Special Olympics Pierce County

Special Olympics Washington (SOWA) provides year-round sports training and competition for thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Click here for the required Special Olympics forms. 

We need Unified Partners! Click here for volunteer information.

Image of Special Olympics Washington logo
  1. Winter Season
  2. Spring Season
  3. Summer Season
  4. Fall Season

Improve your basketball skills by attending the pre-season Special Olympics basketball clinic hosted by Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) SAAC students. After the clinic athletes and Pierce County Staff will watch the first half of the PLU women’s basketball game and then be recognized during halftime!

General Day of Schedule:

  • 2:00-3:30 p.m. - Basketball Clinic 
  • 3:45-4:30 p.m. - Snack/break 
  • 4:45 p.m. - PLU women’s basketball game/recognized at halftime 

The clinic will conclude at 5:00 p.m. Those who traveled independently and wish to stay for the remainder of the game are welcome to, but no Pierce County staff will be onsite after 5:00 p.m.

For: Ages 8+

When: Saturday, December 2, 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (tentative)
Location: Memorial Gym, PLU
Fees:$10 /person 
Registration:Register online by December 1, 2023

Special Olympics Cheerleading

Athletes will learn the fundamentals of cheerleading and dance. Coaches will teach the technical elements of motions, jumps, and dance routines. Pierce County Parks will offer cheer practice on Wednesday evenings in Puyallup. All abilities are welcome! 

This registration includes practice, sub-regional, and regional competitions if offered by Special Olympics Washington. It does not include state competition. If a team qualifies for state competition, there will be a separate registration fee. Pierce County Parks will provide a cheer uniform. Athletes are responsible for all other athletic apparel (black shorts, white socks, and sneakers must be worn.)

All athletes must have an updated Athlete Medical Form before the first practice (which must be completed every 3 years).

For: Ages 8+

Dates: Wednesdays, December 2, 2023 - February 28, 2024
Time:5:30-7:00 pm
Location: Meridian Habitat Park
14422 Meridian E, South Hill Puyallup, WA 98375 (map)
Fee:$110  -Transportation to and from regional competitions PROVIDED.
$90 - Transportation to and from regional competitions NOT PROVIDED. Athletes are responsible for their own transportation to and from the competition. 
Registration: Register online by December 1, 2023

Special Olympics Basketball

Pierce County Parks will offer basketball practice on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, either at the People’s Center or Lakewood Community Center. There will be an additional Saturday practice option for teams this year. Program offerings include 5 on 5 Teams (full court) and team skills.

Please note tentative dates: Sub-regionals Jan 20, 2024. Regionals Feb 10, 2024. Winter State Games March 1 – 3, 2024.

Registration includes one-weekday practice, plus an additional Saturday practice, and sub-regional and regional competitions. It does not include state competition. If a team qualifies for state competition there will be a separate registration fee.

Pierce County Parks will provide athletes with a basketball jersey. Athletes are responsible for all other athletic apparel (shorts, socks, and sneakers must be worn.)

Pierce County Parks will provide athletes with a basketball jersey. Athletes are responsible for all other athletic apparel (shorts, socks, and sneakers must be worn.)

For: Ages 8+

Dates: December 11, 2023 - February 28, 2024
Time:6:30-8:30 pm
Location: People’s Center & Lakewood Community Center
Fee:$100  -Transportation to and from regional competitions PROVIDED.
$80 - Transportation to and from regional competitions NOT PROVIDED. Athletes are responsible for their own transportation to and from the competition.  
Registration: Register online by December 1, 2023

Young Athletes

Young Athletes is an inclusive sports program for children ages 2-7 with and without intellectual or developmental disabilities. This program is comprised of research-based activities that build social and motor skills while engaging young children of all abilities. Young Athletes introduce basic sports skills like running, kicking, and throwing. Siblings and friends are encouraged to join!

CodeDayDatesTimeLocationRegister by
19099ThursdaysJan. 4-255:30-6:30 pmLakewood Community Center1/3/2024
19100ThursdaysFeb. 8-295:30-6:30 pmLakewood Community Center2/7/2024
19101SaturdaysMar. 9-301:00-2:00 pmLakewood Community Center3/8/2024

Athletes:

Who is eligible?

Identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disability; a cognitive delay as determined by standardized measures such as intelligence quotient or other generally accepted measures; or a closely related development disability, i.e., functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills. 

To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must:

image of 2022 SO Golf Regionals F04 Bronze Medal Sharon Bednarski

Required Athlete Forms: 

  1. Athlete Medical Form (Must be completed every 3 years)  

Volunteers:

Members of the public can volunteer at any of the events. As a volunteer working at a Special Olympics program, you are required to have a background check and complete the Protective Behavior Quiz and Orientation Video /Quiz. Please complete the Special Olympics background check and Protective Behavior Quiz & Orientation Video /Quiz. 

To volunteer, please complete and submit the following:

image of volunteer next to Specialized Recreation banner

Unified Partner Volunteers:

Unified sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.  Unified partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) train and compete as a teammate alongside Special Olympics athletes. 

  • For the summer season, Pierce County Parks is looking for unified partners on Monday mornings from 10:00-11:30 am to partner with a Special Olympics athlete on the golf course. Unified partners will walk the course and golf 9 holes with their partner and compete at the Regional Competition on Sunday, August 6.
  • For the fall season, unified bowling partners and flag football partners are needed to attend practices and compete at regional and state competitions if the team qualifies. Please note: Special Olympics Washington has not released the 2023 Fall competition details yet.

Unified partners do not have to pay a registration fee and will accrue volunteer hours for attending practices and competitions. This is a wonderful opportunity for students looking for a fun worthwhile way to earn volunteer hours.

To be a Unified Partner volunteer, please complete and submit the following:


How to submit the Pierce County Parks Volunteer form:

Send electronically:

Submit Volunteer Forms


Drop off the form at either:
  • Lakewood Community Center
    9112 Lakewood Dr SW, Lakewood 98499 (map
  • Sprinker Recreation Center
    14824 C St S, Tacoma, WA 98444 (map)

image of Pierce County Parks Specialized Recreation logo

Questions? Contact:

Grant Hampton, Recreation Coordinator
(253) 798-4074 | email