Powerlifting was introduced to Special Olympics in 1983. The training season is usually year round with a culminating event in November at Fall Festival – Villanova University.
- Powerlifting Resources – rules, coaching guides, fact sheets, etc.
Details for Delaware County Program
SOPA Season: Fall & Spring/Summer
Head Coach: Scott Smedley
What to Expect: Training held in the weight room rain or shine. We welcome all new athlete’s male and female to our program. We work on a whole-body approach to weight lifting. It is a mix of stretching, cardio, calisthenics, and weight lifting. Since each athlete is different and his/her skill set is different, we train each athlete at their own training level. We encourage them to try exercise and enjoy themselves. Our motto “if it was easy everyone would be doing it”.
Training Specifics:
Typical Spring Season – Wednesday’s from 630-830pm starting in early February through May. The final training session is the week before Mother’s Day weekend.
Fall Season – Wednesday’s from 630-830pm running from August through early November.
Click HERE for the current season’s information.
Competition Dates:
Typical Spring Season – Delaware County Competition @ Marple Newtown HS on the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
Fall Season – Eastern Fall Sectional @ DeSales University & Fall Festival @ Villanova.
Equipment: We will provide all the required equipment.
Uniform Requirements: We will provide athletes with necessary uniform for competition.
**IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS**
ALL athletes must have a current medical (on Special Olympics PA medical form) that runs through the end of the season. If the athlete medical is not up-to-date, athletes WILL NOT be able to participate. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this rule since it poses a safety risk to the entire program. An up-to-date medical must always be on file with the coach as well as sent to register.sopadelco@gmail.com. To download a copy of medical application, check our resource page. To check on medical expiration date, please go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gZlc7Rupri51R_2SAgbVRI8DwrOVf2nDOvmssWKBXfo/edit#gid=0
ALL athletes must attend at least 8 trainings and participate in qualifiers to be eligible to compete in State Games (Summer Games/Fall Festival/Indoor Winter Games).
ALL athletes can participate in multiple sports during the same season, but must declare a primary sport for State Games (Summer Games/Fall Festival/Indoor Winter Games).