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Junior Athletes

AJ (from Costa Rica) on the tennis court giving a thumbs up and holding a tennis racket.
Junior Athletes is a non-competitive, multi-sport play program for children with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities from ages 6 to 12. Junior Athletes focuses on the development of a child’s physical literacy prior to competitive or recreational Special Olympics sport participation and supports the development of key social and emotional skills, like teamwork, cooperation, and self-management. Resources currently offered for Junior Athletes implementation include a comprehensive introduction guide written for both Special Olympics Program staff and Junior Athletes coaches. Additionally, lesson plans are provided to support implementation in both school and community settings. Lesson plans have been created to provide consistent and developmentally appropriate sport skill progression through play for children ages 6 – 12 with and without IDD. Finally, to round out the Special Olympics Junior Athletes training both Program staff and coaches implementing the program are required to complete the Junior Athletes Coaches Course found on our eLearning portal.

Be advised that Junior Athletes is a new and emerging Special Olympics program. Please bookmark this webpage and check-in often for updated lessons and guidelines.

Notice: This page is under construction. Final resources will be made available August 2026.

Junior Athletes Intro Guide (PDF)

The ultimate starting point! See how Junior Athletes bridges the skills gained in Young Athletes—like balance, coordination, and teamwork—into more structured, sport-specific activities.

Junior Athletes Pickleball (PDF)

Take agility, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination from Young Athletes to the next level in one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide.

Junior Athletes Athletics (PDF)

Channel running, jumping, and throwing skills into exciting track and field activities that encourage resilience, focus, and healthy competition.

Junior Athletes Football (PDF)

Build on kicking, passing, and spatial awareness skills from Young Athletes while fostering communication, cooperation, and strategy in the world’s most popular sport.
Where Junior Athletes Fits in a Child’s Journey Through Special Olympics

Children can participate in Special Olympics sports with or without first joining Young Athletes. Those who start in Young Athletes may progress to Junior Athletes before moving into recreational or competitive Special Olympics programs—or they can transition directly from Young Athletes into traditional Special Olympics offerings. Additionally, children can participate in Junior Athletes while simultaneously engaging in other Special Olympics sports. As competition guidelines evolve, we recommend checking with your local Special Olympics Program for specific age requirements. Ultimately, the flexibility of all Special Olympics early childhood offerings ensures that every child has an opportunity to find their pathway to success and joy in sports.

Below are some examples of scenarios in which Junior Athletes activities would be necessary to support existing Young Athletes participants moving to traditional or  Special Olympics Unified activities:  

  • A child under age 7 has advanced beyond the skills in their Young Athletes activities, but is not yet old enough to participate in Special Olympics.
  • A child 6+ is not ready or not yet comfortable with participating in 8+ weeks of practice and competition in one sport.
  • A community program or team is primarily made up of adults and it is not safe or developmentally appropriate for a 6-year-old child to join the team.
  • An elementary or primary school wants to provide inclusive sports activities through Special Olympics, but does not have the structure to support team sports and competition.