Our program is growing and we need your help! Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia is Seeking Management Team Volunteers! Our management team will be comprised of volunteers who are dedicated and passionate about SOPA Philly to help us grow in a variety of areas. These individuals will work on the administrative/back-end of SOPA Philly and help us advance the program’s best interests throughout the year. Below is the descriptions of the management team positions we are looking to fill. Several of these positions are recommended by Special Olympics PA and will all be considered for use in the Philadelphia Program. Additional positions have been added based on our program’s needs.
Assisting in the organization and success of sports training for coaches and athletes. Additionally responsible for the collaborating with program’s Sports Director to ensure paperwork, deadlines and other needs are met in order to for athletes to participate in Area/County/Statewide competitions (in compliance with Olympics sports rules and SOPA policies)
Recruiting and coordinating the activities of family members of Special Olympics athletes to encourage participation.
Working with an Athlete (similar title) to encourage and develop plans to sustain healthy and active lifestyles beyond an athlete’s sports training. Providing suggestions and recommendations to the SOPA Philadelphia staff on how we can be a healthier program (menus for events, additional active/fitness opportunities, website resources, etc.)
Working with families, athletes and teams to engage them in fundraising activities and initiatives to help support the local program budget. This can be through engaging athletes to participate in current fundraisers (Leprechaun Run, Philadelphia Polar Plunge) or by creating new fundraisers (dance, raffles, etc.)
Working with our school program to help transition participants into our community program both during their time as a student and after they graduate from high school. Connecting with city service groups to promote Special Olympics for individuals with ID through their support coordinators.
Focus on growing Unified Sports offerings in the community. Adding Unified Sports opportunities to existing training sites and seeking new opportunities. Responsible for recruiting Athletes and Partners to participate on these Unified teams. Will work closely with Manager of Interscholastic Unified Sports (school program) and Sports Director.
*Unified Sports is a program that brings together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams promoting inclusive communities and a shift in focus on a person’s abilities instead of their disabilities. These teams can be a ‘player development’ model where the partner (no intellectual disability) is in a mentorship role to the athlete (person with ID), but it can also be a ‘competitive’ model where both the partners and athletes have a similar skill level in that particular sport. Currently, SOPA Philly plays Unified bocce, soccer and track and field during our school program, and has Unified bocce and bowling in our community program.
Responsible for volunteer and athlete recruitment and registration. Works closely with our Database Coordinator.
Continue the ongoing success and growth of our Young Athletes Program. Ensuring sessions are running twice per year at various sites throughout the city. To include recruitment of participants and athletes, as well as identifying new potential host sites. Help develop and implement a sustainability plan for Young Athletes.
*Young Athletes is an 8 week-long early childhood sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities aged 2 to 7 years old. It includes games, songs, and other fun! Our young athletes learn basic sports skills like kicking and throwing a ball and playing with others! While young athletes practice their sports skills, they gain motor skills like balance, flexibility, strength, and coordination.
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