Special Olympics Northern California
Requirements for Participating in Competition

In order to participate in any Special Olympics Northern California (SONorCal) sports competition as an athlete or Unified Partner, the following requirements must be met:

Registered Athletes

1. An athlete must be on the team’s training roster in order to be eligible to be placed on the team’s competition entry form.
2. Athletes must attend a minimum of 50% of the team’s practices in order to be placed on the team’s competition entry form. Exceptions may be made for excused absences as approved by the head coach.
3. All athletes who do not have a valid Athlete Application through the competition date must submit a completed application no later than the date when competition entry forms are due (Registration Due Date).
4. All Athlete Applications MUST be filled out completely to be valid. Any application that is missing required fields will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. The online application can be found at www.BecomeAnAthleteSONC.org. Completed applications include the following:
   • All questions answered. Note that this includes emergency contact information as well as all requested athlete information.
   • Proper signature. The Special Olympics Waivers, Releases and Policies and Athlete Code of Conduct section must be signed and dated by the athlete or parent/guardian.

Registered Unified Partners

1. All Unified Partners who are not already registered, or whose registration will expire before the competition date must submit a completed Volunteer Application no later than the date by which competition entry forms are due (Registration Due Date).
2. All of the following must be completed to register as a Unified Partner:
   • Volunteer Application. Complete either the Adult or Minor version of the Volunteer Application. The application can be found at www.VolunteerForSONC.org and includes the following:
     • Online Orientation, Concussion and Protective Behaviors Training.
     • Background Check – for applicants age 18 or older.
     • Submit Photo Identification

Incomplete or Expired Applications

1. If the Athlete Application or the Volunteer Application is submitted prior to the competition entry deadline but is incomplete, the applicant will be asked to submit the missing information to SONorCal.
2. If not submitted within one week after the Registration Due Date, the athlete or Unified Partner may not participate in the competition and will be scratched from the event. The registration process must be completed before the athlete or Unified Partner may participate in any future Special Olympics activity.