Spring Games Volunteer Training

PRE-GAMES & ARRIVAL INFORMATION  Wear appropriate clothing with volunteer tshirt. Be sure to check weather to decide pants or shorts (appropriate length). Wear comfortable shoes!!  Leave all personal items such as purses & cell phones at home/school unless items can fit in your pocket. There will NOT be a place to store these items.  Concessions & merchandise sales will be at Spring games so bring cash to purchase these items.  Arrival time  School volunteers must be at the arena by 9:00 am but not before 8:30 am.  Community volunteers need to arrive around 8:45 am unless your position is check-in. Check-in needs to be at the Arena by 8:15 am.  Arrival  Student groups will go through the black gate to the student group check-in area. Only the teacher needs to check in the students all of the other students need to go to the circular paved area. Teachers will receive nametags and lunch tickets for volunteers.  Community Volunteers need to go through the middle doors between Gold Hall 1 & 2 where you will receive your nametag, lunch ticket and t-shirt.

 Post Check-in  Nametag will include the volunteer’s position.  Volunteers who are buddies or group leaders need to go to Gold Hall where lunches are served and sit at the table with the colored poster matching the color on your name tag.  Competition Assistants need to sit on the bleachers next to the track (except AL Brown High School competition assistants meet at Developmental area).  All other volunteers need to look on the sign at check-in to figure out their meeting spots.  Responsibilities for buddies are included in this training. All other volunteer positions will receive training by their leader on the day of the event.  Competition Assistants are led by Event Managers in gray t-shirts or Games Management Team member in bright orange and Buddies will be led by their Group Leaders in neon green t-shirts.  Everyone will attend Opening Ceremonies which will begin promptly at 10:00 am. Buddies need to stay with their color group at this time.  If you have any questions, ask a Games Management Team member in the bright orange t-shirts. PRE-GAMES & ARRIVAL INFORMATION

 After Opening Ceremonies all volunteers need to go their positions. When announced, buddies and group leaders will go to the flags that match the color on the nametag.  Group leaders will match buddies with athletes that are appropriate. Pay attention to the athlete’s nametags because they may have a preference of the volunteer buddy’s gender.  If buddies have any questions or concerns, please go to your group leader first. THE GAMES

DIVISIONS  The four divisions are:  Traditional (higher ability level)  Lead up/Wheelchair (some mobility issues or wheelchair)  Developmental (developmentally or physically challenged).  Young Athletes (athletes who are 5-7 years old) - April 16 th only and will be in the Gold Hall.  Below is a list of divisions, the age group, & t-shirt color: Wednesday, April 13Thursday, April 14Color Traditional years oldTraditional 8-9 years oldRoyal Blue Traditional 17 & Up years oldTraditional years oldYellow Lead Up years oldLead Up 8-9 years oldPurple Wheelchair years oldWheelchair 8-9 years oldPurple Lead Up & Wheelchair 30 years old & UpLead Up & Wheelchair years oldLight Blue Developmental (11 years old & up)Developmental (8 years old & up)Orange Young Athletes (5-7 years old)Green

THE GAMES EVENTS BY DIVISIONS  All Divisions except Young Athletes (green shirts) have track & field events. The order for the events are on the attached schedule and will be posted at the event area. Please pay attention to this sign to know the order of events for your athletes. NOTE – Athlete’s events are not in order on the athlete’s nametag. Here are events for each area:  DEVELOPMENTAL (Orange shirts) –  Track - 10M Wheelchair, 10M Assisted Walk, 25M Walk,  Field - Tennis Ball Throw & Non-competitive events (Ball kick, ball roll, ball strike, & bean bag lift)  LEAD UP/WHEELCHAIR (purple or light blue shirts) –  Track – 25M Dash, 50M Walk, 50M Dash (Lead Up); 25M Wheelchair Race, 100M WC Race, 30M WC Slalom, 25M Motorized WC Obstacle, 30M Motorized WC Slalom, 50M Motorized WC Slalom (Wheelchair)  Field – Standing Long Jump (Lead Up); Wheelchair Shot Put (Wheelchair); Softball Throw (both)  TRADITIONAL (yellow or royal blue shirts) –  Track – 800M Dash, 100M Race Walk, 100M Dash, 200M Dash, 400M Dash, 4x100 Relay  Field – Running Long Jump, Shot Put (on April 13 th only)

THE GAMES ATHLETES’ NAMETAGS Example SPECIAL OLYMPICS Jane Smith (NAME) Hickory Ridge HS (ATHLETE’S SCHOOL OR GROUP NAME) 100 m Race Walk Final: 03 Running Long Jump Final: m Dash Final: 11 Needs Female Buddy, Seizures, Allergic to latex ROYAL BLUE Events are not in order on the athlete’s nametag. You must pay attention to how the events are ran in order for the division. The number beside of the event is the athlete’s heat #. Be sure to know what event they are on and which heat. This information is any special needs the athlete’s teacher/leader thought volunteers may need to know during the event. If you have any questions about the athlete’s special needs, I encourage you to ask the athlete’s leader if possible or speak to your group leader. ATHLETE’S T-SHIRT COLOR SHOWS WHICH FLAG TO MEET. ENSURE THAT THE COLOR ON THE NAMETAG MATCHES THE SHIRT ATHLETE IS WEARING.

THE GAMES ATHLETES’ NAMETAGS Information  BUDDY VOLUNTEERS NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY READ THE ATHLETE’S NAMETAGS THOUROUGHLY!! IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU UNDERSTAND THE NAMETAGS.  Group leaders – understanding nametags will help you partner athletes with their buddy escort and keep the events moving smoothly.  If an athlete is allergic to something, it is imperative that buddies do not allow athlete’s to have that item. For example, as previously stated on the name tag, Jane Smith is allergic to latex. You must assure that she does not get a latex balloon, be touched by latex gloves, etc.  Buddies need to make sure that they know what events the athlete is competing in and pay attention to which event the group is doing.  The heats are run in numerical order so volunteers need to make sure you pay attention to which heat is being called to ensure your athlete gets to participate. We will also be staging heats in advance so that we can have the athletes ready when it is time for their events. There will be signs held up with the heat # they are staging as well as someone will be calling it out. IT IS THE BUDDY’S RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN FOR THE ATHLETE’S NAME BEING CALLED!!

THE GAMES TRANSITIONING  Athletes will start at the flag that matches their t-shirt. Only exception is athletes who are in purple shirts but in wheelchairs will meet at the torch for their track events instead of the flag.  Young athletes & those in the Developmental area will stay in their area until they are finished with all of their activities/events.  In the traditional and lead up groups, athletes starting with track events will switch areas with those who are doing field events once all events & heats are completed. There will be an announcement when this transition happens & group will move. ENSURE THAT ATHLETE STAYS WITH GROUP! There will be a lot of waiting time between events so be patient and continue to encourage your athlete.  The only events that will be done at the end of the day are the 400M Dash & 4x100 Relay which will begin when all other traditional events are complete. Athletes will meet at the stage for these events.  When athlete is finished with all events, buddies need to take athlete to get lunch. We would like for buddies to sit with their athlete to eat lunch unless the athlete’s teacher request differently.

OLYMPIC TOWN What is it & When can athletes go?  Olympic Town is a fun area where athletes can go during down time or when finished with their events. Athletes will have an opportunity to participate in activities or receive giveaway items from vendors. Please notice athlete’s allergies on nametag before allowing him/her to get anything. Also, the giveaway items are for athletes only. Volunteers are only allowed to take items if the vendor allows.  Buddies may take their athlete to Olympic Town when finished with all of their events in that specific area even if athlete has event left in the other area. For example, if the athlete, Jane, in the example is finished with both of her track events but still has to do the running long jump and her group is still doing track events, then her volunteer can take her to Olympic Town until the group switches to field events. Buddies can figure this out by looking at the events on the athlete’s nametag. IT IS IMPERATIVE, HOWEVER, THAT WHEN GROUP SWITCHES ATHLETE GOES BACK TO GROUP UNLESS COMPLETELY FINISHED WITH EVENTS. If an athlete still has an event to do in the area where they are, then can’t go to Olympic Town.  Make sure that you take your athlete to Olympic Town sometime during the day.

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE EVENT  Buddies must stay with their athletes at all times and ensure that they are with their teachers when leaving them. If you are unable to find someone from their school, then we will have designated tables for each school/group where teachers/leaders can find their athletes.  Volunteers are there to help this event run smoothly not socialize with other volunteers or talk on their cell phone.  If a volunteer is not doing his/her job, then volunteer may be asked by a Games Management Team member (bright orange shirts) to remove his/her nametag and will not be allowed to volunteer the rest of the day or in the future.  There are water and snack stations at each area. Please ensure that you and your athlete are staying hydrated. Snacks are reserved for athletes.  Buddy volunteers should sit with their athlete during lunch. Please try to eat at the designated table for your athlete’s group if at all possible. ALL other volunteers need to find another area to sit when eating to reserve the seats for athletes and their teachers/workers.  MOST IMPORTANTLY….

HAVE FUN!!!! The athletes have been training hard for this day and are very excited. Please help make this a memorable day for them. Most athletes love high fives! Some athletes may want to hug you but it is your decision whether to do so. Be understanding of the athlete’s needs or limitations but also allow them to do as much for themselves as possible. Check out this video to get a better understanding of how to volunteer with individuals with special needs -