Get Involved as a Unified Partner

Special Olympics Unified Sports® brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities and athletes without intellectual disabilities Unified Partners to train and compete on the same team. Volunteers improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills and learn acceptance and inclusion while participating in Unified Sports. A primary goal of Unified Sports is to equalize the ability level of Special Olympics athletes with their partners and to promote inclusion through team practice and competition.

All Unified Partners are required to complete a Class A volunteer form. Individuals over the age of 18 are required to provide their social security number as they are CORI and Background checked to ensure the safety and well being of Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes. Individuals under 18 are required to have two non-family members write recommendations for them.

The minimum age for a Unified Partner is 8 years, but some teams may have an older minimum age depending on the specific team.

Getting Started as a Unified Partner

Complete our Volunteer Interest Form so we can find available opportunities in your area.

Current Unified Partner Volunteer Opportunities:

2017 Fall Season: September – November

Unified Partners needed in Belmont for flag football

Season is September through November 11th
Practices held Sundays 10:00am-11:00am at Winn Brook School Field
Must be 22 years or older for this team.
Please contact Aiyanna Lamkin at AIYANNA.LAMKIN@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.

Unified Partners needed in Holyoke for flag football

Season is September through November 11th
Practices held Saturdays 1:00pm-3:00pm at Community Field in Holyoke.
Please contact Aiyanna Lamkin at AIYANNA.LAMKIN@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.

Unified Partners needed in Fitchburg for flag football

Season is in the fall, September through November 11th
Practices held Sundays from 1:15pm to 2:45pm in Fitchburg
Please contact Aiyanna Lamkin at AIYANNA.LAMKIN@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.

Unified Partners needed in Fitchburg for soccer

Season is in the fall, September through November 5th
Practices held Sundays from 1:15pm to 2:45pm in Fitchburg
Please contact Aiyanna Lamkin at AIYANNA.LAMKIN@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.

Unified Partners needed in North Shore/Danvers area for soccer

Season is September through November 5th
Practice schedule and location TBD
Must be between the age of 15 and 21 years.
Please contact Terry Keilty at TERRY.KEILTY@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.

2017-2018 Winter Season: November – March

Unified Partners needed in Leominster for basketball

Season is Mid-November to Mid-March
Practices held Sundays 2:30pm-4:00pm at St. Leo’s Parish school gym at 120 Main St., Leominster
Please contact Aiyanna Lamkin at Aiyanna.Lamkin@specialolympicsma.org for more information

Unified Partners needed in North Andover for basketball

Season is Mid-November to Mid-March
Practices held Thursdays 7:00pm-8:00pm
Must be 22 years or older for this team.
Please contact Aiyanna Lamkin at AIYANNA.LAMKIN@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.

Unified Partners needed in Swansea for bowling

Season is Mid-November to Mid-March
Practices held Sunday mornings at AMF Somerset Lanes
Please contact Donna St. Onge at DONNA.STONGE@SPECIALOLYMPICSMA.ORG for more information.