About Special Olympics
Team sports bring people together. Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams do that, too and much more. About 1.2 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a really fun way.
ESPN has served as the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports since 2013, supporting the growth and expansion of this program that empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports.
Program Overview
This program fosters inclusivity and teamwork among Junior Special Olympics Florida Athletes (ages 14-18 with intellectual disabilities or developmental delay) and Partners (ages 14-18 without an intellectual disability) through an engaging and structured unified soccer league.
Program Information
Location
Lakewood Ranch Park
5490 Lakewood Ranch Blvd
Schedule
Dates: Starting October 3rd, 2025
Day: Fridays
October 10th, 17th, 24th; November 7th, 14th, 21st (rain-out date)
Program Contact
Chris Collins
chriscollins@abilitytoinclude.org
Registration & Deadlines
Dates: Fall Season runs October 3rd – November 14th
Cost: Free
Teams: 4 teams (24 athletes & 16 partners)
Age Group: Junior (Athletes: 14-18, Partners: 14-18)
Game Time: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Fields: 2 fields, each team allocated half a soccer field for practice and one ref for games
Schedule:
Week 1: Coaching & Partner Training Session on October 10th, 5:30 – 6:30 PM followed by practice.
Week 2: Practice/Game *30-minute running clock
Week 3: Practice/Game *30-minute running clock
Week 4: Practice/Game *30-minute running clock
Week 5: Game
Week 6: Game
Forms Deadline: TBD, for athletes and partners (all forms must be turned in) *Please note: if athletes have a medical form on file from a previous season, they are good to go. Additionally, if partners already filled out partner paperwork last season, they do not need to update it.
Coaching Training:
In-person training TBD at LWR Park Fields (5490 Lakewood Ranch Blvd – behind LWR High School). Special Olympics Florida staff will be training the coaches.
Key Objectives:
Inclusion: create a welcoming environment for athletes and partners of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Skill Development: foster the growth of soccer skills while emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship.
Community Engagement: encourage community participation by inviting new athletes and partners to join the inaugural unified soccer league with Florida Elite.
Registration & Deadlines
Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability. That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all. Having sport in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.
Many high-profile, professional sports organizations and events have also showcased Unified Sports as a vehicle to show the power of inclusive sports! This support includes:
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Major League Soccer (MLS)
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
National Collegiate Athletic Association, D-III
ESPN’s X Games Aspen
National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)