COMPETE FROM HOME
This competition is a safe way for athletes, Young Athletes/partners, Unified partners and coaches to keep the spirit of Special Olympics Minnesota alive by competing against each other from home! Here’s how it works:
- CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITIES! Check out all the bocce, softball, fitness and walk/run activities.
- PRACTICE! You can practice starting August 10 for as many events as you want. Keep track of your scores as you go. You have until Monday, August 31 to practice and submit your results.
- SUBMIT YOUR RESULTS! Practice all your events first and keep track of your scores as you go. Fill out the results form once you’re done practicing all your events. Submit your best scores for any or all events. You can also submit a video of yourself practicing, or a recording of an encouraging message to share! The results form will be available for submitting results on Wednesday, August 19. All qualifying scores from practice are due by Monday, August 31.
Note (updated July 8, 2020): Special Olympics Minnesota is developing Return to Play Guidelines so that we can resume in-person practices in a safe way. As soon as Return to Play Guidelines are announced, we’ll update teams on what they mean for practices during the Fall Games season, but at this time no team practices, individual training sessions with coaches or in-person team events are allowed. Virtual practice sessions with your team through social media, texts or emails are allowed and encouraged! Coaches can still help virtually with explaining practice activities, collecting and submitting scores, and cheering you on.
If you need help or don’t have access to a computer, ask your parent, staff person or coach to help.
Athletes and coaches: Do you know someone who doesn’t have access to internet but would still like to be a part of Virtual Fall Games? If you’re willing and able to do so safely, please get a printable version of the program to your athletes so they can participate and record their results without needing internet or computer access.
Have other questions or need help submitting your results? Contact us at [email protected].
FAQS
Practice begins on Monday, August 10. Make sure to submit your results by Monday, August 31. The Virtual Fall Games video will be available on Wednesday, September 9.
Anyone who is currently registered as SOMN athlete, young athlete/partner, Unified partner, coach or Head of Delegation.
Yes! If you’re willing and able to do so safely, please download and print this PDF version of the program to your athletes so they can participate and record their results without needing internet or computer access. Print one copy per athlete. After they have competed and recorded their results, you can submit their results for them using the online form. Doing this for your athletes would be going above and beyond. Please only do this if you are able to deliver and retrieve the papers safely.
YES! Virtual Fall Games is open to anyone who is interested and currently registered as a SOMN athlete, Young Athlete/partner, Unified partner, coach or Head of Delegation.
You’re competing against everyone in the state during the practice season. We’ll division everyone based on their role as an athlete, Young Athlete/partner, Unified partner or coach as well as their age and results. We’ll present results and awards via social media and the SOMN website on Wednesday, September 9.
Our top priority is everyone’s safety. Special Olympics Minnesota is developing Return to Play Guidelines so that we can resume in-person practices in a safe way. As soon as Return to Play Guidelines are announced, we’ll update teams on what they mean for practices during Fall Games season, but at this time no team practices, individual training sessions with coaches or in-person team events are allowed. You may practice events on your own or with a member of your household. Virtual practice sessions with your team through social media, texts or emails are allowed and encouraged! Coaches can still help virtually with explaining practice activities, collecting and submitting scores, and cheering you on.
Some events don’t require any equipment. Bocce events require a ball, but you may choose to use any ball; it does not need to be an actual bocce ball.
No, but it would be great if you let them know—they might like to cheer you on virtually!
No paperwork is required to participate.
No. We understand that everyone is doing their best, and everyone’s at-home event set up is different than others’. We’re more interested in everyone participating and giving their honest effort and attempt. The priority is participation, not disqualification.
You can submit your results using our online form. It’s open to anyone who is currently registered as SOMN athlete, Young Athlete/partner, Unified partner, coach or Head of Delegation.
Submit your events and practice scores in the online form.
Yes! You’ll get a digital award in an email the week after Virtual Fall Games on Wednesday, September 9.
Please contact us at [email protected].
STAY SAFE
Regular physical activity is vital for good physical, social and emotional health. While there is a risk of injury with any type of physical activity, the benefits of staying active far outweigh the risks.
You can reduce your risk of exercise injury by:
- wearing the right shoes
- using the correct equipment
- drinking water and staying hydrated
- warming up and stretching properly
- being aware of your surroundings—always exercise and compete in a safe and level area clear of any obstacles or items
- maintaining social distancing rules (stay at least six feet away from others)
Stop exercising and seek medical help if you experience symptoms such as:
- discomfort or pain
- chest pain or other pain that could indicate a heart attack, including pain in the neck and jaw, pain travelling down the arm or pain between the shoulder blades
- shortness of breath
- a rapid or irregular heartbeat