Special Olympics
Georgia
State Indoor Winter Games
Volunteer Orientation
Be A Fan! Bring out the CHAMPION in everyone!
Mission
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To provide year-round sports training and athletic
competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all
children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving
them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness,
demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in
the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their
families, other Special Olympic athletes, and the
community.
The Special Olympics goal is to help bring individuals with
intellectual disabilities into the larger society under
conditions whereby they are accepted, respected and given
the chance to become useful and productive citizens
Indoor Winter Games
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Nearly 2,000 athletes from around the state compete in
basketball, bowling, floor hockey, ice skating, gymnastics,
and roller skating with over 500 coaches to guide them in
competition.
Takes place in various venues around Marietta, GA
Over 1,000 volunteers will be on hand the weekend of the
games.
Competition begins on Friday and ends Sunday with the
Opening Ceremony and Victory Dance Friday evening.
Southeast Powerlifting
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Winter Games weekend includes the
southeast powerlifting competition, which is
separate from the actual Indoor Winter
Games.
Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and
Florida send athletes to compete in
powerlifting.
Venues at the Fall Games
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Basketball
Bowling
Floor Hockey
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Roller Skating
Southeast Powerlifting
Olympic Town
Opening Ceremony
Victory Dance
Basketball venues
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3-on-3 Basketball
Team Skills Basketball
Individual Skills Basketball
Basketball Team Play
Basketball volunteer positions
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Athlete check in – check in athletes as they arrive. Verify their
placement and numbers.
Volunteer registration – register and sign out volunteers.
Score keeper – record and tally points by official’s signal.
Timer – keep time of games/control timer on scoreboard.
Announcer - announce players and report scores; make other
needed announcements, add a lot of excitement to the games!
Ball retrievers – retrieve loose balls on court and assist athletes
as needed.
Water station - assist with any water needs at the venue.
Awards – assist with the presentation of medals and ribbons,
announces winners, escorts athletes from courts to awards area,
assist athletes into position.
Fans in the Stands – cheers for and encourages athletes as they
compete. Can make signs or use pom poms when available.
Bowling volunteer positions
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Volunteer registration – register and sign out volunteers.
Lane assistants (2 – 3 volunteers per lane) - keep athletes bowling in sequence,
check that automated scoring is working properly, put bowling ball on ramp for
ramp bowlers, write final scores for bowlers on score sheet, run scores to
coordinator, remind parents/coaches to stay in cheering area and not on the
lane with athletes, take athletes to award stand when called.
Awards – assist with the presentation of medals and ribbons, announces
winners, escorts athletes from lanes to awards area, assist athletes into
position.
Gymnastics volunteer positions
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Volunteer registration – register and sign out volunteers.
Scorekeepers - record the judge’s score on the appropriate sheet and rank the
gymnasts according to the scores.
Line judge assistant - inform the head judge when a gymnast steps out of
bounds during the floor exercise routine.
Score flasher - flashes the gymnast’s score after performance.
Escort - marches in with the delegation.
Runners - takes scores from the judges table to the scorekeeper’s desk.
Awards – assist with the presentation of medals and ribbons, announces
winners, escorts athletes to awards area, assist athletes into position.
Fans in the Stands – cheers for and encourages athletes as they compete. Can
make signs or use pom poms when available.
Floor Hockey volunteer positions
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Volunteer registration – register and sign out volunteers.
Scorekeepers - transfer individual heat scores to the master heat sheet at the
scorer’s table. Tabulate scores to determine final order.
Heat Escorts - responsible for directing the teams to each skill station. They
carry the heat sheet to the official scorer.
Stager - assemble teams after they are announced and then send heats to skills
stations as needed.
Station assistants - help with scoring and other duties at each station.
Water station - Volunteers will help with any water needs at the venue.
Course marshals – volunteers are placed along the track to ensure safety of
athletes.
Announcer - announce heats, awards and scores from the skills competition.
Awards – assist with the presentation of medals and ribbons, announces
winners, escorts athletes from courts to awards area, assist athletes into
position.
Fans in the Stands – cheers for and encourages athletes as they compete. Can
make signs or use pom poms when available.
Roller Skating volunteer positions
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Volunteer registration – register and sign out volunteers.
Timers (center of the rink) – starts and stops the clock; compare
times and give correct times to score keepers on the floor.
Scorekeepers - completes the field on the heat sheets and turns
sheets into the head scorekeeper; Head scorekeeper puts all scores
onto one main sheet.
Stagers – seats athletes in correct heats; assists athletes with skates,
helmets, and knee and elbow pads; lines athletes on the rink.
Water stations - volunteers will help with any water needs at the
venue.
Runners - carry score sheets to the Awards stands
Awards – assist with the presentation of medals and ribbons,
announces winners, escorts athletes to awards area, assist athletes
into position.
Fans in the Stands – cheers for and encourages athletes as they
compete. Can make signs or use pom poms when available.
Powerlifting volunteer positions
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Volunteer registration – register and sign out volunteers.
Spotters (must be able to lift 50 pounds) – loads and unloads free
weights from 2.5 pounds – 50 pounds. The spotters must be able to
show correct spotting and lifting techniques.
Scorekeepers - takes lifting information from the athletes and writes it
on score cards. The cards will be placed in order by division and weight
attempted. Scorekeepers keep the scorecards in order and assist the
announcer.
Greeters – greet and direct those that come into area; assist athletes;
keeps aisles and stations clear.
Water stations - volunteers will help with any water needs at the venue.
Runners - carry score sheets to the Awards stands
Awards – assist with the presentation of medals and ribbons, announces
winners, escorts athletes to awards area, assist athletes into position.
Fans in the Stands – cheers for and encourages athletes as they
compete. Can make signs or use pom poms when available.
Olympic Town volunteers
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Olympic Town is a carnival like
atmosphere where athletes can
participate in crafts, games, rides, etc.
when they are not competing.
Takes place on Saturday
Volunteers will be stationed at various
booths throughout Olympic Town to help
athletes with crafts, games, rides, etc.
Opening Ceremony Volunteers
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Opening Ceremony will take place
Friday evening
Volunteers are needed to assist with
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handing out program books
monitoring the athlete parade line up
escorting attendees
blocking aisles for the torch run
crowd control
Victory Dance Volunteers
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The Victory Dance will take place
Friday evening right after Opening
Volunteers are needed to assist with
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crowd control
serving food and drinks
clean up
What to Expect while Working with
Athletes
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One of the biggest questions that new volunteers have is how to
work with our athletes. If you are a new volunteer, here a few
things to keep in mind:
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Special Olympics offers competitions to children AND adults, so
don’t assume that an athlete is a child. Make sure to talk to
athletes like adults and with respect.
Many athletes like to hug, shake hands, give high fines, etc… You
may reciprocate if the athlete initiates it and you are comfortable
with that.
Some athletes are in wheelchairs – do not lean on their chairs.
Some athletes have speech impediments. If you cannot
understand an athlete, ask them to repeat themselves or ask a
coach or one of the athlete’s teammates to help you to
understand.
There are some athletes that salivate excessively, are very stiff,
or have other symptoms associated with their disability. Please do
not stare.
Remember that respect of the dignity and effort of the athletes is
the priority at Special Olympics. Pity is not part of the game.
General Guidelines for Volunteer
Behavior
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Volunteers may hug an athlete only when the athlete initiates the
hug
Volunteers should not disrupt competitions in any way
Volunteers should encourage, not coach, the athletes
Volunteers should be friendly, not threatening or harassing to
other volunteers or staff
All equipment, banners, t-shirts, and other materials used during
competition is the property of SOGA or participating agencies.
Please do not take any of these items including the blue volunteer
bibs, which must be returned to volunteer registration when you
have completed your assignment.
A situation may arise that causes a delay in competition. Please
be patient and understand that the SOGA staff is doing all they
can to resolve any issues so that competition can continue.
During any downtime, get to know the athletes.
And above all else, make sure to HAVE FUN!
When you arrive at volunteer
registration,
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Make sure to sign in at the volunteer registration table!
You will not be able to volunteer without checking in.
BRING ID
You will receive a blue volunteer bib and nametag.
You will be introduced to your volunteer coordinator,
who will assign you to a position and will give you
instructions on your responsibilities.
Any questions, find your volunteer coordinator or a
SOGA staff person.
Things to remember
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Make sure to arrive on time! You do not need to arrive earlier than the time
sent to you with your handbook but make sure to arrive on time. There will be
instructions given for each position and if you are not present in time, you will
miss your placement. Competitions WILL start on time and all volunteers will be
assigned before competition starts. If you are not present when instructions are
given and volunteers are assigned, there may not be a volunteer spot for you.
Food is not provided for volunteers so please remember to eat before or after
your shift. You are welcome to bring a snack with you but you cannot stop to
eat during your shift unless there is a break.
Water will be available at all venues.
You are responsible for your personal possessions.
For the Winter Games, all events will be held indoors but still make sure to
check weather reports and dress appropriately.
Make sure to dress comfortably.
Competition goes on rain or shine so please plan on volunteering even if it rains.
In cases of extreme weather, competitions may be delayed slightly or
cancelled(you will be notified if competition has been cancelled).
Make sure to stay for your ENTIRE shift. Interruptions can cause major delays in
competition.
THANK YOU for volunteering
for the Indoor Winter
Games!!!