Sports & Games

Special Olympics offers over 32 Olympic-style individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities. This page presents coaching guides, rules, quick-start guides and more.

Sport is a powerful part of Special Olympics goal of acceptance and respect.

Sports are a powerful tool for making the world know the power of Special Olympics.

See great photos of competitions in Special Olympics summer sports.

Unified Sports: teams of people with and without intellectual disabilities competing.

All Sports

Alpine Skiing
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
Aquatics
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Athletics
- Coaching Guide
- Home Training Guide (PDF)
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
Badminton
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Basketball
- Basketball Page
- Coaching Guide (English)
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
- Competition Management Guide (PDF)
Bocce
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Bowling
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
Cricket
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Cross Country Skiing
- Coaching Guide
- Cross Country Skiing
- Rules (PDF)
Cycling
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
Equestrian
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Figure Skating
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Floor Hockey
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes
Floorball
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Football (Soccer)
- Football Page
- Coaching Guide (English)
- Coaching Guide (French)
- Coaching Guide (Spanish)
- Coaching Guide (Portuguese)
- Coaching Guide (Chinese)
- Home Training Guide (PDF)
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Golf
- Coaching Guide
- Home Training Guide (PDF)
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- Golf Competition Management Guide (PDF)
Gymnastics, Artistic
- Coaching Guide
- Rules – pages 1-58
- Rules – pages 59-110
- Rules (PDF)
- Artistic Gymnastics Competition Management Guide (PPT)
Gymnastics, Rhythmic
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics Music
- Rules (PDF)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition Management
Handball
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Judo
- Coaching Guides
- Rules (PDF)
Kayaking
- Coaching Guides
- Rules (PDF)
Motor Activity Training Program
- Coaching Guide
- Coaching Guide (French)
- Coaching Guide (Spanish)
- Coaching Guide (Portuguese)
- Coaching Guide (Chinese)
- Coaching Guide (Arabic )
- Coaching Guide (Russian)
Netball
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Open Water Swimming
- Coaching Guides
- Officials Manual (DOC)
- Rules (DOC)
Play Activities
- Coaching Guides
- Play Activities (PDF)
Powerlifting
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Roller Skating
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Sailing
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Snowboarding
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
Snowshoeing
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
Softball
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Speed Skating
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Table Tennis
- Coaching Guide
- Rules (PDF)
Tennis
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- 2011 Rules Changes (PDF)
Unified Sports
- Coaching Guide
Volleyball
- Coaching Guide
- Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Rules (PDF)
- Rules Changes 2011 (PDF)

“Sports play a critical role in the health and development of all children, including those with disabilities. ” Hon. Ann Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF

Donate Now

Help us reach out to one more athlete

Donate »

Find local events and learn about volunteer opportunities at one of our 220 worldwide locations.

Find a location near you »

Show Your Support

Coca-Cola has been a worldwide sponsor of Special Olympics for decades.
LEARN MORE »

Show Your Support

The Procter & Gamble Company has supported the movement for more than 28 years.
LEARN MORE »

Show Your Support

The Annenberg Foundation is helping Special Olympics promote worldwide coaching excellence.
LEARN MORE »

Special Olympics Blog

A fair warning before you see “The Descendants”

If hearing the "R-word" used several times in a gratuitous joke within a movie is something that is going to ruin a night out for you, save your time and heartache and do not see “The Descendants.” read more »

Posted on 2011-11-30 by Ryan

go to blog »

Sports & Games

All Sports

Related Links

Special Olympics Coaching Guides

Related Coaching Resources

How to Get Involved in Special Olympics

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

Follow us

Donate Now

Help us reach out to one more athlete

Find local events and learn about volunteer opportunities at one of our 220 worldwide locations.

Find a location near you »

Show Your Support

Show Your Support

Show Your Support

Special Olympics Blog

A fair warning before you see “The Descendants”

Find Us on Facebook

Latest on Twitter

Region Sections

Resources

Involvement

Related Web Sites

Stories, Videos and Slideshows