SOPA Announces Updated Requirements for Unified Partners
UPDATED REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIFIED PARTERS: Medical no longer required
Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) continues to seek out ways to make it easier to recruit and retain both athletes and volunteers. SOPA has created a health history questionnaire that is collected in case of emergency. By collecting health history information now on all Class A volunteers, SOPA will no longer require a medical form by an authorized medical personnel for Unified Partners. This will go into effect immediately.
NOTE: This is specifically for Unified Partners that participate in community based Special Olympics Pennsylvania programming. There are no changes for Unified Partners that participate in Unified Champion Schools. Below is how the health history questionnaire is completed:
- For NEW Class A volunteers, this information will be collected upon collecting the Volunteer Application Form.
- For RENEWING volunteers, this information will collected within the Online Portal specifically under “My Information” and “Update Profile.”
- On an annual basis, we will ask all of our volunteers to update all information within “Update Profile” like contact information, first year in SOPA, how did you hear about us, health history, etc.
Register for a Fun Financial Education Opportunity on December 14th
On Wednesday, December 14th, from 7:00-8:00 PM, SOPA an the Pennsylvania Department of Banking will host its final Fraud BINGO night of 2022! Fraud BINGO is a fun, interactive game that takes the traditional elements of BINGO and educates athletes and their families/caregivers on how they can protect themselves and others from the many frauds and scams that exist on the internet.
Any athlete age 14+ interested in playing may register themselves right here. Upon registration, each participant will get their own, unique Fraud BINGO card.
Please contact Manager of Athlete Leadership and Young Athletes, Jordan Schubert, at
Athletes Needed to Serve on Games Organizing Committees
Something you may/may not know about SOPA’s Sectional and State Competitions are that they are planed months in advance by students and/or other members of the community. Additionally, SOPA’s competition team also wants athletes to be a part of these committees as well!
SOPA has created an interest form for any athlete age 16+ that’s interested in serving on the Games Organizing Committee for Winter Games/Indoor Winter Games and Summer Games! In the form will be a list of expectations for the athlete to understand their role on the committee. From there, the SOPA Competition Director leading the event will get in contact with the athlete and their support person.
Please contact Senior Competition Director, Bruce Bach, at
SONA Coach Recognition Award Nominations Due October 31st
SONA COACH RECOGNITION AWARDS:
Special Olympics North America is seeking nominations for the following SONA Coach Recognition Awards. Each local program can submit ONE nomination per category from either Community or Unified Champion School program. Nominations are due on October 31.
- Outstanding Coach Nomination Form: recognizes the coach who best demonstrates the true ideals of the coaching profession in a Special Olympics Program.
- Lifetime Achievement Nomination Form: recognizes coaches who have made a significant contribution through coaching for more than 20 years.
- Rising Star Nomination Form: highlights coaches under the age of 25 who are new to Special Olympics but have already made a significant contribution.
Calling All Athletes: Complete your Consent to Participate form for Healthy Athletes at Fall Fest
Healthy Athletes screenings will be offered at Fall Festival Saturday November 5th in Driscoll Hall, at Villanova University. Healthy Athletes are non-invasive screenings, free of charge to all athletes, providing much needed health assessments and education on site. Fit Feet (podiatry) will be offered from 9am-5pm. All other disciplines including, Healthy Hearing (audiology), Special Smiles (dentistry), Opening Eyes (vision), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (wellness), and Strong Minds (emotional health) will be offered from 12pm-8pm. Athletes must complete the “Consent for Participation” in order to participate. Consent forms can be emailed prior to the event to
Athletes who attend all seven disciplines are entered into raffles for prizes including the grand prize an Xbox 360! All athletes are encouraged to attend this valuable opportunity.