In the spring, Special Olympics Vermont offers three opportunities for athletes and Unified partners to participate in traditional and Unified basketball. In the traditional model, teams are made up of athletes with intellectual disabilities whereas Unified Sports bring together people with and without intellectual disabilities to compete on the same team.
3 on 3 School Unified Basketball
This year for the first time, Special Olympics Vermont introduced 3 on 3 Unified basketball to encourage younger students, small teams, and new programs to develop players. Participating schools include BFA St. Albans, Edmunds Middle, Rutland High School, West Rutland School, St. Johnsbury School, Manchester Elementary and Middle School, and Otter Valley Union High School. Nine teams from these schools participated in a tournament on May 4 at Castleton University. Learn more about Unified Sports and Unified Champion Schools.
Vermont Principals’ Association Interscholastic Unified Basketball
In partnership with the VPA, Special Olympics Vermont supports interscholastic Unified basketball. Similar to a varsity or JV season, VPA Unified basketball involves 5 on 5 league play culminating in a playoff bracket and a State Championship game. Currently, 16 high schools (8 northern and 8 southern) participate in the league. Join us for the Championship game on Thursday, May 10 at 4:30pm at UVM’s Patrick Gym.
In July, ten players and two coaches from the Champlain Valley Union High School will travel to Seattle, Washington to compete in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. Learn more about their journey and support the team!
Traditional and Unified Basketball
Community-based Special Olympics Vermont programs offer training and competition for athletes ages eight through adulthood in traditional and Unified basketball. Find a program near you.