Track and Field (Athletics) – Montgomery County

Season: Spring/Summer (March to June)

Overview: The sport of athletics encourages athletes of all abilities and ages to compete at their optimum level. Through the track-and-field-based athletics training program, participants can develop total fitness to compete in any sport. A major difference of Special Olympics Athletics is that athletes compete for medals in their division. Athletes are grouped into divisions by qualifying scores to provide all athletes with a competitive experience and opportunity to win. In order to adapt the sport to all Special Olympics Athletes, we conduct runs, walks and wheelchair events in addition to more traditional race distances.

We offer Juniors (grades 1-5), Intermediate (grades 6-12) and Seniors level (age 21 and older) training and competition. All athletes train to qualify to be eligible for consideration for selection for competition in summer games.

Track events: Sprint and long distance races race distances: 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000 meters.

Field events: Ball throw, mini-javelin, shot put, standing and running long jump.

Wheelchair events: motorized and non-motorized, sprint and slalom races.

Coaches	David Lang and Bob Stack – Head Coaches Susan Fitzgerald – Assistant Coach Joyce Plaxen – Team Manager
Season Dates & Times	Practices: Sundays starting April 14, 2024 (New Start Date) Location: Sherwood High School track, 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860. Time: 12:00pm to 1:30pm No Practice Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, or Good Friday Qualifiers: Mandatory SOMO Spring Games May 19, 2024 May 11, 2024 Baltimore County May 19, 2024 Montgomery County June 1, 2024 Howard County State Games: June 21st to June 23rd, 2024, at Towson University
Medical & Volunteer Expiration Date	Sport’s State Games competition date June 23, 2024 The expiration date on an athlete’s Medical form, or a Volunteer’s certification, must be after the above date to participate in the upcoming season. Check athlete status here. Check volunteer status here.

Friday Evening Conditioning: Athletes that sign-up for Track and Field are automatically registered for Friday Evening Conditioning. There is no need to sign up separately. Participation in Friday Evening Conditioning is optional for Track and Field athletes.

Special Olympics Resources for Track and Field (Athletics)

Fact Sheet
Rules (2022)
Rules Changes (2022)
Coaching Guide (2017): online version -or- PDF version

Equipment: SOMO provides athletes with all equipment required for Track and Field events.

Uniform Requirements: Athletes are responsible for wearing athletic clothes to practice. (examples: shorts or track pants or sweat pants, t-shirt or sweat shirt. Hat and gloves if it is cold.) Athletes and volunteers must wear running shoes or sneakers to be on the track or the field. SOMO provides athletes with uniforms for regional and state competitions.

Practice Overview:

Location: Sherwood High School track, 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860.

Timing: Practice occurs every Sunday afternoon from season start until the Sunday before Summer Games, noon to 1:30pm. There is no practice on Easter or Mother’s Day. Qualifiers will sometimes replace practices. Athletes should arrive 10 minutes before practice to get signed in, but do not enter the stadium until the coaches grant permission.

Activities: Practice begins with warm-ups, and stretching. Athletes then go by small group to running and field skills and drills. Activities have the goal of teaching and improving skills.

Please refer to the Friday Evening Conditioning page for that practice’s location, timing and activities.

Qualifiers: The Track & Field team will participate in two qualifiers. Attendance at qualifiers is mandatory for athletes to be eligible for State Games. At qualifiers, athletes can compete in three individual events. Coaches will work with athletes to select appropriate race distances and field events based on the athlete’s desire and abilities:

Montgomery Spring Games at the Landon School (6101 Wilson Ln, Bethesda, MD 20817). This an all-day event starting with athlete sign-in at 9AM
Other Qualifiers TBD

State Competition: SOMD Summer Games will be held at Towson University in mid-June.

Eligibility for State Competition: Athletes must attend practice regularly and participate in two Qualifiers to be eligible to compete in Summer Games.

Participation in Other SOMO Sports: Track and Field athletes must commit to Track and Field as their only Spring sport. Track and Field athletes are automatically registered for Friday Evening Conditioning.

Athlete Commitments to their Teammates: Track and Field is both an individual sport and a team sport. Athletes commit to attend all practices, and at least two sanctioned qualifying events (to include Montgomery Spring Games). Athletes also commit to work with the coaching staff to increase stamina, increase event distances and increase/improve skills and techniques.

Housing Requirements for State Competition (Summer Games): Our Summer Games Track and Field delegation will be a mix of “In-House” athletes and “Day-of” athletes. In House athletes stay with coaches and chaperones in a Towson University dorm. “Day-of” athletes travel to Towson with their chaperone for each day of competition.

The “In-House” Delegation slots are limited and have specific requirements for qualification. First, athletes must have a level of independence consistent with dorm requirements to be considered for housing. In addition, a strong record of attending practice, arriving on-time, and displaying good sportsmanship, improves an athlete’s chance of being selected for the In-House Delegation.

Some “Day-of” athletes only participate in 1 day of competition. If you are a “Day-of”athlete and wish to only participate in 1 day of competition, please tell the Head Coach.

Volunteer Roles: We need help for a successful season. We are a 100% volunteer coaching and management staff. Parents, family members and counselors can help as assistant coaches, chaperones, and unified partners for athletes. If you wish to help, and we hope you do, please register as a SOMO volunteer (see instructions here), and sign-up as a Track and Field volunteer when you sign-up your athlete for the season.

Only registered SOMO Track & Field athletes and registered volunteers are allowed on the track and field. Parents and spectators who are not registered as volunteers are required to stay in the stands as spectators.