Special Olympics Unified Track
Penn Manor High School is a Unified Champion School through Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
In Unified Track and Field, students with and without disabilities compete alongside one another. Some of our athletes have an adult aide.
Penn Manor started participating in Unified Track and Field in Spring 2018. We skipped the 2020 season due to COVID-19, so 2021 is our third season of Unified Track.
Unified Track and Field is offered from March to May.
Penn Manor practices are usually on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 - 4:30 pm. *This will be updated for 2021.
Teams practice a minimum of twice a week and participate in three competitions.
A team consists of 12-30 athletes, proportional number of students with and without disabilities.
Each team member competes in one field event and one track event. They may also participate in one relay.
Track Events
Field Events
After running events have concluded, athletes split off into areas designated for the field events. Athletes compete in flights of similar ability level, with three attempts for each event.
Shot Put
Long Jump
Mini-Javelin
Relays
After all field events conclude, the teams convene around the track once again for the relays.
4 x 100 meter relay
4 x 400 meter relay
Running events are held first during meets. Heats include athletes of similar ability levels, starting with slowest times.
100 meters
400 meters (one loop)
800 meters (two loops)
Cheering
The hallmark of the competition is the cheering on of all athletes through the finish. We cheer for EVERYONE, regardless of team. Penn Manor athletes ordinarily position ourselves around the track to cheer runners for the longer runs and relays.
Meets
Each county/cluster of school districts will host several regular season competitions, including a County Championship.
SOPA hosts the IUS Track and Field Championship at PIAA T&F Championships, Shippensburg University in May.
Scoring
Based on their place of finish, competitors earn points for their high school’s Unified Track and Field team
5 points for 1st place
3 points for 2nd place
1 point for 3rd place
The team which accumulates the most points wins the meet or invitational.
Running Events
100 Meter Dash
Athletes are assigned a lane.
Toes must be behind starting line.
Start when gun goes off.
Athlete must stay in lane for entire run.
400 Meter Run
Athletes are assigned a lane
Toes must be behind starting line.
Start when gun goes off.
Athlete must stay in lane for entire run.
800 Meter Run
Athletes have a waterfall start.
Toes must be behind starting line.
Start when guns goes off.
Athletes move to inside lane when they can, as long as they do not cut off another athlete.
Field Events
LONG JUMP
Legal
Athlete must take off on or before the toe board with one foot.
Jump must clear at least one meter.
Athlete should attempt to fall forward, since the measurement is from end of toe board and the closest landing, whether that is feet or hands or bottom.
Exit the sand pit moving forward. If the athlete steps backward, the measurement will be from the nearest indentation to the toe board.
Measurement is best of three attempts.
Illegal
Jumping with any part of foot over the toe board.
Taking off with two feet.
SHOT PUT
Legal
Official hands athlete the shot put.
Athlete enters circle from back
Shot put is held under ear, against cheek, with elbow of arm up.
Athlete may stand still or do steps or twist into the put.
Shot is “put” with a smooth motion, not thrown with wrist.
Athlete keeps foot inside toe board. Foot touching toe board is okay.
Shot must land inside lines.
Athlete must exit circle from back.
Measurement is from the closest mark of indentation where shot put lands.
Measurement is best of three attempts.
Illegal
Entering circle from front or side.
Flicking with wrist is illegal.
Shot putter on top of or over toe board.
Shot lands outside.
Exit circle from front or side.
MINI JAVELIN
Legal
Grip ribbed area of mini javelin.
Overhead throw is legal.
Tip of jav hits ground first.
Toes must be behind the foul line when javelin is thrown.
Measurement is from where the tip of the jav hits the ground.
Measurement is best of three attempts.
Illegal
Underhand is illegal.
Back or side hits ground first.
Toes on or beyond the foul line.
RELAYS
4 x 100 Meter
4 runners; each runs 1/4 way around track.
Runners will start in lanes, and stay within the same lanes.
4 x 400 Meter
4 runners; each runs one full loop.
First leg runners will have staggered start in lanes, but after first 400, they will be able to move inside.
BATON HANDOFFS
Legal exchange zone is between the triangles.
Teach athlete to start 3 strides into the exchange zone.
Exchange must be accomplished between the triangles.
If baton is dropped, athlete can pick it up and continue as long as no advantage is gained and the athlete does not impede another runner.
So, if baton falls forward, athlete would need to retrieve baton and go back to the point where it is dropped before continuing.
Athletic Videos
Our new instructional track and field videos, per field event, are for our coaches and review event set up, proper measuring techniques, legal/illegal actions, and how to run competition.
Jav: https://youtu.be/opqmwVb0zDk
Shot Put: https://youtu.be/g0uy_sYRbIU
Unified Track (USC) Long Jump: https://youtu.be/4FdJm_l0m-8
There is also one that provides clarity on legal/illegal baton passes.
Baton: https://youtu.be/7KZ93njWPOc
Warm-ups
Stretches
Arm circles
Frankensteins
Planks