Not Too Early to Plan for Our Biggest Sports Season

It’s never too early to start making plans to be a part of our Spring Sports Season. Spring is our biggest sports season of the year and includes two of the best entry points to Special Olympics for new athletes. Spring sports consist of bocce, soccer, swimming, Track and field and rhythmic gymnastics. Many teams start training in February, so now is the time to find out how you can be involved. Athletes new to Special Olympics can start in any of the five sports, but track and field and bocce may provide the easiest access point.

Swimming

The swimming season consists of a series of locally held time trials that prepare swimmers to compete in one of two regional swim meets that are held in March or April. Swimmers who qualify will advance to the Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet. For the fourth 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 16, at Ralph Wright Natatorium at the University of 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.

We hold eight Area Track and Field Meets throughout the state. Meets begin in April and conclude with the Area 4 Track and Field Meet in Louisville in May. Athletes compete in one Area Track and Field Meet during the season. Athletes who qualify will go on to compete in the State Summer Games track and field meet at Eastern Kentucky University June 5-6.

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 season consists of two Regional Soccer Tournaments. Teams must compete in one Regional Tournament in order to compete in the State Soccer Tournament, which is held as part of the State Summer Games at Eastern Kentucky University in June.

Bocce

Bocce continues to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the Special Olympics Kentucky program. The bocce season includes local practice, and in most years local tournaments or invitationals. The season concludes at the State Summer Games at Eastern Kentucky University in June.

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.

Spring sports schedules are still being completed. Check back here or on the Special Olympics Kentucky calendar for updates.

For information about track and field contact Kathy Marshall at 502-695-8222 or kmarshall@soky.org. For information about swimming contact Loran Trent at 502-695-8222 or ltrent@soky.org. For information about bocce, soccer or rhythmic gymnastics contact Holly Vincent at hvincent@soky.org.