Volunteer Orientation - Special Olympics Georgia

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    

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 

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!!!