Basketball Re-certification is available to coaches who have been previously certified in the Sport of Basketball, if you have not been to a coach’s certification class in Basketball you do not qualify to re-certify. To Re-certify, a coach must make sure that the Volunteer application and protective behaviors training is up to date. Please check the Certified Coaches List found on the Coach’s Corner page. Re-certification is not valid without an up to date volunteer application, protective behaviors class and concussion awareness.

Re-certification should only be done when you are close to expiration of your original certification. Please do not take the course until you have less than 3 months to go on your certification. Please check the Certified Coaches List found on the Coach’s Corner page. Certification is good for 4 years.

Eligibility

Special Olympics Basketball is available to all persons age 8 and above, having been identified by an agency or professional as having an Intellectual disability, or a closely related disability which means having functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills (such as recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care), and having registered to participate in Special Olympics.

Application for Participation

The Application for Participation in Special Olympics is commonly referred to as the Medical Release. This form is valid for a specific 3 year period. The valid dates are printed on the top center of the form. It is only good for this time period. Example – September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2013. Coaches should make copies of this form after completing all information. Please do not leave off any information. If there is information that does not apply please write does not apply in that space. This form must be signed by a Physician, Physician’s assistant, Nurse Practioner or a Clinical Nurse Specialist. It must also be signed by either an adult Athlete ( with witness signature) or a Parent/ Guardian. Athletes will not be able to train or compete without the release. Coaches should have a copy of the medical release with them any time they have an Athlete with them. Coaches are also responsible for updating the forms whenever a change has taken place, such as, prescription medicine changes.

Coaches Responsibilities

Coaches have a lot of responsibility. It is imperative that coaches find enough assistant coaches to help cover all of the duties of a coach. The following is a list of responsibilities of the coach. This list will not cover everything a coach has to do in order for the team to be successful.

  1. Coaches must have enough help to supervise Athletes at all times.
  2. Coaches must have a proper practice facility that is both safe and meets the needs of the Athletes.
  3. Coaches must have medical releases with them at all times. Coaches must be aware of all medical issues of their Athletes.
  4. Coaches must know first aid and have a phone available to call for help if needed.
  5. Coaches must train their Athletes for no less than 8 weeks prior to competition. The training must be appropriate.
  6. Coaches must select sports and events that are appropriate for their Athlete’s age and abilities.
  7. Coaches must insure that all Athletes are uniformed appropriately.
  8. Coaches must know how to complete entry forms and do so on a timely basis.
  9. Coaches will be a positive influence on their Athletes.
  10. Coaches must keep a written training plan for all of their practices.

Divisioning

Special Olympics divisions Athletes based upon their age, gender, and ability, with ability being the primary indicator. This aspect of Special Olympics is what separates Special Olympics from all other sports organizations. Every Athlete will receive an award. Athletes disqualified will receive a participation award.

Basketball Divisioning is done through a bracket system. Brackets are determined by number of teams competing and the time allotted for the Basketball facility. Teams are guaranteed at least 2 games in all brackets. The sport of Basketball may not allow the event director to split Athletes by age and sex, which is acceptable.

Individual Basketball skills will be divisioned by Age, Sex and preliminary scores. The scores are turned in by the coach and must reflect the true abilities of the Athlete. The event director may have to combine age divisions and gender divisions while using the preliminary score as the primary indicator for Divisioning.

Registration

All Special Olympics paperwork is now available on-line. Coaches may complete the entry forms, medical release, down’s addendum, and coaches card on-line, then print the forms and submit. The medical release and down syndrome addendum must be signed by an authorized person. All entry forms and medicals are due by the deadline that you will see on the schedule. Most can be mailed in but some must be hand delivered. You must pay attention to the directions in the schedule. The deadline is the date that paperwork must arrive, not when it is to be mailed. Mail your forms in time for the paperwork to reach the Event Director by the deadline. Please do not mail certified mail to Area or Sectional event directors; you may mail certified mail to the State office for Summer Games and Winter Games registration.

Special Olympics Oklahoma offers three different forms of Basketball competition, Individual Basketball Skills, Traditional 5 a side basketball, and Unified 3 v 3 Basketball. Individual skills are for those athletes not ready to play competitive basketball or for those athletes that are not able to find a team to play on. Traditional 5 a side basketball is for a team of 5 Special Olympics Athletes that plays the game of basketball. Unified 3 v 3 basketball is a half-court game, where 2 Special Olympics Athletes and 1 Unified partner play a half-court game. Athletes may not play individual skills and team play in the same season. If an Athlete is ready for Team play and a team is available that is what the athlete should play.

Special Olympics Inc. has coaching guides available on their website with 8 week training plans written out for you. You can access those plans at www.specialolympics.org These guides have a wealth of information that every coach should have. Please go to this website and read the Softball coaches guide.

General Rules for Basketball

Level 1- Low Level

1. Target Pass

Description – Athlete is given 5 attempts to pass a Jr. Or Women’s basketball at a 1 meter (3.3’) square marked on the wall. The bottom line of the square should be 1 meter from the floor. The ball must hit the wall on the fly to count as a legal pass. The athlete should stand behind a line 2 meters (6.5’) away from the wall to pass.

Scoring – Athlete receives 3 points for each time the ball hits inside the square, or on any part of the lines which form the square. A score of zero is recorded if the athlete fails to hit inside the square or if the ball fails to reach the wall. The score is the total of all 5 passes.

2. Field Goal Shooting

Description – Athlete takes 2 shots with a Jr. or Women’s basketball from each of the 6 hash marks around the key. Assign 2 points for spots 1 & 2 (closest to the basket); 4 points for spots 3 &4 and 6 points for spots 5&6 (furthest from the basket). A total of 12 shots, in any order will be taken.

Scoring – The score is the total number of points from all 12 shots.

3. 10 Meter Basketball Dribble

Description – At the starting whistle, the athlete starts walking and dribbling the ball with 1 or 2 hands for a distance of 10 meters (33’), crossing the finish line. The athlete must dribble the ball without stopping . A Jr. or women’s basketball will be used for this skill.

Scoring – Athlete will be timed from the starting whistle until the ball and athlete cross the finish line. The athletes time is subtracted from 70 for the score.

4. Rebounding

Description – The official tosses a Jr. or women’s basketball above a 10’ line on the wall. The athlete must catch the ball as it bounces off the wall before it hits the floor. The athlete is given 10 attempts to catch the ball.

Scoring – The athlete will receive 2 points for each successful catch. No points are scored if the ball hits the floor before it is caught.

Level 2- Intermediate Level

1. Pass

Description – Athlete is given 5 attempts to pass a jr. basketball at a 1 meter (3.3’) square marked on the wall. The ball must hit the wall on the fly to count as a legal pass. The bottom line of the square is 1.5 meters (5’) from the floor. The athlete will stand behind a line 2 meters (6.5’) away from the wall.

Scoring – Athlete receives 3 points each time the ball hits inside the square or on any part of the lines which form the square. The score is the total number of points after all 5 passes. No points are given if the pass is outside of the square or if the ball fails to reach the wall.

2. Field Goal Shooting

Description – Athlete will take 1 shot from each of the 6 hash marks on the key. A jr. or women’s basketball will be used.

Scoring – Athlete receives 6 points for each successful basket from each hash mark. The score will be the total of the 6 shots.

3. Dribbling

Description – Athlete will start dribbling the ball from the center circle @ halfcourt & dribble through 2 cones to end with a lay-up shot. Athletes may go either left or right to begin dribbling from the start

Scoring – Athlete will be timed from start to finish and that time will be subtracted from 30 to determine the score. 5 bonus points are awarded if the Lay-up is made.

4. Rebounding

Description – The official tosses a jr. or women’s basketball above a 10’ line marked on the wall. The athlete must catch the ball before it hits the floor. The athlete is given 10 attempts.

Scoring – The athlete will receive 2 points for each successful catch. No points are scored if the ball touches the floor before being caught.

Level 3- High Level

1. Field Goal

Description – The athlete is instructed to shoot the ball at the goal, in any fashion, from any distance, for 30 seconds. The athlete will be given two 30 second trials.

Scoring – One point is given for each basket the athlete makes during a 30 second trial. The best score of the 2 trials is counted as the athlete’s score.

2. Speed Pass

Description – The athlete is instructed to pass the ball in any fashion against a wall for 30 seconds. The athlete stands behind a line marked 2.4 meters (8’) away from and parallel to the wall. The ball must hit the wall on the fly to count as a legal pass. The athlete passes the ball against the wall as many times as possible during the 30 second time period. The athlete is given two 30 second trials.

Scoring – One point is given for each time the pass hits the wall in the air and is caught – either in the air or after one bounce – by the athlete. The best score of the 2 trials is counted as the athletes score.

3. Dribbling

Description – The athlete is instructed to dribble the ball for 30 seconds while passing alternately to the right and left of 5 cones in a figure 8 fashion. The cones are placed in a straight line 3.1 meters (10’) apart on a 15.5 meter (50’) course. When the last cone in the line has been reached, the athlete will circle that cone and continue dribbling up and back through the cones until the 30 seconds has ended. The athlete is given two 30 second trials.

Scoring – One point is given each time the athlete passes a cone as he/she dribbles up and down the course in a figure 8 pattern. The best score of the 2 trials is counted as the athlete’s score.

4. Rebounding

Description – The athlete is instructed to stand in front of a regulation backboard, either to the right or left of the rim and to pass the ball against the backboard. As the ball rebounds off the backboard, the athlete must jump into the air and catch the ball and return to the floor with it. An athlete will complete as many rebounds as possible in a 30 second time period. An athlete will be given two 30 second trials.

Scoring – One point is given each time the athlete successfully rebounds the ball. To count as a legal rebound, the athlete must be in the air when he/she catches the ball off the backboard and must return to the floor with the ball. If the athlete cannot perform the skill correctly, no score is given. The best of 2 trials is counted as the athlete’s score.

Basketball Team Competition Rule Modifications

Sportsmanship will be expected of all participants, coaches, and spectators.

Level 1 Modifications- Low Level

  1. Teams will play four 6 minute quarters with a 5 minute half-time.
  2. A jump-ball will begin play in Level 1. If the regulation games ends in a tie, a 3 minute overtime period will be played.
  3. Fouls will be called when the action of a player impedes the progress of opponent.
  4. Only a coach may call a time-out. (Unlimited substitutions on a dead ball with referee’s permission).
  5. There will be a lane violation called if a player is using the lane to his/her advantage
  6. Running with the ball without dribbling will not be allowed.
  7. Flagrant double dribbling will not be allowed.
  8. Defense in the back-court and fast-breaks will not be allowed.
  9. A Jr. or women’s basketball can be used for Level 1 Team play
  10. 3-point shots will be allowed in Level 1.
  11. National High School Federation Rules will govern in cases not specifically covered in these adaptations.
  12. The clock will stop on every whistle.
  13. Teams will switch baskets at the half.

NOTE – Only 1 coach is allowed on the court to facilitate play.

Level 2 Modifications- Intermediate Level

  1. Teams will play four 6 minute quarters with a 5 minute half-time.
  2. A jump-ball will begin play in Level 2.
  3. Fouls will be called when the action of a player impedes the progress of an opponent.
  4. There will be a 5 second lane violation rule in effect.
  5. Only a coach may call a time-out. (Unlimited substitutions on a dead ball with referee’s permission).
  6. Traveling will be called when a player with the ball exceeds 2 steps without dribbling.
  7. Coaches will be allowed to stand at mid-court on the sidelines only on bench-side.
  8. Defense in the back-court will not be allowed.
  9. Fast – breaks will not be allowed.
  10. A regulation size basketball will be used for Level 2 Team play. National High School Federation Rules will govern in cases not specifically covered in these adaptations.
  11. The clock will stop on every whistle.
  12. Teams will switch baskets at the half.

Level 3- High Level

No modifications – National High School Federation Rules will govern.

Unified 3-on-3 Basketball Rules

  1. Games are played to 15 by 1’s and 2’s or 10 minutes whichever occurs first.
  2. Shooting fouls are awarded 1 free throw and miss is played live.
  3. No time outs except for injury
  4. Clock stops on whistles in last 30 seconds
  5. Level 3 regular basketball
  6. Level 2 repeated double dribble and traveling will be called (warn first)
  7. Level 1- no running with ball
  8. Change of possession must be taken behind the 3 point line
  9. After a basket ball must be checked at top of key
  10. Two Special Olympic Athletes must be on floor at all times
  11. Partner cannot dominate play-This is very subjective but some guidelines are: partner should not score more than two baskets in a row or more than 60% of teams points. Partner should not be blocking shots and stealing ball from a Special Olympic Athletes. It is up to each team’s coach to help enforce this rule.
  12. Sub on dead ball or after basket, let ref know you want to sub.

NO ARGUING WITH REFS

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