Articles from August 2017

Starting October 1, 2017 Special Olympics will require all athletes joining Special Olympics Iowa to complete newly updated Release and Medical Forms.

These new forms will take the place of the Physical and Consent Forms that SOIA required athletes to fill out in the past. Any athlete with a current Physical and Consent Form on file will NOT need to renew with the new forms until their current physical expires.

Before athletes can begin competition in SOIA, they must submit the following forms:

• Athlete Information Form (renewed every 3 years)
• Participant Release Form
• Medical Forms
  • Health History
  • Physical Exam (renewed every 3 years)
  • Referral Form (if required)

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Special Olympics Iowa would like to welcome the newest member of the state office team, Office Administrator Tricia Wheeler!

Wheeler started with SOIA in August to provide administrative support and oversee general office operations. Wheeler previously worked in health care before coming to SOIA, but she is no stranger to the organization, serving as a volunteer at past SOIA events. Originally from the Cedar Rapids area, Wheeler attended Kirkwood Community College, Cornell College, and AIB College of Business. She now lives in the Des Moines area with her daughter, who is a full-time college student.

In her free time, Wheeler works with Forte International Exchange Association, where she works with volunteer host families as they except exchange students into their home. Wheeler has even hosted exchange students in her own home before.

Wheeler is excited about her new position with SOIA and looks forward to the upcoming events in the fall. “I look forward to meeting new people and hope to be a positive addition to the already great team. I have volunteered in the past and look forward to being a cheerleader at events.”

Welcome, Tricia!

We are pleased to inform you that the 2017-2018 Coaches’ Guide is completed and available on our website. The updated guide is an easy to use, comprehensive resource for delegation managers and coaches.

The 2017-2018 Coaches’ Guide was updated in July 2017 and is good for one year. This version of the guide contains important updates on policies and forms. All changes are highlighted in blue in the guide.

See the Coaches’ Guide

For more information, contact:
Sally Briggs, Program Administrative Assistant
515-986-5520

From Special Olympics North America: 

Special Olympics values the safety of all athletes and their use of appropriate protective equipment. This memo is to advise Special Olympics Programs on new FIS standards for alpine ski helmets.

In order to improve safety, the USSA Alpine Sports Committee has confirmed that the regulations requiring the use of helmets for Giant Slalom, Super-G and Downhill that meet new FIS standards will be mandatory for all competitors in the 2016-2017 season. Special Olympics Sports recently adopted these requirements.

The new FIS helmet certification standards will be phased In during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons. (USSA “Ski Helmet Regulations” are available on the USSA web site at http://ussa.org/alpine-programs/masters/rules).

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