Hosting a Special Olympics Competition
Competitions are a great way for Special Olympics athletes to display their skills in front of their peers.
Special Olympics competitions can consist of Badge Program level events, which do not require music and costumes, and level events, which consist of compulsory moves and free skating programs with music.
Level events are great, but if offered exclusive of badge level events will leave out a number of lower-ability athletes.
Badge Program Level Events
- For badge level events, we recommend requiring skaters to have completed a minimum of Badge 2 to participate.
- Skaters compete at the highest Badge level completed.
- Music and costume are not required.
- Skaters are divided according to age as well as Badge accomplishments.
- A group consists of one judge and no more than six skaters.
- The judge will tell the skaters in the group what skill is to be performed, the skaters will then, one at a time, perform the skill. The process continues until all skills have been completed. The judge then records the placements and awards are presented.
- We recommend using the skills from the appropriate badge level as the competition skills.
Recruiting Judges
- If there is a U.S. Figure Skating club at a rink nearby, members may serve as judges.
- It is not necessary to use qualified judges if they are not available.
- Often, adult skaters, high level skaters and coaches are used. They are honored to assist and are quite good.
Badge Program Skill Competition
- Badge 1 consists primarily of assisted skating; skaters should complete Badge 2 to participate. (This is just a guideline and challenges the skaters to begin unassisted skating.)
- Skaters compete at the last badge level completed.
- Skaters are divided according to age as well as Badge accomplishment.
- A group consists of one judge and no more than six skaters(suggested six as maximum)
- The judge will tell the skaters in the group what skill is to be performed. The skaters will then, one at a time, perform the skill. The process continues until all skills have been completed. The judge then records the placements, and awards are presented.
- Music and costumes are not required.
- Often adult skaters and high level skaters are used as judges for Badge Level Competitions.
