Special Olympics Georgia Volunteer Orientation State Horse Show
Special Olympics Georgia hosts a State Horse Show in Gainesville, GA, where athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in various equestrian events. Volunteers play essential roles such as gate keepers, score sheet runners, athlete escorts, announcers, and more. The event promotes physical fitness, courage, joy, and friendship among participants and the community. Athletes of all ages can participate and are divisioned based on ability, making it a unique and exciting event in the Special Olympics calendar.
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SPECIAL OLYMPICS GEORGIA VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION STATE HORSE SHOW
OUR 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.
STATE HORSE SHOW Over 250 Special Olympics athletes, 50 Unified Partners, and 90 coaches from around the state head to Gainesville in October to compete. Over 100 volunteers will be on hand the weekend of the tournament. Competition begins on Friday and ends Sunday with the Opening Ceremony Friday evening and the Victory Dance Saturday evening. Held each year in Gainesville, GA at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center Athletes of all ages can compete in the Horse Show. Unlike most Special Olympic sports, athletes are divisioned based on ability and not separated by gender or age. This is truly one of Special Olympics Georgia s most unique and exciting event!
EVENTS Western Riding Dressage Showmanship English Equitation Horsemanship Working Trails Unified Drill Opening Ceremony Victory Dance
OFFICIAL RULES Clothing of the riders must be neat with appropriate footwear; all athletes must wear helmets. Coaches may not act as horse handlers, side walkers, or spotters for their own athletes while the athlete is being judged. Side walkers may not give verbal commands or extra physical prompting except in emergency situations. Performance of the horse is not considered more important than the method used in obtaining them. Judging is based on the following riders balance riders seat use of aids ability to follow directions ring etiquette and safety sportsmanlike conduct
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Gate Keepers Score Sheet Runners Athlete Escorts Announcers Awards Olympic Town Opening Ceremony Victory Dance
GATE KEEPERS Monitor gates making sure no one enters or exits from gates during a competition. Open and close gates for athletes on their horses. Makes sure only appropriate individuals enter arenas. Assist with staging next class to enter arena
SCORESHEET RUNNERS Takes score sheet to awards area after it has scores have been tallied Assist judges for any communication to GOC
ANNOUNCERS Announces athletes who are competing Announces awards placements
ATHLETE ESCORTS Escort athletes to awards area Makes sure that athletes are present to receive awards
AWARDS VOLUNTEERS Volunteers assist with: the presentation of medals and ribbons to athletes announcing the winners escorting athletes from arenas to the awards area assisting athletes onto awards blocks
OLYMPIC TOWN VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Olympic Town takes place on Saturday during competition. Olympic Town is a carnival type setting in which athletes can play games, make crafts, watch movies when they are not competing. Volunteers assist athletes with games or with making crafts Monitors athletes and tables
OEPNING CEREMONY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Opening Ceremony will take place Friday evening Volunteers are needed to assist with handing out program books escorting attendees lining up athletes for the athlete parade
VICTORY DANCE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS The Victory Dance will take place Saturday evening Volunteers are needed to assist with crowd control serving snacks and drinks clean up
EXPECTATIONS 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: Special Olympics offers competitions to children AND adults, so don t assume that an athlete is a child. Make sure to talk to athletes like adults and with respect. 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 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 blue 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, HAVE FUN!
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION Make sure to sign in at the volunteer registration table BRING ID You will receive a volunteer nametag You will then be directed to your assigned area Any questions, find your volunteer coordinator or a SOGA staff person
THINGS TO REMEMBER Make sure to arrive at your venue on time! Be sure to provide yourself time to get parked, checked in, etc. There will be instructions given for each position and if you are not present in time, you will miss your placement. Competitions WILL start on time and all volunteers will be assigned before competition starts. If you are not present when instructions are given and volunteers are assigned, there may not be a volunteer spot for you. Food is not provided for volunteers so please remember to eat before or after your shift. You are welcome to bring a snack with you or utilize the concession stand but you cannot stop to eat during your shift unless there is a break. Water will be available at all venues.
THINGS TO REMEMBER CONTD You are responsible for your personal possessions. Check weather reports and dress appropriately & comfortably (t- shirt, tennis shoes, boots, etc.) This is a Horse Show, so there is a possibility of dust & dirt Competition goes on rain or shine so please plan on volunteering even if it rains. In cases of extreme weather, competitions may be delayed slightly. The Show will go on! Make sure to stay for your ENTIRE shift. Interruptions can cause major delays in competition. You are a vital part of how well the competitions run.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VOLUNTEERING AT OUR STATE HORSE SHOW!! WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY EVENTS FOR OUR ATHLETES IF IT WASN T FOR YOU! For questions or concerns, please contact Hannah Creasey, Volunteer and Program Manager 770-414-9390 ext. 1103 BE A FAN. BRING OUT THE CHAMPION IN EVERYONE..
