Local Club

What is a Local Club?

A Local Club offers Special Olympics sports and non-sport activities within a community. It is a local branch of the Special Olympics National/State Program. A Local Club is open for anyone to become a member—people with and without intellectual disabilities, their families, and volunteers from all backgrounds. It is at the Local Club grassroots level of the movement where communities of inclusion are built, and everyone’s abilities are appreciated.

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Local Club

First Steps: Introduction

Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport, promotes social inclusion and builds inclusive communities for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) around the world. Through programming in SPORTS, HEALTH, EDUCATION, and LEADERSHIP, Special Olympics promotes equal rights and opportunities for people with ID.

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First Steps: Club Registration

Before you start a new club:

Determine whether there is a NEED:

What (if any) Special Olympics activities are already taking place in or near your geographical area?
What specific sport and community needs the new Special Olympics club should help meet?

An ALTERNATIVE to consider:

Can existing clubs expand their programming to fulfill these additional needs instead (e.g., an existing club offering additional sports)?

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First Steps: Club Management Team

What happens in a Club directly impacts safety and security of the athletes; it can either enhance or hurt the experience of the members and the Special Olympics brand overall. Make sure you build a strong management team of volunteers who share the Special Olympics commitment to safety and security of its members and quality of club operations.

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Recruit Club Members: Athletes

To start functioning as a club, you need to promote the club in the community to ensure potential athletes (people with ID) and their families are aware of the available opportunities. Start by identify ways to recruit ATHLETES.

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Recruit Club Members: Coaches

Your club relies on COACHES to deliver programming and activities. Coaches are role models and revealers of character. Special Olympics coaches go even further, they help athletes with intellectual disabilities find their strengths, develop sports skills, improve abilities and sports performance. A potential COACH doesn’t have to have previous experience working with Special Olympics or people with intellectual disabilities.

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Recruit Club Members: Volunteers

GENERAL VOLUNTEERS play a key role in helping deliver Special Olympics opportunities, activities and experiences for athletes in local communities. Proper volunteer registration is important to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes and other volunteers. Check with your National/State Program to clarify background check/references requirements.

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Recruitment Club Members: Families

FAMILIES (parents, siblings, caregivers) of people with ID are a vital component of the Special Olympics movement. Contact your National/State office to check on the process of registering families.

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Core Functions: Sports Activities

Special Olympics’ primary goal is to provide high-quality year-round training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities directed by qualified coaches. Through sports, our athletes become confident and empowered by their accomplishments. There is a range of Olympic-style winter and summer sports to suit every age or skill level.

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Core Functions: Communication

It is important to establish and keep consistent COMMUNICATION with local club members, National/State Program staff and external supporters to ensure sustainability of the club. Make sure to follow the Special Olympics logo and brand guidelines and establish connections with other local clubs to learn from their experiences.

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Core Functions: Fundraising

Securing adequate resources is vital to the success of a Local Club. Clubs are encouraged to fundraise in order to create sustainable programs and improve the quality of sports training and competition opportunities for athletes. There are many ways to raise funds: sponsorships, grants, letter writing campaigns, special events, etc.

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Core Functions: Financial Management

To keep your club in good standing, work closely with your National/State Program on financial management of your club income and expenses. Accounting for all funds raised and used by your club is very important for protecting the credibility of your club and the Special Olympics brand as a whole. Once you connect with your National/State Program to receive guidance on its financial management policies, follow these steps to ensure that Local Club financial resources are managed properly.

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Local Club Is Established: Club Development

Special Olympics is committed to offering high quality sports and engagement experiences for its members and supporters. As the Local Club develops and grows, its management team should focus on providing high quality sports and non-sports activities.

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Local Club Is Established: Club Sustainability

Special Olympics Clubs deliver sports training and competition opportunities for local athletes and are vital in providing a sense of community and belonging for their members. Ensuring your club is sustainable takes a lot of hard work and commitment and depends on a wide range of linked factors. Here are the top 3 things to help ensure your club’s sustainability.

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