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Young Athletes

Athlete

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Young Athletes™ Program

The Young Athletes™ Program (YAP) introduces children, ages 2 - 7, both with and without intellectual disabilities, and their families to the world of Special Olympics by pursuing the goals below.

Download an informational brochure Spanish Brochure

Upcoming Events

Select an event for details and contact information

Date Event Event Type Location
School Year Richard Kluge Elementary School Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Richard Kluge Elementary, Milwaukee
School Year Gaenslen School Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Milwaukee, WI
School Year Forest Home Avenue Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Forest Home Avenue Elementary, Milwaukee
School Year Engleburg Eagles Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Engleburg Elementary, Milwaukee
Mondays, April 8 - June 2, 2013 Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Harry and Rose Samson Family JCC, Whitefish Bay
June 7-8, 2013 Statewide Young Athletes Culminating Event Area 2, Volunteers Needed, Young Athletes, UW-Stevens Point
Saturdays, April 13 - June 15, 2013 Rhinelander Young Athletes Area 2, Young Athletes, Crescent Elementary, Rhinelander, WI
Saturdays, June 29 - Aug. 17, 2013 MSCR Young Athletes Area 6, Young Athletes, Wright Middle School, Madison
Mondays, June 3 - July 29, 2013 West Allis - West Milwaukee Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Mitchell Elementary, West Allis
TBD YMCA at Pabst Farms Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Oconomowoc, WI
TBD Eau Claire Young Athletes Area 3, Young Athletes, Demmler Park, Eau Claire
TBD YMCA of Metro Milwaukee Young Athletes Area 8, Young Athletes, Brown Deer, WI
TBD Glenbrook Elementary School Young Athletes Area 5, Young Athletes, Pulaski, WI
TBD Northwoods Children's Museum Young Athletes Area 2, Young Athletes, Eagle River, WI
TBD River Source Family Center Young Athletes Area 3, Young Athletes, Chippewa Falls, WI
TBD UW Oshkosh/OASD Young Athletes Area 4, Young Athletes, Oshkosh, WI
TBD Appleton Career Academy Young Athletes Area 4, Young Athletes, Appleton, WI
TBD Sheboygan Young Athletes Area 5, Young Athletes, Sheboygan, WI
TBD Kewaunee County Young Athletes Area 5, Young Athletes, Kewaunee, WI
TBD Bowler School Young Athletes Area 5, Young Athletes, Bowler, WI
TBD YMCA of Dane County Young Athletes Area 6, Young Athletes, Madison, WI
TBD Westby Area Young Athletes Area 6, Young Athletes, Viroqua, WI
TBD Lodi Primary School Young Athletes Area 6, Young Athletes, Lodi, WI
TBD Beloit YMCA Young Athletes Area 7, Young Athletes, Beloit, WI
TBD Cesar Chavez Learning Station Young Athletes Area 7, Young Athletes, Kenosha, WI
TBD Waterford Recreation Department Young Athletes Area 7, Young Athletes, Waterford, WI

Main Calendar of Events

Program Goals

  • Engage children with intellectual disabilities through developmentally appropriate play activities designed to foster physical, intellectual and social development;

  • Welcome family members of children with intellectual disabilities to the Special Olympics network of support;

  • Raise awareness about the abilities of children with intellectual disabilities through inclusive peer participation, demonstrations and other events.

Young Athletes™ is a versatile program that is designed for families to play with their young athletes at home in a fun atmosphere but is also appropriate for preschools, schools and playgroups. The benefits for this program have been proven worldwide. First and foremost, these activities will help the children improve physically, intellectually and socially. The flexibility of Young Athletes™ ensures the opportunity to welcome families and their young children to the Special Olympics family.

This program is designed to address two specific levels of play:

Level 1 includes physical activities focused on developing fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination.

Level 2 concentrates on the application of these physical activities through a sports skills activity program and developing skills consistent with Special Olympics sports play. The activities consist of foundational skills, walking and running, balance and jumping, trapping and catching, throwing, striking, kicking and advanced skills.

How does the program work?

  • Young Athlete sites are required to practice a minimum of eight sessions

  • It is recommended that these sessions are conducted over eight consecutive weeks.

  • Young athletes also practice a variety of skills building on their strengths to eventually play sports.

  • The YAP ends with a Culminating Event, much like a District or State Games. Here, athletes demonstrate the skills they’ve learned or improved upon over the weeks and participate in an awards ceremony in which all Young Athletes are acknowledged.

We hope that Young Athletes will prepare an easy transition for athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate in Special Olympics turn 8 years old.

The Young Athletes™ program includes several resources to guide family members, educators and other professionals as they conduct Young Athletes™ with their children, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandchildren, students or patients.

Young Athletes activities consist of:

  • Foundational Skills
  • Walking and Running
  • Balance and Jumping
  • Trapping and Catching
  • Throwing
  • Striking
  • Kicking
  • Advanced Skills

Activity Guide

E-mail newsletter

Young Athletes News

Event Photos

2011

2010

Culminating Event Video

Young Athlete Program Video

View the video on YouTube

For more information, contact

Krysten Kirsch - Director of Youth Initiatives
kkirsch@specialolympicswisconsin.org

10224 N. Port Washington Rd.
Mequon, WI 53092
(262) 241-7786
(800) 924-5202