There are many benefits to participating as an athlete with Special Olympics Texas:

• Physical exercise positively impacts health, mood, and anxiety.
• Emphasis on sports training helps athletes maintain a healthy weight.
• Athletes participate in activities that enhance their self-esteem and help them see that they can achieve goals that they set for themselves.
• Athletes have many opportunities to make new friends and socialize in an environment that is accepting and encouraging.

Travel opportunities allow athletes to gain life experiences and skills that will positively impact all areas of their lives.

A person must be identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following:

• Intellectual Disabilities
• Closely related development disability, which means having functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills such as recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care.

• Medical Release Form signed by a doctor, or ask the athlete’s teacher for a copy. Medicals are good for 3 years if no new conditions arise.
• Local & Area Meets: 8 years and Up
• Local meets for track and field only: 6 years and up
• State: 12 years and up
• Area event participants must attend a minimum of 5 practices. Track and field athletes also must participate in two local meets to attend Area events.
• Adult chaperones are required for weekend meets for all students and any other meet that school staff is not available.
• Parent's Meeting/Elect Board Members: September 10th at 6 pm at Global High School - Room 701

Volunteers are the lifeline of the Special Olympics program. These volunteers serve as coaches, officials, committee members, competition assistants, speech coaches, and much more. There are more than 4,051 volunteer coaches involved in the program.

This program is possible solely through volunteer help. Parents and supporters are highly encouraged to volunteer to keep this program growing.