Unified and modified 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 volleyball are overhead passing, serving, and passing.
Traditional volleyball team competition is played on a regulation volleyball court with a traditional indoor leather volleyball.
Modified volleyball team competition is played on a regulation volleyball court but a lighter, larger volleyball. The service line is also moved closer to the net.
Unified Volleyball team competition is played on a regulation volleyball court bringing together people with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and people without intellectual disabilities (partners) on the same teams.
Additional competition opportunities will be available for Unified Sports. This is being done in anticipation of potentially removing all Unified competition from state-level events starting in the 2019-2020 program year.
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
- Volleyball Individual Skills Competition Registration Form
- Volleyball 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.
2020 SONC Summer Games
SONC Summer Games will be held May 29-31 in Raleigh.
Cumberland County Volleyball Invitational
Special Olympics Cumberland County will host a volleyball tournament on Saturday, May 16 at Cape Fear High School. They will accept registration for up to 12 teams, dependent upon classification (modified, traditional and Unified). This tournament is open to any teams that wish to compete and there is no registration fee. Questions and registration can be submitted to Jeremy Mincey by Friday, April 24. No awards will be presented at this tournament. Lunch will be provided for all athletes and coaches.
Gaston County/Belmont Abbey College Volleyball Clinic
Special Olympics Gaston County and the Belmont Abbey College men’s volleyball team will host a volleyball clinic on Saturday, March 21 at Belmont Abbey College. This event is open to any local program that wishes to attend. The timeline for the day is as follows:
9:30 a.m. – Registration opens
10:00 a.m. – Clinic begins
12:00 p.m. – Clinic concludes
Lunch will be offered to all registered athletes at the conclusion of the clinic. Registration is currently open and is due by Tuesday, March 10. For any question regarding this event, please contact Ashley Anderson at gaston@sonc.net.
Invitationals
Athletes and Unified partners also have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in various local invitationals. Check the volleyball 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 Volleyball: The game of volleyball is attractive to all types of players, from competitive to recreational, young and old. To play volleyball players need to acquire a few basic skills, learn a few rules, require very little equipment, and can play the game almost anywhere – from the beach to the gym.
Differences of Special Olympics Volleyball: Special Olympics North Carolina offers 4 variations of volleyball: Standard Indoor, Modified Indoor, Unified Indoor, and Skills Competition. Competitions follow FIVB rules with minor modifications which include changes to court size, net height, and volleyball weight and size. Additionally, once a server has scored three consecutive points, his/her team shall rotate to the next server and continue to serve.
History: Volleyball made its first appearance at a state-level competition in 1975, but was not officially added to the Summer Games line-up until 1991.
By the Numbers:
- The Robeson County women’s volleyball team won a bronze medal in competition at the 1991 International Summer Games.
- The Wake County unified volleyball team won a bronze medal in competition at the 1991 International Summer Games.
- Buncombe County became the first Special Olympics North Carolina program to send a volleyball team to the International Summer Games in Baton Rouge, LA in 1983 and won a silver medal.
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.
Rick Laskey
Jacksonville
Connie Laskey
Jacksonville
Brian Webb
Kernersville
Keron Poteat
Watauga County Parks & Recreation
Boone
Trina Sharpe
Statesville
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.
