Sports Offered

Softball

Softball is an exciting team sport in Special Olympics. Athletes can participate in slow-pitch softball, which involves two teams of 10 athletes each, tee-ball or in the individual skills competition. The softball individual skills competition allows athletes to train and compete in basic softball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team competition. These skills include base running, fielding and throwing. A player's final score is determined by adding together the scores achieved in each of the events. Athletes also can participate in Unified Sports® softball team competition. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. While Unified Softball is an option, Special Olympics Minnesota has not had enough interested teams to offer this competition in the past.

In Unified Sports softball, a team shall never exceed five athletes and five partners. Each team shall have a non-playing head coach responsible for the line-up and conduct of the team during competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.  Softball Facts Special Olympics softball was introduced in 1983. The 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in North Carolina, USA hosted 413 Special Olympics athletes from seven Special Olympics Programs around the world and 120 Special Olympics athletes in Special Olympics Unified Sports softball. Participation in the state softball tournament has grown from 219 athletes in 1995 to 429 athletes in 2006. Twenty-seven softball teams and three t-ball teams from 16 delegations participated in 2006.  For more information on softball or softball at Fall Games , contact Pam Bergerson . Sixteen Minnesota delegations currently offer their athletes the opportunity to train and compete in softball, tee-ball or individuals skills competitions. To see a list of the delegations offering competition in softball, click here . In addition to competition at Fall Games, teams can compete in softball in area competitions in Area 7 , Area 9 and Area 11 .

Special Olympics Minnesota Softball Events Slow Pitch Tee-ball Competition Unified Sports Slow Pitch Competition The following event provides meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:  Individual Skills Competition Base Race Fielding Hitting Sports Rules

National Governing Body : International Softball Federation Special Olympics Incorporated: Softball Rules   (updated January 2008) Special Olympics Minnesota: Softball Rules – Addendum to Special Olympics Incorporated rules Special Olympics Minnesota: Softball Player Substitution Clarification memo Other Resources Eight Week Softball Training Plan Sample Softball Drills Softball Coaches Training Schools Softball Coaching Basics – Hitting, catching, throwing Softball Participation by Delegation, Area and Level – Use this link to find a softball team in your area. Softball Recertification Test Softball Warm-ups and Stretching Exercises