unified sports & activities – ease of incorporation€¦ · project unify • special...

UNIFIED SPORTS &

ACTIVITIES – EASE OF

INCORPORATION

Mike Colbrese – WIAA Executive Director

Todd Nelson – NYSPHSAA Assistant Director

Nate Johnson – SONY Unified Sports Director

Wheelchair Athletes

WIAA State Track and Field Meet AWARDS

OCR Guidance

1. Process

2. Challenge

3. Future

OCR Guidance

Project UNIFY 2012

Project UNIFY

• Special Olympics / WIAA partnership formed during the

Spring of 2013.

• Representatives of both associations attend Arizona Unified

Sports Conference.

• Plans established to integrate and educate the member schools

of the WIAA.

• WIAA Fall Workshops are the launching ground for staff of

both associations to share information.

Project UNIFY

Project UNIFY

Traditionally Special Olympic athletes have trained

twice a week for 8-10 weeks with a one day

tournament which dictates eligibility for state games.

Project UNIFY

Unified Sports in schools has changed that to “on-

going training and competition” so our athletes get to

train twice a week and compete at least once a week

in league play and then participate in a qualifying

tournament for state.

Project UNIFY

Special Olympics / WIAA Map Comparisons

Project UNIFY

Inclusive Schools Development By the numbers…

Unified Basketball Participation (Statewide) Youth Leadership Participation (Statewide)

2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015

# of Schools 9 26 91 Schools 44 120 199

Average # of Competitions per Athlete per season

2 4 21

Unified Soccer Participation (Statewide)

2013 2014 2015

# of Schools 22 81 141

Average # of Competitions per Athlete per season

8 16 24

Unified Flag Football Participation (Statewide)

2013 2014 2015

Student Participation

0 0 600

Average # of Competitions per Athlete per season

0 0 2

Project UNIFY

Current Project UNIFY Development

Project UNIFY

Project UNIFY

17.5.1 For the purposes of the out-of-season

regulations, the WIAA has determined that:

• Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch Softball;

Interscholastic/Collegiate/Folkstyle/USA Wrestling,

Freestyle Wrestling, and Greco-Roman Wrestling;

and Unified Sports Teams shall be considered

separate and distinct sports.

Project UNIFY

1. Allows for school coaches to coach in both programs

2. Highly qualified school coaches can be involved with both programs

3. Supports the strategic plan to increase participation among high

school students

4. Students who traditionally do not participate on WIAA-sponsored

sports teams may choose to participate on unified teams instead

5. Promotes a healthy culture within schools and the community

Project UNIFY

http://www.nfhsnhttp://www.nfhsnetwork.com/eh

ttp://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/99939etwork

.com/events/99939

Vision of Project UNIFY

Institute a Representative Group

School Administration, Coaches, WIAA Staff, and Athletes

Discuss the implications of WIAA rules

Possible post season connections

Establish WIAA Unified Sports Opportunities

Formalize Unified Sports in WIAA

Bowling - Soccer – Basketball – Track and Field – Bocce –

Flag Football

Statewide Expansion into Middle Year 2 – 3 and Beyond

High Schools Middle Schools

Benefits of Project UNIFY

Exploring Opportunities

1. Ambulatory sports

2. Continued efforts to

include all kids in

activities and athletics

PARTNERS

NYSPHSAA/SONY

Project Unify

Unified Sports

Youth Leadership

Whole School Engagement

Shared Goals and Objectives

PILOT PROGRAM

Have a Plan!!!!

Unified Basketball

Youth Activation Committee

Resources

Handout materials

Promotional Video

Media Presence

Press conference/release

IDENTIFY AN AREA!! ! !

DEVELOP A

LEADERSHIP TEAM

State Association Liaison

Special Olympic Director

Athletic Director

Special Education Director

Superintendent

Principal

Coach

YAC Advisor

Help Recruit Schools

UNIFIED BASKETBALL

Predetermined Season – Spring

Start Date

Scrimmage Date

6 game regular season

Culminating Event/

Tournament

Highlight and Promote

Student athletes

Skills Challenge

Shooting

Passing

Dribbling

EMPOWERING YOUTH

Youth Activation Committee

Recruitment

Sustainability

Unified “Booster” Club

Whole School Engagement

Other Student Involvement

Assistant Coaches

Team Managers/ Scorebook

Pep Band/Student Section Groups

Videographers/Photographers

Goal of Social Inclusion

Develop Natural Supports

Increase Acceptance and Understanding

Authentic friendships

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Year 1 – Pilot Program

Basketball – Culminating Event

Year 2

Basketball – Culminating

Tournament

Year 3 and Year 4

Basketball – Tournament

Bowling – Tournament

Year 5

Basketball

Bowling

Fall Sport (Golf, Soccer, Cross

Country, Track and Field????)

“ I F YO U D O N ’ T K N OW W H E R E YO U A R E

G O I N G, YO U W I L L E N D U P S O M E P L AC E

E L S E ” - YO G I B E R R A

QUESTIONS????

Mike Colbrese

colbrese@wiaa.com

Todd Nelson

tnelson@nysphsaa.org

Nate Johnson

npjohnson@nyso.org