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Special Olympics is rooted in the values of respect, fairness, and the true spirit of sport. We expect all athletes and Unified partners to uphold these values both on and off the field.

By participating in Special Olympics, athletes and Unified partners agree to follow this Code of Conduct during all Special Olympics events, competitions, and any time they are representing their team, Special Olympics, or Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO).

Sportsmanship

• I will practice good sportsmanship.
• I will act in ways that bring respect to me, my coaches, my team and Special Olympics.
• I will not use bad language.
• I will not swear or insult other people.
• I will not fight with other athletes, coaches, volunteers or staff.

Training and Competition

• I will train regularly.
• I will learn and follow the rules of my sport.
• I will listen to my coaches and the officials and ask questions when I do not understand.
• I will always try my best during training and competitions.
• I will not “hold back” in preliminaries just to get into an easier final competition.

Responsibility for My Actions

• I will not make inappropriate or unwanted physical, verbal or sexual advances on others.
• I will not drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal drugs while representing Special Olympics at training sessions, competition or other events or for the purpose of improving my performance.
• I will obey all laws and Special Olympics rules.

Code of Conduct Acknowledgment

Special Olympics Colorado is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone. All participants are expected to follow the Code of Conduct, and any concerns or violations will be reviewed by the Code of Conduct Review Committee.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code of Conduct, I may lose the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics activities.

Special Olympics is rooted in the values of respect, fairness, and the true spirit of sport. We expect all coaches to uphold these values on and off the field.

By participating in Special Olympics, coaches agree to follow this Code of Conduct during all Special Olympics events, competitions, and any time they are representing their team, Special Olympics, or Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO).

Respect for Others

• I will respect the rights, dignity and worth of athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers, friends and spectators in Special Olympics.
• I will treat everyone equally and with kindness.
• I will be a positive role model.

Ensure a Positive Experience

• I will do my part to make sure every athlete I coach feels valued, supported, and has a positive experience with Special Olympics.
• I will respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each athlete.
• I will ensure each athlete competes in events that challenge their potential and are appropriate to that athlete’s ability.
• I will be fair, considerate and honest with athletes and communicate with athletes using clear language.
• I will ensure that accurate scores are provided for entry of an athlete into any event.
• I will instruct each athlete to perform in accordance with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules.

Act Professionally and Take Responsibility for My Actions

• I will model professionalism through my words, actions, and preparation.
• I will display control, respect, dignity and professionalism to all involved in Special Olympics, including but not limited to athletes, coaches, opponents, officials, administrators, staff, parents, spectators, and the media.
• I will encourage athletes to demonstrate these same qualities.
• I will not drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal drugs while representing Special Olympics at training sessions, competition or during games.
• I will refrain from any form of abuse towards athletes including verbal, physical and emotional abuse.
• I will never engage in, attempt, or tolerate any form of sexual contact, misconduct, or inappropriate behavior toward athletes.
• I will abide by the policy which prohibits coaches / volunteers from dating athletes.
• I will abide by Principals of Meaningful Involvement.

Quality Service to the Athletes

• I will seek continual improvement through performance evaluation and ongoing coach education.
• I will be knowledgeable of and follow the Special Olympics Sports Rules for the sport(s) I coach, ensuring I teach skills and strategies in alignment with those rules.
• I will provide a plan for a regular training program.

Health and Safety of Athletes

• I will ensure that the equipment, rules, training and environment are safe and appropriate for the age and ability of the athletes.
• I will be aware of and support each athlete’s individual needs.
• I will provide consistent care, encouragement, and support to all athletes, including those who are sick or injured.
• I will allow further participation in training and competition only when appropriate.

Code of Conduct Acknowledgment

Special Olympics Colorado is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone. All participants are expected to follow the Code of Conduct, and any concerns or violations will be reviewed by the Code of Conduct Review Committee.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code of Conduct, I may lose the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics activities.

Special Olympics is rooted in the values of respect, fairness, and the true spirit of sport. As fans of Special Olympics athletes, it is expected that all spectators will play a positive role at any Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) event by following these expectations:

• Remember that coaches and officials are volunteers.
• Abusive, offensive, or disrespectful language toward officials, coaches, opponents, staff, athletes, or fellow spectators will not be tolerated.
• Understanding the rules enhances the event experience. SOCO follows National Governing Body (NGB) rules, with any modifications outlined in our Rules Interpretations. Both are available at specialolympicsco.org under the Coach section.
• Keep the Special Olympics oath and the spirit of sportsmanship in mind at all times.
• Refrain from shouting instructions.
• Only coaches, athletes, partners, and officials registered to the team may be in the playing area.
• All cheers should be positive, respectful, and reflect good sportsmanship at all times.
• Follow instructions or directives given by officials, volunteers, or SOCO staff.
• Special Olympics Colorado has a zero-tolerance rule in regard to physical altercations involving coaches, athletes, unified partners, volunteers, spectators, family members, etc.
• SOCO competitions and practices are alcohol, tobacco and drug free events.
• Special Olympics Colorado events are firearm and weapon free (excluding law enforcement).

Spectator Code of Conduct Acknowledgment

Special Olympics Colorado is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all athletes, coaches, volunteers, families, and spectators. As a spectator, I agree to uphold these values by demonstrating good sportsmanship, respect for all participants, and support for fair play.

I understand that failure to follow the Spectator Code of Conduct may result in removal from the event and/or loss of future spectator privileges. Any reported incidents, concerns or violations will be reviewed by the Code of Conduct Review Committee.