About the Partnership between CIF & Special Olympics

Since 2015, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Special Olympics Northern and Southern California, and the California Department of Education (CDE) has partnered to establish an inclusive culture that promotes participation opportunities for student-athletes with disabilities. This partnership has enabled CIF member schools to implement Unified Sports programming on their respective campuses.

 

What are Unified Sports?

Special Olympics Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability. Within CIF schools, the emphasis is placed first on providing the opportunities to participate, not on how well the Unified teams fair in league or section competition.

 

Player Definitions

A Unified Athlete is a student-athlete with intellectual disabilities who typically receive Special Education services, as verified by the site administrator.

A Unified Partner is a student-athlete without intellectual disabilities attending the same school as a Unified athlete.

*It’s important to note that the terms listed are intended to be used by coaches as an internal descriptor for student-athletes. Student-athletes should refer to themselves and their teammates as just that, teammates. Student-athletes on a Unified Sports team practice and compete together consistently throughout the entire regular season and postseason.

 

What sports are recognized by CIF as official, competitive Unified Sports?

Currently, CIF sanctions Unified Track & Field competition for advancement to Sectional and State level championship events. Depending on the CIF Section, schools may train and compete against other schools and districts in locally popular team sports such as soccer and basketball.

For Special Olympics staff by Section/County and participating schools go HERE, or contact:

 

2026 CIF State Unified Track & Field Guide

 

Resources

To connect with Special Olympics staff in your area, learn more about Unified Sports rules and guidelines, get ideas on how to build a successful Unified Team, and much more, check out our resources page.

 

Special Olympics Mission Statement 

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Learn more about Special Olympics Northern California https://www.sonc.org/schools

Learn more about Special Olympics Southern California at www.sosc.org/schools

 

CIF Mission Statement

 

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