Basketball
Basketball is a popular team sport that involves athletes of all ages and ability levels. Higher skilled athletes participate in Special Olympics team competition or in the Adult Unified Basketball League. School-aged athletes learning how to play the game take part in Three-on-Three Half Court Basketball. For those players who do not possess the necessary skills for team basketball, there is an Individual Skills Competition where athletes showcase their dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. Individuals who have more significant limitations participate in the Motor Activities Training Program in which the emphasis is on training and demonstrating very basic skills.
- Sport Season
- Fall for School-Based Programs; Winter for Adults
- Training Sites
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Fall: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave., NE,
Washington, D.C. 20017 -
Winter: St. Coletta School, 1901 Independence Ave., SE,
Washington, D.C. 20003 - Practice Dates
- Adult Unified Basketball: Every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm starting January 17 and January 19 and continuing through March 13 and 15.
- Traditional Special Olympics School-Based Basketball Program (Team Competition, Individual Skills, and Motor Activities Training Program): Early September through the last week in October.
- Adult Individual Skills and Motor Activities Training Program: Early January through early March.
Competition Events Offered
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Unified Basketball League
Adults 18 years and older with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on the same teams. There is an East Division for players with basic skills or are beginners and a West Division for higher skilled players. Teams in the league are co-ed, have a proportional number of players with and without intellectual disabilities on their roster, and are matched by ability level.
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Traditional Team Basketball
School-based teams are composed exclusively of Special Olympics athletes who are of the same age.
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Three-on-Three Half Court Basketball
Players who are still developing their basketball skills play on a Three-on-Three team.
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Individual Skills Competition
Athletes needing to learn the fundamental skills of basketball who are not quite ready for team play are presented with training and competition opportunities in Individual Skills. Athletes compete in: 10 Meter Dribble, Target Pass, and Spot Shot. Their scores in each of these three events are added together to determine their place of finish.
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Motor Activities Training Program
Athletes with significant disabilities are presented with the opportunity to train and showcase their skills in very basic basketball-themed activities. The culminating event features the athlete demonstrating their growth and improvement in one or two specific fundamental skills. There is no competition among the participants, and each receives a Challenge medal to recognize their commitment to training and self-improvement.
Championship Competition
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Unified Basketball Championships
Winter Sports Classic, March 13 and 15, at Howard University’s Burr Gymnasium.
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Adult Individual Skills Competition and Motor Activities Training Program
March 10 at Howard University’s Burr Gymnasium.
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School-Based Special Olympics Team Basketball Competition
November 3 and 4, 2011 at Catholic University’s Raymond DuFour Athletic Center.
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School-Based Individual Skills Competition and Motor Activities Training Program
November 3 adn 4, 2011 at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.
Resources
Contacts
Rodney Williams, Assistant Sports Director at rwilliams@specialolympicsdc.org
Anthony Sokenu, Associate Sports Director at asokenu@specialolympicsdc.org
