THE UNITY LEAGUE

Where the disabled and challenged are empowered to participate, play, and compete.

OVERVIEW

The Unity League is designed to provide additional swim opportunities for disabled and intellectually challenged athletes to practice and compete during the winter and spring months (January-May). There are two components to the league. First, the athletes will be able to practice and train 1-2x a week with qualified coaches and volunteers in their local area. Second, we will be offering four swim meets (once a month) for them to compete in.

Athletes do not have to qualify or meet a minimum standard to compete in these meets, and they can swim up to five events in each meet. Also, they are not required to practice with the local coach to compete in the meets. They can sign up individually for the meets and they are not required to compete in any minimum number of meets offered. The meets will be offered in River, Mountain, Palo Verde, Four Peaks, Coronado, and Monument Regions. This provides everyone ages 10-Adult age an opportunity to compete in their local region and not always have to travel to the same region.

Swim Club

Provides additional opportunities to swim 1-2x week with a Coach or Volunteer. Teams will be formed in various cities throughout the state.

Seeking qualified swim Coaches and Volunteers to assist with practices and swim meets.

Athletes can choose 1-5 events to compete in. These meets will be offered once a month in various locations throughout the state.

Coaches & Volunteers

Developmental Swim Meets

Bringing AZ Disabled Sports & Special Olympics of AZ Together

To create opportunities for disabled and challenged athletes to develop skills and enjoy competitive competition within their own unique communities.

Our Mission

Get Involved

Whether you are a coach, volunteer, or parent by fostering community and support, we open doors for everyone to experience the joy and challenge of sports, no matter their abilities.

River: Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Yuma, and surrounding cities
Mountain: Flagstaff, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona, Williams, Verde Valley, Paige Payson and surrounding cities
Palo Verde: Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, Phoenix, Surprise, and surrounding cities
Four Peaks: Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, and surrounding cities
Coronado: Casa Grande, Douglas, Eloy, Marana, Nogales, Rio Ric, San Manuel, Sells, Sierra Vista, Tucson, Vail, Willcox, and surrounding cities
Monument: Clifton, Globe, Holbrook, Morenci, Navajo Nation, Safford, Show Low, Springerville, and surrounding cities

Regions & Local Areas

Our Programs & Services

Empowering every individual to train, compete, and thrive together.

Swim Club

We are forming a swim club team in your local city/area and we want you to participate. We are looking for a minimum of 10 athletes to work with in your area. All levels and abilities are welcome ages 10 - adult. Veterans are encouraged and welcome. Swimmers will work with athletes with similiar abilities and may not be divided strictly by age or gender. We will staff with the highest level of coaches and/or volunteers available in the area.

The minimum ratio is 1 coach for every 10 swimmers. If a swimmer requires additional assistance, a parent, guardian, or caregiver may assist and attend practices with them. They will not be brought on as an Independent Contractor and will work with their member only during practices and meets.

All practices are designed to work and challenge the participants. All four strokes will be reviewed and if a site permits, swimmers will work on dives throughout the season.

We offer athletes an opportunity to swim 1-2 x week for one hour and 15 minutes per session, for a total of 2.5 hours of training a week. The club team provides an opportunity to improve stroke skills, speed, and endurance. This is not designed to teach swim lessons to non-swimmers. There is no attendance or meet requirements.

Required Equipment (not included in participation fees): fins, goggles, and kickboard. Can be purchased through our website or purchased on your own.

Optional Equipment: swim bag, snorkel, and parka

Participation Fees: $500 covers January- April practices 2 x week. Payments can be paid in full or charged monthly. If paid in full the total price is $400. Upon enrollment all participants may participate in our free SNAP Fundraiser. Details to be provided upon registration.

Developmental Swim Meets

Individual meets will be offered once a month (January - April) to provide opportunities for swimmers to compete in 1-5 different heats per meet. Athletes do not have to meet any minimum time standards, and the results will not qualify them for any National events or competitions.

These meets are designed to give athletes opportunities to compete and get more comfortable with how a swim meet works and to provide opportunities to race in heats that may not be their specialty.

The will be a flat fee per event, and they will be offered in different regions across the state. They do not have to be practicing with a club team to participate, nor do they have to compete in a minimum number of meets.

They do have to be members of both AZDS and SOAZ to compete in these unified meets. The one-time registration fee covers both memberships for the season.

Calling all coaches and volunteers! We are looking to hire Independent Contractors to assist with our club teams and swim meets. Experience is not required but preferred.

In order to participate in our events, we require any adult participating in an intimate role with the team (head coach, assistant coach, volunteer, driver, basically anyone performing a role for the team that goes beyond parent or spectator) to complete some trainings, waivers, and a background check to ensure that we are keeping our athletes safe with the people who are around them.

A link will be provided to the Class A portal through SOAZ and will walk participants through the steps of completing these trainings. Completing everything required to become certified should take roughly an hour, and the background check is paid for by Special Olympics Arizona.

All coaches and registered volunteers will be 1099 Independent Contractors and will be paid an hourly rate for practices and a flat rate for swim meets which includes one paid meal. Coaches are not required to attend swim meets but encouraged to assist athletes and parents.