EAST REGION (Program and Sports)
SOWA Merchandise Shop – click HERE
EAST REGION STAFF CONTACTS:
Grant Opland: East Region Sr. Manager of Competition, P: 206-231-6014 Email: gopland@sowa.org Tim Toon: East Region Program Manager, P: 206-681-9385 Email: ttoon@sowa.org
EAST REGION PROGRAM support:
PARTICIPATION REGISTRATION:
Athlete and Volunteer PORTAL Registration – required to participate in SOWA: Athlete Registration – click HERE. Unified Partner Registration – click HERE. Coach Registration – click HERE.
NEED registration HELP: Schedule a 1-1 Phone Call – click HERE. REQUEST TRACKER for PORTAL support – click HERE.
Program LEADER MEMO:
ADMINISTRATIVE: Accident Incident Report Form SOWA Completed W9 2025
CODE OF CONDUCT: Attendee – Events Athlete and Partner Coaches Family
FINANCE & FUNDRAISING: Volunteer Reimbursement Form (check request)
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EAST REGION SPORTS:
SOWA Sports Advancement Criteria: Helps define the difference between regional, local, and recreational sports.
Winter Season (November 17, 2025 – March 1, 2026)
SPORTS OFFERED:
Regional Competition: Basketball / Competitive Cheer Local Options: Figure Skating / Speed Skating / Alpine Skiing / Cross Country / Swimming Sideline Cheer (Recreational)
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REGISTRATION INFORMATION and LINKS:
Winter Season Registration Packet: click – coming soon 2026 Winter Registration Process: click – HERE FINAL REGISTRATION submission PORTAL: – click HERE
Resources: Intake, Registration Training and Office Hours Schedule: bit.ly/SOWA-PortalSupport Portal Resource Page: https://specialolympicswashington.org/portal-resources/ Common Health History Form Mistakes: 
Health History Common Mistakes.pdf
******************************************************************************************* RULES / COACH HELPS / ASSESSMENT (Levels) TOOLS:
TEAM COMMITMENT FORM: Use this to establish an athlete’s committment to attend competitions. Click – HERE (Request WORD format by emailng ER Sports Manager: Grant Opland)
BASKETBALL: – Basketball Coach Guide: Click – HERE – 5V5 Basketball Rules: Click – HERE – 5V5 Team Assessment Tool: Click – HERE (Novice / Intermediate / Advanced) – 5V5 Team Assessment Supporting Video: Click – HERE (Shows INTERMEDIATE teams playing) NOTE: Use this video as your “bench mark” – NOVICE if skills and understanding are less, or ADVANCED if more than. – Skills (Ind. and Team) Rules: Click – HERE – Individual Skills Instructions (Level 1): Click – HERE How to set up and score 3 stations. – Team Skills Rules / Instructions: Click – HERE How to set up and score. – Team Skills Game Management Clarifications: Click – HERE Competition guidelines. CHEERLEADING: – Cheerleading Coach / Warm Up Guide: Click – HERE – Cheerleading Rules: Click – HERE – SOWA Competitive Cheer Guide: Click – HERE
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REGIONAL COMPETITION SCHEDULE:
| January 17 | Spokane Sub Regional – BASKETBALL! FACT SHEET: Click – coming soon VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Click – coming soon Areas: Northeast – Southeast |
| January 18 | Sunnyside Sub Regional – BASKETBALL! FACT SHEET: Click – HERE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Click – coming soon Areas: Walla Walla – Tri Cities Valley – Basin – North Central |
| January 31 | Spokane Regional – BASKETBALL! FACT SHEET: Click – coming soon VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Click – coming soon Areas: Northeast – Southeast |
| January 31 | Moses Lake Regional – CHEERLEADING! FACT SHEET: Click – click here VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Click – coming soon Areas: ALL areas |
| February 1 | Sunnyside Regional – BASKETBALL! FACT SHEET: Click – HERE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Click – coming soon Areas: Walla Walla – Tri Cities Valley – Basin – North Central |
| February 27 – March 1 |
WINTER STATE GAMES in WENATCHEE |
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VIRTUAL COACH MEETINGS:
BASKETBALL:
BASKETBALL: STATEWIDE COACH MEETING: November 18 @ 6:00pm DESCRIPTION: Rules update, coaching guide, final registration…and more. Recording: Click – HERE. (Passcode: c4@c44z=) Slide deck: Click – HERE
BASKETBALL: ALL REGION SEASON COACH MEETING: December 4 @ 5:30pm / Register HERE DESCRIPTION: (ALL AREAS) Regional Competition Details – Rules Emphasis – Assessment and Seeding Guidelines – Advancement Requirements – Final Competition Roster Completion and Submission.
BASKETBALL: COMPETITION PREPARATION COACH MEETINGS: SUB-REGIONALS: – Spokane Sub-Regional (Northeast – Southeast Areas) / January 8 @ 5:30pm / Register HERE – Sunnyside Sub-Regional (Walla – Tri Cities – Valley – Basin – North Central Areas) / January 8 @ 6:30pm / Register HERE REGIONALS: – Spokane Regional / (Northeast – Southeast Areas) January 22 @ 5:30pm / Register HERE – Sunnyside Regional (Walla – Tri Cities – Valley – Basin – North Central Areas) / January 22 @ 6:30pm / Register HERE
CHEERLEADING:
CHEERLEADING: STATEWIDE COACH MEETING: November 21 @ 5:00pm DESCRIPTION: Practice plans, Rule Clarification, Event procedures, and more. Recording Click – HERE (Passcode: $8n8^B2y) Slide deck: Click – HERE
CHEERLEADING COMPETITION PREPARATION COACH MEETING: REGIONAL: – Moses Lake Regional / (ALL Areas) January 20 @ 5:30pm / Register HERE
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2026 Spring Season (March 2, 2026 – May 31, 2026)
SPORTS OFFERED:
Regional Competition: Swimming / Athletics (Track and Field), Soccer Local Options: TBD
