Swimming is one of the most popular sports in world. Unlike other sports, swimming is a life skill that is taught, first, to ensure safety and, secondly, for sports and competition purposes. Aquatics covers a great variety of swimming skills, from short sprints to longer events and relays.
Participants will be divisioned by Special Olympics South Dakota by gender, age, and qualifying time and/or distance for each event.
This sport offers a Unified option. This gives individuals both with and without intellectual disabilities a chance to compete on the same team.
Coaches: registrations will be due to your Area Director on April 8th.
Sports certifications must be updated every three years. Please click here to verify which coaching level you are at and take the proper courses to recertify your coaching status.
Please reach out to coachesed@sosd.org with any questions at any time.
Coaching Forms
- 50 Meter Freestyle
- 100 Meter Freestyle
- 50 Meter Backstroke
- 100 Meter Backstroke
- 50 Meter Butterfly
- 100 Meter Individual Medley
- 4X25 Meter Relay
- 4X50 Meter Relay
- 4X25 Meter Unified Relay
The following are events for athletes with lower ability levels to provide more meaningful competition:
- 15 Meter Freestyle
- 25 Meter Freestyle
- 25 Meter Backstroke
- 25 Meter Breaststroke
- 25 Meter Butterfly
- 15 Meter Walk
- 15 Meter Flotation Race
- 25 Meter Flotation Race
- 15 Meter Assisted Swim
- 25 Meter Assisted Swim
- 15 Meter MATP Race
- 25 Meter MATP Race
Competition Season
Swimming competition season takes place from March through May.
Special Olympics Swimming Handbook
The technical rules of competition are noted in the FINA Rule Book. National/Chapter programs may substitute their local NGB rules. The Event Director in cooperation with the Sports Management Team shall have the authority to adjust these rules on a case-by-case basis for the safety and well-being of the athlete. The Event Director may intervene in the competition at any time to ensure the appropriate regulations are observed and shall adjudicate all protests related to the competition in progress.