Existing Young Athletes

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Young Athletes

Resources for Young Athletes

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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

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OBJECTIVE 1

Engage children with intellectual disabilities through developmentally appropriate play activities designed to foster physical, cognitive, and social development.

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OBJECTIVE 2

Welcome family members of children with intellectual disabilities to the Special Olympics network of support.

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OBJECTIVE 3

Raise awareness about the abilities of children with intellectual disabilities through inclusive peer participation, demonstrations and other events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

There are no upcoming events at this time

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.

Visit the Young Athlete YouTube Playlist
Join Young Athletes

CONTACT US

Mandi DeWitt

Senior Director of Young Athletes
(720) 359-3117
Email: mmd@specialolympicsco.org

Ashtyn Anderson

Young Athletes Coordinator
(720) 359-3137
Email: aanderson@specialolympicsco.org