SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION - sode.org · SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION ... Each will have an important role in the success and final score for the team. Thus it ... If the player takes

SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION These events provide meaningful competition for athletes to help develop their soccer skills. There are three different levels athletes can participate in based on their ability. There are three events that are part of each contest and they work on the following skills: Passing, Dribbling and Shooting. The athlete’s final score is determined by adding together the scores achieved in each of these three events. Athletes (and Unified teams) will be divisioned according to their total scores from these three events. The rules for each of these events are described on the following pages. PARTICIPATION:

Young Athletes (Ages Kindergarten-7): May only participate in the Young Athlete Demonstration Category offered at Special Olympics Delaware. These athletes participate in the Level 1: Basic Skills Competition but are not scored – all receiving the same medal. Unified Partners (also ages Kindergarten-7) may only participate in the Young Athletes Program.

Events Offered. Based on the overall participants in last year’s events and to help create meaningful and equitable competition the following chart has been created to identify which events an athlete or unified team can participate:

“Y” indicates available to that level | A gray box indicates not available to that level Athletes age 8 years of age and older: May only participate in one of the below three Skills Levels. Athletes (with or without a Unified Partner) may register for ONE of the following at a competition based on the above chart: Level 1: Basic Skills Competition: 8-meter Dribble, Gate Pass, 3-Meter Shot

This event is offered for young athletes and athletes and Unified Partners 8 years of age or older who possess limited mobility. Athletes in Young Athletes & MATP will participate in these events.

Level 2: Standard Skills Competition: 15-Meter Dribble, Run & Pass, 6-Meter Shot

This event is offered for young athletes and athletes and Unified Partners 8 years of age or older who have not scored 130 points or higher in this event. Those with a score of 130 points or higher must compete in the Level 3: Advanced Skills Competition.

Level 3: Advanced Skills Competition: 12-Meter Slalom Dribble, Control and Pass, Gather-Dribble-Shot

This event is offered for athletes and Unified Partners 8 years of age or older who have scored 130 points or more in the Level 2: Standard Skills Competition. This is an advanced skills event and only athletes who are capable should be entered into this event.

YAP ES MS HS UYAP UES UMS UHS

Basic X X X X X XStandard X X X X XAdvanced X X X

SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION Athletes in the following Age Groups will compete using the ball size described in the following graph: Young Athlete Program (ages 5-7): Size 3 Youth Ages (Elementary School) Size 4 Junior Ages (Middle School) Size 5 Intermediate Ages (High School) Size 5 Adults (ages 22+) Size 5

If there are mixed age group divisions (ie: Elementary/Middle in same division) then the larger ball will be used. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES For the Season: Each school program will need to submit a Letter of Intent by the due

date set by Special Olympics in order to be eligible to participate in a particular year. For Competition: Each program will submit a Final Competition Registration Form as

their registration for the specific competition they will be attending. This form will require preliminary scores for athletes ages 8 and over. Scores should be submitted in points and are the sum of the three events in the respective competition. Only one score per athlete/Unified team is submitted.

o Preliminary Scores should be acquired through competition experience at practice

o Scores for each event must fall within the range indicated on each page o When providing scores through team’s own practice the scores submitted

should be taken from trials taken within 2 weeks of registration deadlines Trials should be conducted in a competition like atmosphere Conduct multiple trials and submit the best time Do not assist the athlete physically or verbally (you will not be able to

prompt at the event) UNIFIED PARTNERS & UNIFIED EVENTS

• Both the athlete and Unified Partner will contribute to the overall score of the team. Each will have an important role in the success and final score for the team. Thus it is important that the athlete and Unified Partner train consistently as a team throughout the training season. See rules for each event on the role the Unified Partner and the athlete will perform during the event.

• Day-of Event scratches in Unified events. If a participant (athlete or unified partner) scratch on the day of the event the teammate who is in attendance will be allowed to participate under the following conditions:

o Will compete in the Unified Division already assigned. o Will complete in the skills event according to the rules of Unified Competition

with an event volunteer. Substitutions will not be allowed. o Will receive a participant ribbon.

• Unified teams are to only be constructed and registered as 1 Athlete and 1 Unified Partner. DO NOT REGISTER MORE THAN 1 ATHLETE AND 1 UNIFIED PARTNER PER TEAM.

SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION

LEVEL 1: BASIC SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 1 of 3) NOTE: Young Athletes and MATP Athletes will participate in BASIC SKILLS EVENTS ONLY. For Young Athletes & MATP Athletes there is no score taken. These groups will be performing the skills as a demonstration. These participants receive 1 TOTAL medal (of all the same color) for their efforts in training and demonstrating their personal bests. Basic Skills Competition Event #1: 8-Meter Dribble

1. Equipment a. Soccer balls, tape or chalk, four large cones to mark the finish zone, two

cones mark the start line, spray paint to mark start line. 2. Description

a. The athlete begins from behind the start line and between the cones. b. The athlete starts dribbling and moving when the official signals. The

official commands should be “Ready”, “Set”, “Go”. c. Player must control ball with their feet and cannot take more than 2 steps in

between touches. If the player takes more than 2 steps in between touches then the ball is returned to position of last touch and clock continues to run.

d. Both the player and the ball must stop inside the finish zone. If the player overshoots the finish zone, he/she must dribble it back in to finish.

i. In the Unified Event the Unified Partner will then finish the event by taking the ball from the athlete and dribble back to the start line. The Unified Partner must cross the start line and stop the dribble to stop the clock.

e. If a player loses control of the ball, the clock continues to run. The player can recover the ball or if the ball goes outside the 3 meter lane, the player can pick up the nearest back-up ball.

3. Scoring a. The athlete will be timed from the signal “Go” to when he/she crosses the

finish line between the cones and stops the dribble. In Unified Event the clock will stop after the Unified Partner crosses the start line and stops the ball.

b. The athlete/Unified Team will receive two trials. Each trial is scored by adding penalty points to the time elapsed and converting the total to points based on the Conversion Chart.

c. The final score will be the best of the two trials.


LEVEL 1: BASIC SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 2 of 3) Basic Skills Competition Event #2: 3-Meter Shot

1. Equipment a. 5 Soccer balls, 2 cones to mark the start line, 2 cones to mark the shooting

line, Spot for marking ball placement, 4 meter by 2 meter five-a-side goal with net.

2. Description a. Player begins at the start line and walks or runs forward to shoot the ball

into the goal from a distance of 3 meters. b. Player is only allowed to kick the ball once. c. The Player returns to the line. d. Volunteer places the next ball to be shot. e. Event is repeated.

i. In Individual event the Athlete takes a total of five shots. ii. In Unified Event the Athlete & Unified Partner will alternate shots.

The Athlete will take 3 shots and the Unified Partner will take 3 shots.

3. Scoring a. Each successful goal scores 10 points.


LEVEL 1: BASIC SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 3 of 3) Basic Skills Competition Event #3: Gate Pass

1. Equipment a. Soccer balls, Spot for starting point, 2 cones for the 2-meter wide target gate.

2. Description a. Player begins at the starting point. b. The player starts when the official signals. The official commands should be

“Ready”, “Set”, “Go”. c. Player runs to the ball and PASSES it through a target gate USING INSIDE or

OUTSIDE THE FOOT PASS to the Volunteer. i. Player is only allowed ONE attempt to pass each ball.

d. The ball must pass through the gate on the ground. A player will not receive credit for a ball that is passed in the air.

e. The player returns to the start point and the Volunteer resets the ball. i. In the Unified Event: After passing the ball through the gate the

athlete will return to the start point and the Unified Partner will take the next turn. Athlete & Unified Partner will alternate turns.

f. The player runs and PASSES another ball through the target gate to the Volunteer.

g. Player continues until he/she has attempted to pass 5 balls through the gate. In the Unified event the Athlete will have 3 attempts and the Unified Partner will have 3 attempts.

3. Scoring a. The total time (in seconds) elapsed from when the Athlete/Unified Team

starts to when the last ball is received by the Volunteer is recorded and converted into points using the conversion chart.

b. Ten (10) points is awarded for each ball passed successfully through a target gate using the inside or outside of the foot. (Ball must be passed on the ground or zero points awarded.) OR Five (5) points is awarded for each ball kicked through a target gate NOT using the proper technique (i.e. using the toe). (Ball still must be passed on the ground or zero points awarded.)


LEVEL 2: STANDARD SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 1 of 3) Standard Skills Competition Event #1: 15-Meter Dribble

1. Equipment a. Soccer balls, tape or chalk, four large cones to mark the finish zone, two

cones mark the start line, spray paint to mark start line. 2. Description

a. The player begins from behind the start line and between the cones. b. The player starts dribbling and moving when the official signals. The official

commands should be “Ready”, “Set”, “Go”. c. Player must control ball with their feet and cannot take more than 2 steps in


d. Both the player and the ball must stop inside the finish zone. If the player overshoots the finish zone, he/she must dribble it back in to finish.

i. In the Unified Event the Unified Partner will then finish the event by taking the ball from the athlete and dribble back to the start line. The Unified Partner must cross the start line and pick up the stop the dribble to stop the clock.

e. If a player loses control of the ball, the clock continues to run. The player can recover the ball or if the ball goes outside the 3 meter lane, the player can either pick up the nearest back-up ball.

3. Scoring a. The athlete will be timed from the signal “Go” to when he/she crosses the

finish line between the cones and stops the dribble. In Unified Event the clock will stop after the Unified Partner crosses the start line and stops the ball.

b. The athlete/Unified Team will receive two trials. Each trial is scored by adding penalty points to the time elapsed and converting the total to points based on the Conversion Chart.

c. The final score will be the best of the two trials.


LEVEL 2: STANDARD SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 2 of 3) Standard Skills Competition Event #2: 6-Meter Shot

1. Equipment a. 5 Soccer balls, 2 cones to mark the start line, 2 cones to mark the shooting

line, Spot for marking ball placement, 4 meter by 2 meter five-a-side goal with net.

2. Description a. The player begins at the start line and walks or runs forward to shoot the

ball into the goal from a distance of 6 meters. b. The Player is only allowed to kick the ball once. c. The Player returns to the line. d. Volunteer places the next ball to be shot. e. Event is repeated.


The Athlete will take 3 shots and the Unified Partner will take 3 shots.

3. Scoring a. Each successful goal scores 10 points.


LEVEL 3: STANDARD SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 3 of 3) Standard Skills Competition Event #3: Run and Pass

1. Equipment a. Soccer balls, Spot for starting point, 2 cones for the 2-meter wide target gate.

2. Description a. The Player begins at the starting point. b. The player starts when the official signals. The official commands should be

“Ready”, “Set”, “Go”. c. Player runs to ball and PASSES it through the target gate USING INSIDE or

OUTSIDE THE FOOT PASS to the Volunteer. i. Player is only allowed ONE attempt to pass each ball.

d. The ball must pass through the gate on the ground. A player will not receive credit for a ball that is passed in the air.

e. The player returns to the start point. i. In the Unified Event: After passing the ball through the gate the

athlete will return to the start point and the Unified Partner will take the next turn. Athlete & Unified Partner will alternate turns. Athlete will have 3 attempts and the Unified Partner will have 3 attempts. Athlete/Unified Partner will alternate until he/she/they has/have attempted to pass all balls through the gates.

f. In Individual event the athlete will get 5 attempts. In a Unified event the athlete will get 3 attempts and the Unified Partner will get 3 attempts.

3. Scoring a. The total time (in seconds) elapsed from when the Athlete starts to when the

last ball is received by the Volunteer is recorded and converted into points using the conversion chart.

b. Ten (10) points is awarded for each ball passed successfully through a target gate using the inside or outside of the foot. (Ball must be passed on the ground or zero points awarded.) OR Five (5) points is awarded for each ball kicked through a target gate NOT using the proper technique (i.e. using the toe). (Ball still must be passed on the ground or zero points awarded.)

Scoring conversion chart: Dribble Time Point Score 11–15 ..................... 50 points 16–20 ..................... 45 points 21–25 ..................... 40 points 26–30 ..................... 35 points 31–35 ..................... 30 points 36–40 ..................... 25 points 41–45 ..................... 20 points 46–50 ..................... 15 points 51–55 ..................... 10 points 55 or more ............ 5 points

SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION LEVEL 3: ADVANCED SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 1 of 3) Advanced Skills Competition — Event #1: 12-Meter Slalom Dribble

1. Equipment a. 5 cones set 2 meters apart and staggered 0.5 meters from central line, Three

to five balls at the start line, Cones/Line for start and finish line 2. Description

a. The Player(s) begins from behind the start line and between the cones. b. The Player starts dribbling and moving when the official signals. The official

commands should be “Ready”, “Set”, “Go”. i. In Unified Events the ATHLETE will go first.

c. Player dribbles through slalom as quickly as possible, rounding all cones. d. Player must control ball with their feet and cannot take more than 2 steps in


e. Player leaves ball over the finish line - ball must be stopped - and sprints back to the start.

i. In the Unified Event the Unified Partner and Athlete will alternate attempts through the slalom. When one player STOPS the ball at the finish line the next player will start from the START LINE. Once the ball is stopped at the finish line the players must return to the start line on the outside of the course and high five the next player before he/she goes.

f. Player(s) continues to repeat until 45 seconds has elapsed. g. A whistle will be blown when 45 seconds has elapsed to signify the end of

the event. 3. Scoring

a. Player scores five points for each cone passed - to the outside. (25 points per successful run).

b. Cones that are knocked down do not count.


LEVEL 3: ADVANCED SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 2 of 3) Advanced Skills Competition — Event #2: Control and Pass

1. Equipment a. Two cones to form a “passing gate” 5 meters wide, 7 meters from the

starting line. b. Two passing “target gates” (cones and 1-meter flags if possible) as shown. c. Four soccer balls.

2. Description a. The player begins from behind the start line. b. The player starts dribbling and moving when the official signals. The official

commands should be “Ready”, “Set”, “Go”. c. Volunteer rolls the ball at moderate pace to the waiting player. d. The player must wait once it has been rolled. e. The player controls the ball and dribbles through the passing gate to the

10m mark. f. Once through the passing gate but not beyond the 10m mark the player

must pass the ball through the target gate. g. The ball must pass through the gate on the ground. A player will not receive

credit for a ball that is passed in the air. h. The Volunteer will roll the next ball as soon as the player returns to the

starting line. i. In the Unified Event: After passing the ball through the gate the

athlete will return to the start point and the Unified Partner will take the next turn. Athlete & Unified Partner will alternate turns.

i. In an individual event the athlete will get 5 attempts. In a Unified event athlete will get 3 attempts and the Unified Partner will get 3 attempts.

3. Scoring a. Ten (10) points is awarded for each ball passed successfully through a target

gate using the inside or outside of the foot. (Ball must be passed on the ground or zero points awarded.) OR Five (5) points is awarded for each ball kicked through a target gate NOT using the proper technique (i.e. using the toe). (Ball still must be passed on the ground or zero points awarded.)

b. A ball that hits the cone and goes through will count.

SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION LEVEL 3: ADVANCED SKILLS COMPETITION (pg 3 of 3) Advanced Skills Competition Event #3: Gather, Dribble, Shot

1. Equipment a. Spot mark the start line, 4 cones to mark the shooting area, Spot for marking

gathering area. b. Penalty area and full-size goal with nets.

i. A smaller goal (approx. 4m x 2m) will be used at the Kent County & Sussex County Soccer Skills events.

c. Eight balls at the top of the penalty arc. 2. Description

a. The player begins at the start line and walks or runs to gather the ball from gathering area.

b. The player dribbles into the shooting area and shoots. i. Player attempts to shoot the ball in the air into the goal.

ii. Players can shoot from whatever distance they choose once they are inside the penalty area.

c. The player is only allowed to kick the ball once on each shot. d. Event is repeated.


The athlete must return to the starting line before Unified Partner can start. The Athlete will take 3 shots and the Unified Partner will take 3 shots.

3. Scoring a. Player scores ten points for each shot traveling from foot to goal in the air. b. Player scores five points for each shot that touches the ground before

entering the goal.

UNIFIED TEAM SOCCER – Spring 2017 General Information

SEASON 8 – 10 weeks of practice, at least once a week, preferably more Tournament takes places in late April/early May during the school day NEW IN 2017: Any school with two or more teams MUST enter at least one in the competitive division. TWO LEVELS OF PLAY Unified Sports Competitive Division: Unified partners and SODE athletes should be of comparable ability. Unified Partners play all out on offense and defense. There are no rule differences for the SODE athletes and Unified partners. The goal is to win (and learn and have fun). Score is kept and teams compete for gold, silver, bronze. Unified Sports Player Development Division: Unified Partners serve more as mentors on the field, playing the game but with the goal being to put the Special Olympics athletes in the best situations to learn the game and be successful. The goal in this division is for the students to learn the basic concepts of the game and have fun doing so, possible enabling them to eventually play in the competitive division. Unified Partners participate and contribute, but do not dominate the game, even though they probably could due to the difference in skill levels. Unified Partners can NOT shoot or “tackle” due to safety reasons. Score is kept, but teams/players are all presented the same award. *Note: Only players capable of playing on a team should be on the team. Athletes who belong in the Skills events should stay in the Skills events. It’s why we are offering both. RULES DIFFERENT THAN TYPICAL SOCCER • 5 v 5 (3 Special Olympics athletes and 2 Unified Partners on the field at all times) • No offside rule • Kick-in rather than a throw-in on the sidelines • Goalies throw or roll the ball back into play after a save, it is not a kick or punt • Field is smaller. Football field from the end zone to the 40-yard line, turned sideways. • Goals are smaller (field hockey size for competitive, smaller for development) EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (all provided by SODE) • Ball (size 4 for elementary, size 5 for middle and high school) • Shin guards required for both levels

SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION - sode.org · SOCCER SKILLS COMPETITION ... Each will have an important role in the success and final score for the team. Thus it ... If the player takes

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