Sports & Competitions Overview
Special Olympics Kansas offer year-round training and athletic competition in 20 Olympic-type sports to children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Participation is open to anyone ages 8 and older, and programs are designed to serve all ability levels. For sport rules, rules updates, coaching guides and more, visit Special Olympics Inc. Coaching Guide Page.
SOKS offers Coaches Training Schools throughout the year. Please visit the SOKS calendar of events for dates and locations or contact Chris Burt at burtc@ksso.org.
To view sport specific information (ie, rules, coaches certification tests and events offered), please click on the sport listed below.
Winter Sports
State Competition in Winter includes the John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games which are typically held in late January or early February. Skiing events take place in Weston, Mo., skating events take place in St. Joseph, Mo., and floor hockey takes place in Nebraska.
Alpine Skiing
Events Offered: :
Novice – Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom
Intermediate – Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom
Advanced – Down Hill, Giant Slalom, Slalom
Alpine Super Glide
Alpine Glide
Alpine Coach Certification Test
State Competition: John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games
Cross Country Skiing
Events Offered: 25M Race, 50M Race,100 M Race, 500M Race, 1K Race
Cross Country Coach Certification Test
State Competition: John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games
Figure Skating
Events Offered: Figure Skating Compulsories, Figure Skating Free Skate
Figure Skating Coach Certification Test
State Competition: John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games
Floor Hockey
Floor Hockey Coach Certification Test
State Competition: John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games
Snowshoeing
Events Offered: 50M Race, 100M Race, 200M Race, 400M Race
Snowshoeing Coaching Certification Test
State Competition: John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games
Speed Skating
Events Offered: 111M Race, 333M Race, 500 M Race, 1,000 M Race
Speed Skating Coach Certification Test
State Competition: John L. Cassidy Heartland Winter Games
Spring Sports
State Competition in Spring includes the State Basketball and Cheer and State Powerlifting Tournaments. Basketball and cheer competition typically takes place in March and is split between Hays and Topeka. State powerlifting typically takes place in April or May in Lawrence.
Basketball
Events offered: Team Basketball, Individual Skills, Speed Dribble, Team Skills basketball and Cheerleading
Basketball SOKS Adaptation Rules Modifications
Basketball Skill Assessment Test (BSAT)
Basketball Team Skills Information – Low Motor
Basketball Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Basketball and Cheer
Cheerleading
Events Offered: Large Squad, Small Squad
Cheerleading Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Basketball and Cheer
Powerlifting
Events offered: Bench Press, Squat, Deadlift, Sit-ups, Arm Curls
Flag Football
Summer Sports
State Competition in Summer includes the Summer Games and Spikes and Strikes. Summer Games typically take place the first weekend in June in Wichita. Spikes and Strikes typically takes place in August in Johnson County.
Athletics (Track and Field)
Track Events: 50m Race, 100m Race, 200m Race, 400m Race, 800m Race, 1500M Race, 4×100 relay
Race Walking Events: 100m Race Walk, 200m Race Walk, 400m Race Walk
Field Events: Standing Long Jump, Running Long Jump, Shot Put – Men – 4kg/8.13lbs Women – 2.72kg/6lbs, Softball Throw, Turbo Javelin
Wheel Chair Events: 25m Manual Race, 25m Motorized Race, 100m Manual Race, 100m Motorized Race, 30m Manual Slalom, 30m Motorized Slalom, 25m Manual Obstacle, 25m Motorized Obstacle Race, 50m Manual Slalom, 50m Motorized Slalom, 4 x 25m Manual Shuttle Relay, 4 x 25m Motorized Shuttle Relay, Wheelchair Shot Put – Men – 1.81kg/4lbs, Shot Put – Women – 1.36kg/3lbs
(Low Motor) Developmental Events: 10m Race Walk, 10m Assisted Race Walk, 25m Run, 25m Race Walk , 50m Walk, 25m Assisted Race Walk, 10m Manual Wheelchair Event, 10m Motorized Wheelchair Event, Ball Throw for Distance (Tennis Ball)
Athletics Event Participation Ratio Policy
Athletics Clarifications Turbo Jav and Shot Put
Athletics Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Summer Games
Cycling
Events offered: 500m Race, 3K Race, 1K Race, 5K Race
Cycling Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Summer Games
Tennis
Events Offered: Match Play, Lead Up Skills
Tennis Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Summer Games
Swimming
Traditional Events:
25m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 50m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke,
50m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Butterfly, 100m Individual Medley,4 x 25m Freestyle Relay,
4 x 25m Medley Relay
Developmental Events:
10m Assisted Walk, 20m Assisted Walk, 15m Walk, 25m Walk, 15m Flotation Race, 25m Flotation Race,
10m Assisted Swim, 10m Unassisted Swim, 20m Assisted Swim, 20m Unassisted Swim
Swimming Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Summer Games
Bowling
Events Offered: Bowling Singles, Bowling Doubles
Bowling Modification Rules (2019)
Bowling Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Spikes and Strikes
Volleyball
Events Offered: Team Volleyball, Unified Volleyball
Volleyball Skills Assessment Test
Volleyball Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Spikes and Strikes
Fall Sports
State Competition in Fall includes the Charles E. Watson Softball and Golf Tournament and the State Soccer and Bocce Tournament. The softball and golf tournament typically takes place in October in Wichita. The soccer and bocce tournament typically takes place in November in Olathe.
Bocce
Events Offered: Bocce Singles, Bocce Doubles, Bocce Team
Soccer
Events offered: Soccer 5-a-side
Soccer Ability Levels and Rules
Soccer Team Skills Assessment Test
Soccer Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Soccer and Bocce Tournament
Softball
Events Offered: Slow Pitch Softball, Coach Pitch Softball, T-Ball and Home Run Derby
Softball Coach Certification Test
State Competition: Charles E. Watson Softball and Golf Tournament
Golf
Events Offered: Stroke Play, Unified
State Competition: Charles E. Watson Softball and Golf Tournament