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 The Special Olympics Massachusetts annual Fall Tournament is comprised of soccer, equestrian and now flag football and cheerleading events. The Tournament takes place on separate weekends during the months of October and November.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports for Special Olympics athletes, and it contains the youngest age bracket of athletes in all Special Olympics events. SOMA consistently hosts around 115 teams at the annual State Soccer Tournament at Governor’s Academy in Byfield. Athletes and Unified Partners will compete in five-on-five matches on over 20 fields. For more information, go to the Soccer Tournament webpage.
Flag football made its debut in 2009 at Gillette Stadium and was hosted by the New England Patriots Foundation. More than 250 Special Olympics Athletes and Unified® Partners from across Massachusetts, Rhode Island Connecticut and New Hampshire participated in the event the first year, which featured Unified 5x5 flag football games, football skills and cheerleading demonstrations. For more information, see the Flag Football and Cheerleading webpage.
Over 60 athletes also compete in the Fall Equestrian Tournament at Windrush Farms in Boxford and Ironstone Farms in Andover. The event hosts both English and Western Style riding. Equestrian is popular among Special Olympics athletes due to the competitive aspect of the event as well as the therapeutic nature of the sport. Riding therapy has been used for hundreds of years as a tool to help individuals with disabilities become healthier and more conducive to physical activity. SOMA’s annual Fall Tournament is another way the organization remains a leader in providing healthy lifestyles through year-round sports and healthcare-related programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Visit the Fall Equestrian Tournament webpage for event details.
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