|
Roller skating is a Special Olympics sport with many different facets. Athletes are given the option to compete in artistic events or speed events.
In addition to the choice of sport, athletes may choose to use in-line or quad skates, depending on their strengths.
For artistic competition, men and women compete separately. The competition is further divided into four levels, each level progressively more difficult and requiring different elements. Speed events offer a variety of distances for all skill levels, as well as relay and slalom events.
Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® relay and team competition. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition.
As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Roller Skating Facts
- Roller skating was inaugurated at the 1987 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Indiana, USA.
- Roller skating competition at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland (note, all roller skating events were held in Belfast, Northern Ireland) consisted of 91 athletes from 14 programs.
- Roller Skating is offered by two Minnesota delegations – Roller Rockets (Area 11) and Skate-Tastics (Area 12).
- Participation in roller skating at the state level has averaged approximately 30 skaters since 1995. For more information on roller skating or Winter Games, contact Pam Bergerson.
Special Olympics Minnesota Roller Skating Events
Artistic Competition
School Figures: Levels II, III and IV
Free Style Singles: Levels II, III and IV
Free Style Pairs: Levels I and II
Dance, Solo and Team: Levels II, III and IV
Unified Sports Dance Team: Levels II, III and IV
Unified Sports Free Style Pairs: Levels I and II
Speed Competition
Track: 100, 300 and 500 Meter
Relay Race: 2 x 100 and 4 x 100 Meter
Unified Sports Relay: 2 x 100 and 4 x 100 Meter
The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
Level I: School Figures; Free Style Singles; Dance, Solo and Team (Artistic)
30 Meter Straight Line Race (Speed)
30 Meter Slalom (Speed)
Sports Rules
National Governing Body: Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports
Special Olympics Incorporated: Roller Skating Rules (updated January 2008)
Other Resources
Roller Skating Coaches Training Schools
Roller Skating Recertification Test
| 
