Young Athletes
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The Young Athletes Program is an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities and their
peers, designed to introduce them into the world of sports. The benefits to this program have been proven worldwide. First and
foremost, these activities will help the children improve physically, cognitively and socially. This program will also raise
awareness of the Special Olympics program and serve as an introduction to the resources and support available within Special
Olympics Florida to families, agencies, and schools. Please click here for flier.
Program Goals
This program is designed to address two specific levels of play. Level 1 includes physical activities focused on developing
fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination. Level 2 concentrates on the application of these physical activities
through a sports skills activity program and developing skills consistent with Special Olympics sports play. The activities will
consist of foundational skills, walking & running, balance, and jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking, kicking and
advanced skills.
Types of Programs
There are two ways the program may be offered:
1. The Young Athletes Program (YAP) can be offered at home by a family member or friend. These volunteers become
play pals on a one-on-one basis with their family member. This would be called a Young Athletes Home Program.
2. The second option is offer a YAP as a site program. A site program may be a school or agency such as a Parks &
Recreation Department, Hospital, Daycare, ARC, UCP, YMCA, and Church, school or Camp. The agency agrees to offer
the program under the name of Special Olympics Florida Young Athletes Program. A site program may also be under the
direction of a volunteer approved by Special Olympics Florida County or Area Program who finds a donated site to
conduct activities. Such sites might include but not limited to a church, community center, YMCA, playground, ARC, UCP,
or Housing Development Community Room.
Both types of groups will follow all guidelines for the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program. Group site must have at least 6
registered Young Athletes to begin a program as they will receive an equipment kit free of charge.
For more information: please contact Marie El-khoury at 407-782-0525, Marie@SpecialOlympicsSeminoleCounty.org
http://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=423&Itemid=200
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Young Athletes Training Workshop
January 31, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
LaQuinta Inn Orlando International Drive North
Training for persons or agencies wishing to start a Young Athletes Program (YAP) in their County or Area. Training will be 6
hours long. Attendees will learn the how to's in setting up a program, what paperwork is needed, what to look for in a
prospective site and the how to’s of organizing the activities in the curriculum and a culminating event. Attendees will be able to
play with the Young Athletes who will be assisting with the learning activities.
There is a $5 Registration Fee per attendee payable to Special Olympics Florida. Registration includes lunch and training
materials. Registration forms will be due January 28, 2009. For Special Olympics Programs there is a limit of one person per
county (YAP Coordinator or someone who can go back home and train others) and one person per Area (Area YAP
Coordinator). For agencies, associations, or school system who would like to attend, registration will be on a first-come basis as
space is limited.
Training will be conducted by Jennifer Marcello, the Young Athletes Manager for Special Olympics Illinois. She has been involved
for the last 3 years and was part of the pilot project that tested the program for Special Olympics, Inc.
Persons attending the training will be expected to train others in how to implement a Young Athletes Program. Any agency,
association or school system that would like to implement the program must agree to use the name Special Olympics Florida
Young Athletes Program™ hosted by (i.e. Sunny Day Pre School).
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