Special Olympics Carroll County offers 14 sports. Athletics begin at age 8 except for power lifting (14+), flag football (18+), and softball (18+) See details below. Our Young Athletes program is for children ages 2-7. Contact us for more information.
- Aquatics
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Bocce
- Equestrian
- Flag Football
- Golf
- Kayaking
- Pickleball
- Power Lifting Soccer
- Softball
- Track & Field
- Tennis
- Young Athletes
Interested in joining?
Learn more about our sports
Aquatics
Aquatics is one of the most popular sports in the world. Unlike most sports, swimming is also a life skill. It’s taught first for safety, and second for sport and competition. Aquatics covers a wide range of swimming skills, from short sprints to longer events and relays.
Because there are so many events, swimming works for a range of ages and ability levels. Competition events are based on different strokes.
Coaches: Mike and Cyndi Federline
Basketball
Basketball can be played by people of all ages and abilities. SOMD-CR offers 3v3, 5v5, and individual skills programs for athletes ages 8 and up.
Coaches:
Joe Nuzzo, 5v5
Bruce Abbott, 5v5
Ryan Chernock, 5v5
Ricky Grimes, 3v3
Jackie Grimes, 3v3
Victoria Blankenship, 3v3 PDU
Lynn Bostic, 3v3 Developmental
Mike Federline, Skills Coach
Bocce
Bocce is an Italian game. The goal is to roll your bocce ball closest to the target ball, called the pallino.
Coach: Tammy Harmony
Bowling
Our program offers ten-pin bowling. Bowling isn’t an Olympic sport, but it’s one of the most popular sports in Special Olympics. Athletes of any age or skill level can bowl, and it’s a good mix of physical activity and time together as a team. Plus, it’s fun!
Coaches:
Lynn Bostic
Jackie Grimes
Ricky Grimes
Teresa Hossler
Cycling
Check back for information about our cycling program.
Coach: Tracy Lea
Equestrian
Check back for information about our equestrian program.
Coach: Susan Withnell
Flag Football
Flag football is a no-contact version of football. Instead of tackling, players pull a flag from the belt of the person carrying the ball to stop play. This lets everyone enjoy football with less risk of injury.
Coaches:
Victoria Blankenship
Joe Graper
Teresa Hossler
Golf
Golf is played on courses that each have their own design. Most courses have either 9 or 18 holes.
Coaches:
Mike Mulcahy
Chad Carson
Kayaking
Kayaking is one of the newest Special Olympics sports. It takes some basic skills to paddle safely and successfully. Special Olympics kayaking is a flat-water race. Athletes paddle a set distance, either on their own or paired with another athlete, and aim for the best time.
Coach: Barb Broos
Pickleball
Pickleball is a paddle sport played indoors or outdoors by two or four players. Players use solid paddles to hit a hollow plastic ball with holes over a 36-inch net. The ball goes back and forth until one side breaks a rule.
Coaches: Lynn Bostic
Powerlifting
In powerlifting, each athlete aims to lift more weight than their opponents using specific lifts: the deadlift, squat, and bench press. Success takes training, effort, and commitment. The barbell tests physical strength, and it also shows each athlete’s drive to keep improving.
Coaches:
Ed and Michelle Anderson
Soccer
Soccer is played on a field by two teams of 11 players each. It’s the most popular team sport in the world. It’s a fast game with few breaks and one simple goal: score. In some parts of the world, it’s called football.
Our soccer program is a partnership with the Freedom Optimist Shooting Stars Soccer Program. This volunteer group works with the Freedom Area Recreation Council and the Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks to offer recreation in Sykesville, Eldersburg, and nearby areas.
Coaches: Provided by Freedom Optimist Shooting Stars Soccer Program
Softball
Softball is similar to baseball but uses a larger ball (11 to 12 inches around). Bases are 60 feet apart, the pitcher’s mound is 35 to 43 feet from home plate, and the home run fence is 220 feet from home plate.
Softball players must be 18 or older. Players who are 16 or 17 may apply for a waiver to play for the season. Players under 16 aren’t eligible.
Coaches:
Ricky Grimes
Jackie Grimes
Teresa Hossler
Tennis
Tennis is played with rackets and a light, bouncy ball by two players or two pairs of players. The court is a rectangle divided by a low net, and it can be indoors or outdoors on hard, clay, or grass surfaces. The goal is to hit the ball over the net into your opponent’s side so they can’t return it.
Coaches:
Mike Mulcahy
Chad Carson
John Faasen
Track & Field
Track and field encourages athletes of all ages and abilities to compete at their best. Training builds overall fitness that helps in any sport. Like all Special Olympics sports, track and field gives athletes a chance to build skills, compete, and be part of a big community event.
Coach: Coaches needed!
Young Athletes
Special Olympics Maryland Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children ages 2 to 7, with and without intellectual disabilities. It introduces basic sport skills like running, kicking, and throwing.
Young Athletes gives families, teachers, caregivers, and community members a chance to share sports with all kids. Children play together, make friends, and build skills they use at home, at school, and in the community. It’s also a fun way to build healthy habits early, which can lead to a lifetime of physical activity, friendships, and learning.
Young Athletes is also an introduction to Special Olympics and the support and resources Special Olympics Maryland offers.
Coaches: Coaches needed!
