Our volunteer pool is dedicated and diverse. Volunteers include civic and fraternal groups, high school and college students, amateur and professional athletes, business executives, Special Olympics athletes, family members, sports officials, coaches, teachers, retirees and corporate groups.
When you volunteer with Special Olympics Indiana you will have the opportunity to make a genuine impact in the lives of our athletes and their families. Whether you volunteer your time year-round, seasonally or simply for a single-day event, it is an experience you’ll be destined to remember forever.
Volunteers are classified in two ways.
Class A – any volunteer who has regular contact with athletes. Examples include:
- Coaches
- Chaperones
- Unified Sports® Partners
- Volunteer Leadership / Management Positions
Class A volunteers are required to complete an interview with our Volunteer Coordinator and/or Program Coordinator and an online application and training process.
Class B – any volunteer who has single day event responsibilities. Examples include:
- Referee
- Scorekeeper/Timer
- Announcer
- Awards presenter
Class B volunteers register on an event basis. Please visit the Events tab for opportunities.
MINORS: Whether a coach, volunteer, or Unified Partner, all youth will register through VMS.
For youth ages 14-17:
- Youth applicants who have not reached their age of majority (age 18) may be accepted as volunteers in non-supervisory positions only.
- A background screening will not be completed. While some information pertaining to the background screening may be asked, that information will not be stored or utilized.
- A youth applicant must complete all five steps.
For youth ages 8-13:
- Youth applicants under age 14 must be chaperoned by an adult.
- A background screening will not be completed. While some information pertaining to the background screening may be asked, that information will not be stored or utilized.
- Parents and/or guardians of the youth applicant must complete the five steps for their dependent. This will allow the parent/guardian to understand the protocols taken by Special Olympics Indiana to ensure the safety of all participants, including their dependent.
- Youth ages 8-13 may find information in the Coach-Volunteer Orientation interesting and educational.
- Parents and/or guardians should review the information within the Protective Behaviors training and Concussion Awareness training before sharing with their dependent. This information may be sensitive in nature.
Resources
Become A Class A Volunteer
HELPFUL TIPS
Here are some helpful reminders as you register to become a Class A Volunteer.
- Please select your County Program name
- All Coaches, Unified Partners, and Volunteers must be entered into the system using an email address. Because your email address becomes your log in ID, email addresses cannot be shared between users, even for minors. For suggestions on how to handle this, contact our County Program Coordinator at gtownsend@soindiana-rod.org.
- For Unified Partners and volunteers under the age of 14, a parent or guardian can complete the training and share information as appropriate, but should still create the account under the name of the minor.
- If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our Volunteer Coordinator at rseaver@soindiana-rod.org. Thank you so much for all that you do for Special Olympics.
Returning Class A Volunteer
Returning Class A Volunteers/Unified Partners Please Note: A new Username has been assigned to you. Your Username is now the first part of your email address, everything before the @ sign of the email address you initially used to create your account.
FORMS
Coach and Volunteer Code of Conduct
Coach/Volunteer (CVO) Profile
