Basketball

Basketball is popular among Special Olympics athletes and is one of the most popular sports at Special Olympics. We offer team events along with individual skills competitions. Athletes can train and compete in basic skills before advancing to team play. Therefore, players of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to improve individual skills, work as a team and compete at various competitions.

Unified Basketball

In addition to traditional team basketball, athletes can participate in Unified Sports basketball. Unified Sports assigns Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes and partners without intellectual disabilities to the same team. During Unified basketball competition, the lineup will never exceed three athletes and two partners at any time. The minimum age for athletes and partners in Unified basketball is age 8. Unified basketball is offered in two models

Unified Team - In this model athletes and partners both have a complete understanding of the game, tactics and game flow. They act as true teammates with each player contributing to the teams success or failure. Rules of the sport are followed with no modifications. Theory of meaningful involvement is followed - EVERY player is given the opportunity to contribute to the success of the team through their unique skills and qualities

Unified Player Development - This is a developmental model. Unified Partners act as mentors on the court to help teach the game to the athletes by playing the game. Athletes in the model do not have a grasp of in game tactics or game flow and need guidance of the Unified partner to help ensure their success. Slight modifications to the rules of basketball are applied.

Basketball is classified as a level A sport at Special Olympics MA