Football without offside
How is the Special Olympics scored?
6/17/2023 7:32 am
No offside, a 50-meter sprint and standing long jump: At the Special Olympics World Games, there are some special features and deviations from the classic disciplines in the individual sports. An overview of the most important adjustments.
football
Not eleven against eleven, but seven against seven: In football, the goalkeeper throws the ball into play, there is no offside. A team has a maximum of twelve players, substitutions are unlimited. The duration of the game is two times 20 minutes, a draw is followed by two five-minute overtimes and a possible penalty shoot-out. At 5×2 meters, the goal is smaller than in the conventional version.
athletics
There are eleven disciplines in total. In addition to the long jump, there is the standing long jump, while the mini javelin is thrown with a smaller, rounded plastic javelin. In the running disciplines, the 50-meter sprint stands out as a special feature. The classic 100 m sprint is also part of the program.
To swim
For the most part, the traditional disciplines are represented in swimming, only the races over 25 m freestyle, 25 m breaststroke and 25 m backstroke stand out. For medical and religious reasons, athletes may wear non-FINA approved swimwear. Hearing impaired swimmers can use a start button or an electronic sound starter with strobe lights.
basketball
The basket also hangs 10 feet (3.05 m) above the ground at the Special Olympics, according to FIBA rules. The playing time in the final competitions is ten minutes twice. In the Unified competitions, three athletes compete with two Unified partners in the team. In the Unified competitions, people with and without intellectual disabilities compete as a couple in the spirit of inclusion. The non-mentally impaired partner may also have a physical impairment.
beach volleyball
Four instead of two people play in a team – two athletes and two unified partners.
bowling
Athletes can use a ramp to aim.
open water swimming
Any type of swimming is allowed. Athletes are allowed to run and stand in the water during competition and touch boats, paddle boards, ropes and safety personnel in the water to rest, for example. However, they are not allowed to improve their position.
hockey
Instead of eleven against eleven, it’s six against six. The playing field is therefore only about half as large.
judo
The judoka are not only divided according to weight and gender, but also according to their skills. The rules and techniques have been adjusted in favor of safety. For example, chokeholds are not allowed.
canoe
More stable tourist boats are also used. All athletes must complete a swim test beforehand and wear a life jacket during the race.
powerlifting
The three disciplines of powerlifting are the deadlift, squat, and bench press.
cycling
For safety reasons, it is forbidden to take your hands off the handlebars.
Ride
In addition to classic show jumping and dressage, medals are awarded in equestrian competitions and in the skill course. In the equestrian competition, rider and horse complete lessons announced by the judges. In the skill course, the horses go through and over obstacles.
Rhythmic sports gymnastics
In the all-women’s sport, men are also allowed to participate in the Special Olympics in the lower competition levels. There is also a competition for athletes who do seated gymnastics.
tennis
The rulebook has been slightly adjusted to control the length of the games with shorter sets. There is also the option of using smaller fields and low-compression balls.
table tennis
In addition to the traditional competitions, there are individual skill competitions. The skills of rebounding the ball with the racket, the volley and the backhand are shown.
volleyball
The field size and net height are slightly adjusted, there are three different ways of playing: the traditional way of playing, the unified variant and the modified way of playing with a larger and lighter ball, which is used to play more slowly. A person may only provide three statements in a row.
The sports badminton, boccia, futsal, gymnastics, handball, golf, sailing, roller skating and 3×3 basketball that are not listed are mostly played in the conventional way without serious deviations.