Become an Official

Officials: the Key to Quality Competition

Sport officials complete the third component necessary for sporting competition - athletes, spectators and officials. Officials ensure adherence to the rules and safe competition, and are necessary to ensure the integrity of the sport.

At the opening of Special Olympics Connecticut competition, officials (or an individual representing all) takes the following Official's Oath:

"In the names if all judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in the (name of Games / Tournament / Competition inserted here) with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the spirit of sportsmanship."

Special Olympics encourages all persons officiating Special Olympics Connecticut competitions to become certified in their sport and provides an opportunity for anyone interested to become a certified Special Olympics sport-specific official.

There are two ways to do become certified:

Track 1 - Persons with sport-specific officiating certification(s), and no Special Olympics experience
Track 2 - Persons with neither sport-specific officiating certification(s), nor Special Olympics experience

Officials Certification Program

Track 1
Officials with a National Governing Body (NGB) officials' certification and/or an International Sport Federations (ISF) officials certification should participate in Track 1 of the Special Olympics Officials Training and Certification for the respective sport. Track 1 provides an introduction to Special Olympics, officiating Special Olympics events and any necessary rules and sport equipment modifications.

Track 2
This track is designed for persons with neither sport-specific officiating certification(s), nor Special Olympics experience. Participants should complete Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the Special Olympics Officials Training and Certification. Part 2 of the sport-specific officials training focuses on the competition venue, games management and the various officiating positions of the sport.

Completing Certification
For both tracks, once Part 1 is completed - generally a 60-120 minute session depending upon the sport - the Part 3 - The Practicum of the sport-specific officials training must be completed. This part entails officiating ten hours or five Special Olympics sport-specific competitions under the observance of an experienced Special Olympics official and/or competition staff member.

Once they have officiated the required amount, participants of each track perform the following to complete his/her certification:

• Complete the Special Olympics Sports Training Certification form
• Get the local Area Program staff member to sign-off on the completion requirements.
• Send the completed form to the Program office

Contact Information
Jennifer Williams
Southwest Region Program Coordinator
203.380.9990 x603
JenniferW@soct.org