Young Athletes

Resources for Young Athletes

ABOUT YOUNG ATHLETES

Special Olympics Colorado created Young Athletes in 2008 to reach out to children with intellectual disabilities. Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities and their non-disabled peers. Ultimately, Young Athletes introduces children, and families, to the world of sport, with the goal of preparing them for sports training and competition as they get older.

Improved social skills is another inspiring reason parents enroll their children in Young Athletes. The confidence boost makes it easier for them to interact with other children on the playground, whether or not they have intellectual disabilities.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

This program is designed to address two specific levels of play.

LEVEL 1:
Physical activities focused on developing fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination.

LEVEL 2:
Applying these physical activities through a sports skills activity program and developing skills consistent with Special Olympics sports play. The activities will consist of foundational skills, walking & running, balance, and jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking, kicking and advanced skills.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

UPCOMING EVENTS

27 April 2024

2024 Coaches Summit

Saturday, April 27 Time: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM Location: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center 4005 Kipling St. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 The Coaches Summit is an all-day event for Special […]

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Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St.
Wheat Ridge, 80033 United States

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05 May 2024

Western Athletics Regional

Western Athletics Regional May 5, 2024 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Stocker Stadium 998 N 12th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 Performance Stations at Western Athletics Regional Stocker Stadium Sunday […]

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Stocker Stadium,

05 May 2024

Southeast Spring Games

Southeast Spring Games (Athletics and Swimming) May 5, 2024 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Fountain Fort Carson High School 900 Jimmy Camp Road Fountain, CO 80817 Special Smiles at Southeast […]

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Fountain Fort Carson High School, 900 Jimmy Camp Rd
Fountain, 80817 United States

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11 May 2024

Denver and Northeast Regional Athletics

Denver and Northeast Regional Athletics Saturday May 11, 2024 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Littleton Public Schools: Centennial Stadium 4401 E Arapahoe Rd Littleton, CO 80122 Performance Stations at Denver […]

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Littleton Public Schools Centennial Stadium, 4401 E Arapahoe Rd
Littleton, 80122 United States

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19 May 2024

Front Range Soccer

Front Range Soccer May 19, 2024 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Westminster City Park 10455 N. Sheridan Blvd. Westminster, CO 80020 Performance Stations at Front Range Soccer Designed to educate […]

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Westminster City Park Soccer Fields, 10455 North Sheridan Boulevard
Westminster, CO 80020 United States

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01 June 2024

State Gymnastics Competition

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Incline Gymnastics, 8160 Blakeland Dr., Unit F
Littleton, 80125 United States

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RESOURCES

Young Athletes includes several resources — a Young Athletes Activities Guide, a Training DVD and a Young Athletes Equipment Kit — to guide family members, educators and other professionals as they conduct Young Athletes activities with their children, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandchildren, students or patients.
An advanced curriculum guide for kindergarten to second grade (ages 5-7) students is currently being developed to ensure continued involvement after completing preschool Young Athletes.