Young Athletes™ is an innovative sports play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities age 2 to 7. The program includes active games, songs, and other play activities that help children develop motor, social, and cognitive skills. The Young Athletes™ Curriculum is based on the Young Athletes™ Activity Guide and provides scripted Lesson Plans to be used over an 8 week period. Check out our Young Athletes One Page Snapshot.
Community Based: The Community Based model is implemented in a community setting in a park, church, school gym, or another donated or rented space for members of the community by a trained volunteer.
Details for Delaware County Program
SOPA Season: Fall (Sep – Dec)
Head Coach: Erin Gryn
What to Expect: Foundational skills, walking and running, balance and jumping, trapping and catching, throwing, striking, kicking, advanced sports skills.
Training Specifics: Typically held Wednesday nights. Sessions are usually split into two 1-hour intervals based on ages. Check here on specific start dates.
Competition Dates: No competitions for YAP.
Equipment: We will provide all the required equipment.
Uniform Requirements: No uniforms for YAP.
**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).