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Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about becoming a Special Olympics Virginia athlete. If you have additional questions, please e-mail Jennifer Gordon, Shenandoah Office Assistance/Athlete Database Manger, or call her at 540.433.7475 or 800.526.6133, for more information. You can also review answers to frequently asked questions about general information, donations and sponsorship, coaching and volunteering.How do I sign up to be an athlete?
If an athlete's medical condition has not changed over the last few years, do they still have to have a new Athlete Release & Participation Form (medical) if one is on file?
My athlete just had a sports physical completed. Do we have to have the doctor sign the Special Olympics form or just send in the other medical form?
Do day participants have to attend divisioning, the Opening Ceremony and the coaches meeting the day before a state-level competition?
How do I get selected to advance to National or World Games?
How do I sign up to be an athlete?
Download and complete a Special Olympics Athlete Release & Participation Form, get a licensed medical examiner’s signature, and submit it to the appropriate Special Olympics Virginia Region Director. If you are not sure how to contact your Region Director, view our statewide map for more information.
If you’re new to the program and have questions, we welcome you to first contact your Region Director for more details and the appropriate paperwork, or complete our Athlete Interest Form online.
Once the completed paperwork is submitted, we will help you find coaches and practices for the sports of your choice.
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If an athlete's medical condition has not changed over the last few years, do they still have to have a new Participation Form (medical form) if one is on file?
Yes. The Participation Form, commonly referred to as the "medical form," consists of two parts: Section A-Athlete Health Information and Section B-Medical Certification. Athletes must submit a newly completed Section A every three years. Athletes with “yes” answers to questions 1–6 in Section A or new conditions identified in questions 7-12 must also have a physical exam every three years and a licensed examiner must sign Section B.
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My athlete just had a sports physical completed. Do we have to have the doctor sign the Special Olympics form or can we just send in the sports physical form?
Special Olympics Virginia cannot accept other medical forms. A Special Olympics Virginia Athlete Release & Participation Form with all requested information, including a licensed medical examiner’s signature, is required.
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Do day participants have to attend divisioning, the Opening Ceremony and the coaches meeting the day before a state-level competition?
Yes. Day participants are expected to attend all activities just like overnight participants.
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How do I get selected to advance to National or World Games?
The philosophy of Special Olympics is that all athletes should have a fair opportunity to win in their event(s). To help ensure this, we division our athletes based on age, gender and ability. The selection process for advancement to the next level of competition (including state, national and world competitions) includes all first place winners — in all divisions and of all abilities. Quotas determine how many athletes may advance to the next level of competition. If there are more gold medalists than available quota slots, then all of the gold medalists are part of a random selection to determine who advances to the next level of play. In these cases, the random selection is conducted until all quota slots and alternate slots are filled.
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