Secondary Programs
At Special Olympics Ontario, we offer a diverse range of programming for secondary school student-athletes aged 13-21, including province-wide virtual events, regional Provincial Qualifiers, and athlete showcases.
Our Secondary School Qualifiers provide high-quality competition opportunities in five sports: basketball, soccer, bocce, floorball, and track & field. These events are open to public, Catholic, and private schools across Ontario.
To ensure fair and balanced competition, teams are divisioned prior to each event. Our competitions cater to both beginners and more experienced athletes, offering a Traditional Division for athletes with intellectual disabilities and a Unified Division for teams composed of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.
Our School Championships is a 3-day multi-sport event that takes place at the end of the year, bringing hundreds of qualifying athletes from across the Province together for three days of competition and excitement. The five sports will include Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Floorball, and Soccer. This is a life-changing experience that gives our athletes the opportunity to compete on the provincial stage. This year our Provincial School Champions will be hosted by Ottawa from June 3rd - 5th.
Please view our Events Calendar for school competitions in your community!
If you would like to host, participate, or volunteer at one of our school events, please fill out our get involved form
Each year, in partnership with a local police agency's SOO, we proudly host the Provincial School Championships, bringing together over 1,000 high school athletes and coaches who have qualified during the academic year. The event takes place in June, welcoming athletes from across the province, supported by coaches and cheered on by onsite and remote supporters. Click here to view the School Championships website.
Each year, in partnership with a local police agency's SOO, we proudly host the Provincial School Championships, bringing together over 1,000 high school athletes and coaches who have qualified during the academic year. The event takes place in June, welcoming athletes from across the province, supported by coaches and cheered on by onsite and remote supporters. Click here to view the School Championships website.
In Traditional and Unified Basketball, teams of 3 players can bring 3 substitutes and 2 coaches, totalling an 8-member roster. Unified teams must have 2 Special Olympics (SO) Athletes and 1 Unified Partner on the court at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional and Unified Basketball, teams of 3 players can bring 3 substitutes and 2 coaches, totalling an 8-member roster. Unified teams must have 2 Special Olympics (SO) Athletes and 1 Unified Partner on the court at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional Track and Field, athletes compete individually in 3 to 5 events (excluding 4x100m); Unified Track and Field follows a similar format with a 1:1 SO athlete-to Unified Partner ratio, with teams division by age, gender and ability and results by average cumulative team results. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional Track and Field, athletes compete individually in 3 to 5 events (excluding 4x100m); Unified Track and Field follows a similar format with a 1:1 SO athlete-to Unified Partner ratio, with teams division by age, gender and ability and results by average cumulative team results. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional & Unified Bocce, teams consist of 4 players with 1 substitute and 2 coaches allowed. Unified Bocce requires 3 SO Athletes and 1 Unified Partners on the court at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional & Unified Bocce, teams consist of 4 players with 1 substitute and 2 coaches allowed. Unified Bocce requires 3 SO Athletes and 1 Unified Partners on the court at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Floorball, teams consist of 4 players with 4 substitutes and 2 coaches allowed, with any. Unified Floorball requires 3 SOO athletes and 1 partner on the court at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Floorball, teams consist of 4 players with 4 substitutes and 2 coaches allowed, with any. Unified Floorball requires 3 SOO athletes and 1 partner on the court at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional Soccer, teams consist of 5 players with 5 substitutes and 3 coaches allowed, and games are played on shortened fields. Unified Soccer requires 2 partners and 3 SOO atheltes on the field at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
In Traditional Soccer, teams consist of 5 players with 5 substitutes and 3 coaches allowed, and games are played on shortened fields. Unified Soccer requires 2 partners and 3 SOO atheltes on the field at all times. Click here to see the full copy of our rules!
Unified Champion Schools
The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting system-wide change. In keeping with Special Olympics’ mission, the Unified Champion Schools strategy uses sport and wellness as a foundation in combination with two other major pillars, Whole School Engagement and Youth Leadership, to create an environment of acceptance and inclusion beyond the playing field. Unified Champion Schools prepare all students with lifelong tools and training. This school strategy builds a climate where students work and grow with each other through opportunity for all.
What a Unified Champion School "looks like" can vary greatly from school to school, based on the needs, goals, schedules and other factors unique to each school, but the basic building blocks remain the same. At the secondary level schools can work to become a Unified Champion School and participate in our Unified qualifiers, athlete showcases, pilot sports, virtual events, and provincial championships. To learn more, visit our Unified Page
