How to Become an Athlete
Whether you’re coaching, supporting events, or helping with programs, your involvement makes a real difference in athletes’ lives.
Welcome to Special Olympics Pennsylvania!
Here, athletes of all abilities, eight years old or older with an intellectual disability, or a developmental disability with a cognitive delay, can discover new strengths, forge lifelong friendships, and experience the joy of competition. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to participate, and we’re excited to guide you on your journey.
Get Started
Your Path to Becoming an Athlete
1
To become a registered athlete, applicants must be at least 8 years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the eligible conditions:
- Intellectual disability
- Cognitive delays measured by formal assessment
- Significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay
Athletes ages of 2 – 7 may participate in Young Athletes.
2
Visit our Find a Sport page to find your sport and sign up today!
3
All athletes must complete the Athlete Registration Form prior to participation in Special Olympics Pennsylvania sports training and competition. Create your athlete profile and complete a quick health screening – your entry pass to amazing opportunities.
What Our Athletes Say
The more years I went along with [Special Olympics] the more confident I became and the more confidence my coaches had in me. I went back every subsequent year and it just made me realize how proud I am to be a part of something bigger than myself.
I want to be a leader so the next generation can take over and learn leadership from me or other people. I just want to get the word out that you’re no different than anybody else. That you’re not lost in the world. You’re part of this world just like I am.
I didn’t have many friends in high school. When I started Special Olympics, I had one friend and then I became friends with a lot of other people throughout the county and the state after that.
Being a good teammate just means sticking together and being one team and cheering each other on and supporting everyone if they have a bad day. Just keep them motivated and keep their spirits up.
Making friends is definitely one of my favorite things because it allows you to get involved with more people, you can do more things, you can travel more. And it also allowed me to meet my husband. We met through Special Olympics basketball practice.
I enjoy it, it’s very fun. I enjoy hanging out with a lot of people. You meet different people and make new friendships that last a lifetime.
