The Spring Sports Season is our largest competitive season of the ear and it also provides many easy points of entry for new athletes. While it may seem early, now is the time to make your plans to participate in 2025. The Spring Sports Season really gets underway after our State Basketball Tournament and includes swimming, soccer, bocce, rhythmic gymnastics and of course track and field. Most of our spring sports will hold their championships at the State Summer Games in June.

Swimming

While many Special Olympics swimmers practice nearly year-round, teams generally begin practice in late January or early February. Swimmers must compete in one of two regional qualifying to advance to the Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet. For the third year in a row, continuing construction at Eastern Kentucky University will force the State Swim Meet to be held as a stand-alone event separate from the State Summer Games. This year the State Swim Meet is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at Ralph Wright Natatorium at the University of Louisville.

2025 Swimming Schedule
TBA – Northern Kentucky Swim Meet – Silverlake Family Center, Erlanger
TBA – Owensboro Swim Meet – Owensboro Health Park
May 17– Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet – UofL Ralph Wright Natatorium, Louisville

Track and Field

One of the largest of Special Olympics Kentucky’s 15 sport offerings, track and field is where many first-time athletes begin their involvement in Special Olympics. More than 1,000 athletes are expected to compete in track and field statewide this year.

Special Olympics Kentucky offers eight Area Track and Field Meets across the state as qualifiers for the State Summer Games. Athletes qualify for the State Summer Games based on their finishing position in their events at their Area Track and Field Meet.

2025 Track and Field Schedule
April– Area 3 & 9 Track and Field Meet – Johnson Central High School, Paintsville
April – Area 5 Track and Field Meet – Bowling Green High School
April – Area 1 Track and Field Meet – Calloway County High School, Murray
April – Area 2 Track and Field Meet – Owensboro Middle School
April – Area 8 Track and Field Meet – Great Crossing High School, Georgetown
April – Area 6 Track and Field Meet – Southwestern High School, Somerset
April – Area 7 Track and Field Meet – Ryle High School, Union
May 10 – Area 4 Track and Field Meet – Mercy High School, Louisville

Soccer

Soccer is the one team sport offering for Special Olympics Kentucky in the spring. More than 300 athletes compete in the sport each year.

The Special Olympics Kentucky soccer season consists of two regional tournaments that lead to the State Tournament, which is held as part of the State Summer Games. Teams must compete in at least one regional to qualify for the State Games.

2025 Soccer Schedule
April 6 – Louisville Regional Tournament; Lynn Family Training Center, Louisville
April 27 – Versailles Regional Soccer Tournament; WYSA Complex, Versailles

Bocce

Bocce has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the Special Olympics Kentucky program since its introduction a little over a decade ago. Prior to last year, the sport was only held at the State Summer Games. Last year was the first year that multiple regional bocce events were held in the leadup to the State Summer Games. While the schedule is still being completed, those events are expected to return this year.

Mirroring the Special Olympics Kentucky bowling program, bocce has become the perfect spring sport for athletes with mobility issues and older athletes who still want to participate in the State Summer Games.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Kentucky has long been a national leader in the area of Special Olympics gymnastics, with Kentucky athletes winning dozens of gold medals at the USA and World Games levels.

The rhythmic gymnastics competition has been held at the State Summer Games for several years after replacing artistic gymnastics at the Games. The change allowed gymnasts to remain on the Eastern Kentucky University campus during the Games instead of having to transport off campus — as far as Lexington in many years — to find a suitable competition site.

For information about any Special Olympics Kentucky sports programs contact Holly Vincent at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].