Special Olympics Florida Fall Classic Volunteer Orientation November 10-11, 2017 Florida 1
Thank You for Volunteering! Thank you for taking the time to learn about Special Olympics Florida. We serve over 42,000 athletes with the help of 2,700 coaches and over 27,000 volunteers. We hope you: Learn about the mission of Special Olympics Florida Get involved in your community through Special Olympics Florida Help us ensure an environment of equality, respect and acceptance 2 / Special Olympics Florida
Special Olympics Florida Mission Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Components Sports training & competition Leadership Health Screenings Outcomes Physical fitness Courage & joy Sharing gifts & skills Friendship Families Athletes Community 3 / Special Olympics Florida
Philosophy & Vision If individuals with intellectual disabilities can: Receive appropriate instruction and encouragement Receive constant training Compete among those with equal abilities The results are: Personal growth Stronger families United communities An environment of equality, respect and acceptance 4 / Special Olympics Florida
Coach, Athlete & Volunteer Oaths Athlete s Oath: Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. Coach s Oath: In the name of all coaches and in the spirit of sportsmanship, I promise that we will act professionally, respect others, and ensure a positive experience for all. I promise to provide quality sports and training opportunities in a safe environment for all athletes. Volunteer s Oath: I promise to give the time in my life so that Special Olympics athletes can have the time of their lives. I promise to support Special Olympics not just as an expression of charity, but as a form of respect for my fellow human beings. I promise to spread the word of volunteerism because in giving, I receive so much more in return. 5 / Special Olympics Florida
Healthy Athletes Make Healthy Communities Healthy Athletes & Healthy Communities are designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, to increase the athlete's ability to train and compete as well as enhance their well being. Through health programs, Special Olympics: Ensures quality Health Exams/Referrals for athletes Offers Health Professionals the opportunity to learn how to treat people with intellectual disabilities and be more prone to welcome them into their practices. Health disciplines include: Opening Eyes (vision) FUNfitness (physical therapy) Special Smiles (dental) Healthy Hearing (audiology) Health Promotion (well-being) Fit Feet (podiatry) MedFest (sports physical exam) Strong Minds (new for 2017) 6 / Special Olympics Florida * Healthy Athletes will be in the HP Fieldhouse & Champions Stadium.
Fall Games Overview 1170 athletes from around the state compete in 5 sports, powerlifting, softball, gymnastics, unified flag football and cheerleading, with over 480 coaches to guide them in competition. Competition begins on Friday and ends Saturday with the Opening Ceremony Friday evening and Victory Dance immediately following the Closing Ceremonies on Saturday. 7 / Special Olympics Florida
SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA STATE FALL CLASSIC, NOVEMBER 11-12, 2016 Premier Games Sponsor: Athletes per Sport: Gymnastics: 150 Powerlifting: 70 Softball: 500 Cheerleading: 150 Flag Football: 300 Tentative Schedule Friday, November 10 8:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Delegation Registration Champions Stadium 10:00a.m. 12:00p.m. Weigh- In: Bench, Deadlift, Combo 2- Jostens Center 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Team Softball Competition Softball Fields 10-15 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Unified Flag Football Competition Fields 25-29 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Powerlifting Competition The Jostens Center 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Softball Individual Skills Preliminary Competition, Baseball Fields 2 & 4 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Cheerleading Exhibition The Jostens Center 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Healthy Athletes HP Field House Lower Courts 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Weigh-in: Combo 3 - Jostens Center 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Dinner Auxiliary Court 8:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony Champion Stadium 9:45 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Head Delegates Meeting Champion Stadium Saturday, November 11 8:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. Gymnastics Competition The Jostens Center 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Team Softball Competition Softball Fields 10-15 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Unified Flag Football Competition Fields 25-29 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Softball Individual Skills- Final Competition Baseball Fields 2 & 4 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Powerlifting Competition The Jostens Center 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Healthy Athletes HP Field House Lower Courts 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Little Elites (Transition Program) 11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Lunch Specific venues 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Dinner Auxiliary Court 8:00 p.m. 8:45 p.m. Closing Ceremony Champion Stadium 8:45 p.m. 9:45 p.m. Victory Dance The HP Field House 8 / Special Olympics Florida
Flag Football Volunteer Roles CHECK-IN, GENERAL INFO (4 people) Guide teams to correct field based on schedule, help teams read brackets SCOREKEEPER (1-2 per field) Game duration: (2) 20 minute halvesrunning clock- use stopwatch to monitor Clock stops on all dead balls, last minute of each half 5 minute halftime Time outs: FIELD MANAGER (1-2 per field) Ensure that coaches check-in at the score table and write their roster on the scoresheet, check printed roster to ensure day of roster matches Ensure that each team has at least 2 footballs for warm ups Ensure that there is a game ball available During game be available to retrieve loose balls In the case of an injury alert the medical staff immediately In case of a dispute between coaches or any other issues, alert an SO staff member Following the game, retrieve score sheet from the table, update the brackets on the bracket board and return the score sheets to the headquarters 9 / Special Olympics Florida
Softball Volunteer Roles Check-in General Info Guide teams to correct field based on schedule, help teams read brackets Field Manager (1-2 per field) Ensure that coaches check-in at the score table and write their roster on the scoresheet, check printed roster to ensure day of roster matches Ensure that each team has softballs for warm ups Check with ref to ensure that there is a game ball available In the case of an injury alert the medical staff immediately In case of dispute between coaches or any other issues, alert an SO staff member Following the game, update the brackets on the bracket board 10 / Special Olympics Florida
Volunteer Roles Team Sports Awards Awards Runner: Run results from competition area to awards prep area Awards Escort: When athletes finish competing, take that athlete or group of athletes from competition to the awards staging tent. Return to competition zone to await next group of athletes. Awards Pre-Staging Volunteer: When athletes arrive from competition, offer them water and have the athletes sit in the available chairs. Take athletes to awards staging Awards Staging Volunteer: Once the awards paperwork is provided, place the athletes in the chairs according to how they will appear on the awards podium (follow place numbers on back of chairs). Escort Athletes onto podium keeping them in order that they will stand on podium- best practice to keep the group in order is to have 1 volunteer in front and 1 at the back of the group Awards Prep: Use results paperwork to prepare awards on pillow Place award labels on medals/ribbons Pillow Holder: Once awards are prepared and athletes are ready to go on stands, walk to podium with presenter and hold the awards tray Awards Presenter: Place medals/ribbons around athletes neck when their name is called Awards Emcee: Announce the athletes, name, county and event as their award is presented 11 / Special Olympics Florida
Softball Skills Volunteer Roles 12 / Special Olympics Florida
Event 1: Base Race DESCRIPTION Bases are set up like a baseball diamond and positioned 19.81 m (65 ) apart. The athlete is instructed to start on home place and run around the bases as fast as possible, touching each base en route SCORING VOLUNTEER ROLES: Timer: Holds stop watch and times athlete Base monitor: Stands by each base to ensure athlete touches Recorder: Records athlete s time Group Leader: Stays with group as they move from station to station, responsible for athlete s paperwork The time stops when the athlete touches home plate after circling the bases. The time elapsed, in seconds, is subtracted from 60 to determine the point score. A penalty of five seconds for each base missed or touched in an improper order shall be assessed. The best score of two trials is recorded. 13 / Special Olympics Florida
Event 2: Throwing DESCRIPTION: The player being tested stands behind the restraining line, back far enough to take one or more steps in preparation for throwing. Player has two trials to throw the softball as far and as straight as possible down the throwing line, without stepping over the restraining line. Volunteers should be positioned in the field to indicate, using a cone or marking stake, the spot where each ball first touches the ground. The better of the two throws is measured and recorded as the player s score. If a player steps on or over the line before releasing the ball, the trial must be repeated. There will be a maximum of two repeats. SCORING: The net throwing score equals the throwing distance, measured at a point on the throwing line straight across from (perpendicular to) the spot where the ball landed, minus the error distance, the number of meters the ball landed off target, away from the throwing line. The player s score is the better of the two throws. Both error scores and distance are measured to the nearest meter; for example, if a ball lands even with (perpendicular to) the 50-meter point on the measuring tape, but is 6 meters off to one side, the player s score is 44 points (Distance thrown [50] minus number of meters off target [6] results in a net score of 44 meters). Athletes score one point per meter; for example, 44 meters equals 44 points. If the score falls between meters, the score should be rounded down; for example, 44.73 equals 44 points 14 / Special Olympics Florida
Event 2: Throwing Volunteer Roles VOLUNTEER ROLES Ball Marker places cone/stake to indicate where ball touches ground Measurer- measures after each attempt Recorder- writes down athlete s score Group Leader: Stays with group as they move from station to station, responsible for athlete s paperwork 15 / Special Olympics Florida
Event 3: Fielding Description The athlete will stand between and behind the two cones. The official must throw the ball on the ground to the athlete, between the cones. The throw to the athlete must hit the ground before the 6.10m (20 ) chalk mark. The athlete may move aggressively toward the ball. If the thrown ball is outside of the cones, the throw must be repeated. Each athlete gets five fielding attempts per trial. Each athlete receives two trials. Volunteer Roles Ball retriever: retrieves balls that get past the athlete Thrower: throws ground ball to athletes Recorder: writes down athlete s scores Group Leader: Stays with group as they move from station to station, responsible for athletes paperwork Scoring The athlete receives five points for a clearly fielded ball (either caught in glove or trapped against the body, but off the ground; two points for a ball that is block; zero points for a missed attempt, for a maximum score of 50. 16 / Special Olympics Florida
Event 4: Hitting DESCRIPTION Standing in a regulation-size batter s box, the athlete is instructed to hit the ball off the tee. The athlete receives three attempts. SCORING The distance of the longest hit shall determine the athlete s final score. The distance of a hit is measured from the batting tee to the point where the ball first touches the ground. The distance is measured to the nearest meter. 1m 1 point (46m =46 points). If the score falls between meters the score should be rounded down, (i.e. 46.73m 46points). VOLUNTEER ROLES Ball retriever Measurer (measures distance) Ball placer- places ball on tee for each attempt Recorder- writes down athlete s score Group Leader: Stays with group as they move from station to station, responsible for athlete s paperwork 17 / Special Olympics Florida
Gymnastics Volunteer Roles Volunteers will be trained on site by the competition director. 18 / Special Olympics Florida
Powerlifting Volunteer Roles Volunteers will be trained on site by the competition director. Volunteers will be assisting with awards. 19 / Special Olympics Florida
What to Expect when Volunteering with Special Olympics Florida One of the biggest questions that new volunteers have is how to work with our athletes. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Special Olympics offers competitions to children AND adults, so don t assume that an athlete is a child. Make sure to talk to athletes with respect. Many athletes like to hug, shake hands, give high fives, etc. You may reciprocate if the athlete initiates it and you are comfortable with that. Remember that respect of the dignity and effort of the athletes is the priority at Special Olympics Florida. 20 / Special 20 Olympics / Special Florida Olympics Florida
Important Day-Of Event Volunteer Information GENERAL INFORMATION You represent Special Olympics Florida as a volunteer. You will be asked to show photo identification upon registration at the event Remember to conduct yourself in a professional manner relating to athletes, other volunteers, family, the general public, and the media Please give your full attention to your volunteer duty. If you need assistance or are finished with your duty, please see the volunteer contact Please do not try to train or coach the athletes. Athletes have been working with their coaches for weeks for this event and are looking to them for guidance Photographs and video recordings are taken at each event. By signing in for your shift, you authorize Special Olympics Florida to use your image and likeness in promotional materials Please note, a volunteer is NOT to accompany an athlete away from the competition area or to the locker room. Please get the athlete s coach VOLUNTEER ATTIRE A volunteer t-shirt will be provided Please wear khaki shorts and athletic shoes and dress for comfort and mobility Protect yourself from the sun and elements There is not a storage area for personal belongings. Please plan accordingly FOOD & BEVERAGE Absolutely no alcohol of any kind is allowed. Volunteers will refrain from alcohol while involved in Special Olympics functions where athletes are present. You will be notified of the meals provided per volunteer shift. At most events, there is a meal or snacks provided. Please take frequent water breaks. DAY-OF EVENT ACCIDENTS & INJURIES Medical staff is available for events. In case of an accident, DO NOT attempt to treat the sick or injured person. Contact the nearest medical personnel immediately 21 / Special Olympics Florida
Volunteer Agreement As a Special Olympics volunteer, I agree that while serving as a volunteer, I will: Provide for the general welfare, health, and safety of all Special Olympics athletes and volunteers Dress and act in an appropriate manner at all times Follow the established rules and guidelines of Special Olympics and/or any agency involved with Special Olympics Report any emergencies to the appropriate authorities after first taking immediate action to ensure the health and safety of the participants Abstain from the consumption or use of all alcohol, tobacco products, and illegal substances while involved with any Special Olympics event, competition, or training Not engage in any inappropriate contact or relationship with athletes, volunteers, or other participants of Special Olympics 22 / Special Olympics Florida
Thank You Thank you for volunteering with Special Olympics Florida! We could not host the Fall Classic without your support! 23 / Special Olympics Florida