VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION State Masters Bowling Tournament Be A Fan! Bring out the CHAMPION in everyone!

Special Olympics Georgia Mission To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes, and the community. The Special Olympics goal is to help bring individuals with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens

State Masters Bowling Tournament More than 1,200 Athletes, Unified Partners, and Coaches from around the State compete in traditional and unified bowling at the Masters Bowling Tournament Over 500 volunteers will be on hand the weekend of the tournament. Competition begins on Friday and ends Sunday with the Opening Ceremony Friday evening

What is the State Masters Bowling Tournament? The Masters Bowling Tournament is one of SOGA’s five State Games. Athletes from around the state compete in bowling. Masters competitions are for adults only, so all athletes bowling in this tournament will be 22 years or older. Official events of the tournament consist of individual ramp bowling, singles bowling, and unified team bowling (unified teams consist of two registered Special Olympic athletes and two unified partners).

Official Rules Competition will follow the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) rules. All athletes/teams will bowl three games (10 frames per game). Competition is in league bowling style meaning athletes will alternate lanes after each frame (singles and team only) Ramp bowlers will NOT alternate lanes. Ramp bowlers include those athletes in wheelchairs, the visually impaired, and only those ambulatory athletes with conditions too severe to allow for sufficient balance. Ramp bowlers will have the use of a ramp when bowling and lanes will be designated for their use. Coaches, chaperones, parents, etc. are NOT allowed on the lanes during competition, except for ramp bowling. Only athletes bowling and volunteers will be allowed on lanes.

Volunteer Positions Lane assistants Awards Opening Ceremony & Dance

Lane Assistants The majority of volunteers that volunteer during the bowling competition will be lane assistants Volunteers will be assigned to one lane and will receive their lane number when they sign in Volunteers will also receive a pen or pencil and score sheet that lists each athlete bowling on that lane (there will be 1 – 4 athletes per lane) Volunteers will make sure that the correct athlete is bowling during his/her correct turn Volunteers will write down the final score of the game on the score sheets provided (games conclude after 10 frames are bowled) Volunteers will record the final scores of all three games and then will take the score sheet to the lounge area Volunteers will then wait with their athletes at their lanes – MAKE SURE ATHLETES stay at lanes – until group is called for awards

Lane Assistants – Important Things to Know You do NOT need to know how to keep bowling scores – there are computers at each lane that keeps scores. Your only scoring responsibility is to write down the final score that the computer calculates after each game. League Bowling rules apply! Athletes alternate lanes after each frame (except ramp bowlers). The computer will keep track of the switches so make sure that the name on the screen matches who is bowling. When you arrive on your lane, introduce yourself to your athletes. Get to know their names so that you know who needs to bowl when. ALL athletes will have a credential to help you keep track of who is who.

Lane Assistants – Important Things to Know Make sure that athletes do not wander off to avoid delays in games. Only volunteers and athletes are allowed on the lanes!!! Make sure to stay with athletes on the lanes until your lane is called for awards. When athletes wander around, it becomes hard to find them to receive their awards. Your responsibility is to assist athletes on the lanes. Volunteers are NOT to go get food or drinks for the bowlers. If a bowler wants something from the stands, they need to ask their coaches or family members.

Awards Volunteers Volunteers assist with: Escorting athletes from bowling lanes to the awards area Assisting athletes onto awards blocks Announcing the winners Presentation of medals and ribbons to athletes

Opening Ceremony Volunteers Opening Ceremony will take place Friday evening Volunteers are needed to assist with: Handing out program books Escorting attendees Blocking aisles for the torch run crowd control bingo games serving food and drinks clean up

What to Expect while Working with Athletes One of the biggest questions that new volunteers have is how to work with our athletes. If you are a new volunteer, here a few things to keep in mind: All athletes competing in the tournament are adults so make sure to speak to them like adults. Many athletes like to hug, shake hands, give high fines, etc. You may reciprocate if the athlete initiates it and you are comfortable with that. Some athletes are in wheelchairs – do not lean on their chairs. Some athletes have speech impediments. If you cannot understand an athlete, ask them to repeat themselves or ask a coach or one of the athlete’s teammates to help you to understand. There are some athletes that salivate excessively, are very stiff, or have other symptoms associated with their disability. Please do not stare. Remember that respect of the dignity and effort of the athletes is the priority at Special Olympics. Pity is not part of the game.

General Guidelines for Volunteer Behavior Volunteers may hug an athlete only when the athlete initiates the hug Volunteers should not disrupt competitions in any way Volunteers should encourage, not coach, the athletes Volunteers should be friendly, not threatening or harassing to other volunteers or staff All equipment, banners, t-shirts, and other materials used during competition is the property of SOGA or participating agencies. Please do not take any of these items including the volunteer bibs, which must be returned to volunteer registration when you have completed your assignment. A situation may arise that causes a delay in competition. Please be patient and understand that the SOGA staff is doing all they can to resolve any issues so that competition can continue. During any downtime, get to know the athletes. And above all else, make sure to HAVE FUN!

Volunteer Registration Make sure to sign in at the volunteer registration table! BRING ID You will be assigned to a specific lane or area after check-in. If you have any questions, go to the volunteer registration table or find a SOGA staff person

THANK YOU for volunteering at our State Masters Bowling Tournament!!! Please refer to the bowling rules link for more details on the competition. ***Please note that you do not have to memorize or know these rules. The guide is just there for anyone that wants a better understanding of how competition is run. Training on your specific volunteer role will be done at the event***