Thank you for your continued support of Special Olympics Washington and for your interest in volunteering. Your time and commitment help create meaningful experiences for athletes across our state, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our community!
Registration links for Spring Season volunteer opportunities across the state are listed below. Spring Season is our largest lift of the year and has so many great opportunities to volunteer as an individual, a family or a group! Approximately 2,000 volunteers will be needed for the 12 regular season events happening around Washington while another 2,000 volunteers will be needed just for State Games Weekend.
- No sports experience is needed – we’ll teach you anything you need to know.
- The minimum age to volunteer is 11 – Youth ages 11-13 must have an adult volunteer alongside them; Teens ages 14-17 may volunteer on their own in select roles. · Not sure what role you’d like to help with? Email volunteer@sowa.org and we’ll help you find the perfect fit!
New Volunteer? How to Register:
Step 1: Create a profile in the Special Olympics Portal: https://portals.specialolympics.org (or log in if you’ve volunteered in the last 18 months or so)
- Note: Your email activation code will be sent from “Microsoft on behalf of Special Olympics B2C Production.” Please be sure to check your spam folder as well.
- If you don’t receive an activation code within 5 minutes, you may want to check the security settings on your email…please mark msonlineservicesteam@microsoftonline.com as a safe sender. If that STILL doesn’t work, please email me and I’ll create a basic account for you and you can finish it.
Step 2: On the landing page of your account, click on Sign up for an Event.
- Click on the event you’re looking for (or search by date)
- Select your role and shift and complete prompts
If you have ANY trouble registering, please email volunteer@sowa.org so that we can assist you.
*Individuals ages 14+ are encouraged to create their own profile and register on their own unless requested by the Volunteer Team to reach out directly.
**Groups of 2 or more persons are asked to start the process but let the Volunteer Team finish registering for you. (The portal’s developers are reworking the group registration process but until then, it’s easier if we take care of the hard part for you).
- An adult or Group Lead creates a complete profile in the portal, using the link above, but do NOT register for the event itself.
- Email SOWA staff at volunteer@sowa.org
- Please use the email you used to create your account in the portal.
- Please include the following information:
- Your first/last name
- List the names of any others joining you (include as many emails as possible)
- Indicate the ages of anyone 11—17 (actual Date of Births are preferred)
- Their cities of residence
- Preferred Date/Event/Shift
VOLUNTEER THIS SPRING! – Spring Season 2026
When possible, we ask that you please pre-register – this helps us plan and prep needed materials. On-site registration the day of the event is always available but pre-registered volunteers have priority, and you’ll be asked to volunteer in the roles with the greatest need at the time. If pre-registration is “closed”, please click on the link anyways to read instructions for registering on-site. Thank you in advance for volunteering!
- Saturday, May 2 | NW Region Soccer
- Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila
- REGISTRATION IS FULL – Thank you!
- Saturday, May 2 | East Region Athletics (track & field)
- Cheney High School, Cheney
- Pre-registration deadline: 8 a.m., Wednesday, April 29
- Saturday, May 9 | East Region Swimming
- Eastern Washington University, Cheney
- Pre-registration deadline: 8 a.m., Wednesday, April 29
- Saturday, May 9 | UCS Unified Soccer, Districts 1 & 2
- Goddard Stadium/Mariner High School, Everett
- Pre-registration deadline: 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 6
- VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
- Saturday, May 9 | UCS Unified Soccer, District 3
- Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
- Pre-registration deadline: 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 6
- VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
- Saturday, May 9 | UCS Unified Soccer, District 4
- Kiggins Bowl, Vancouver
- Pre-registration deadline: 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 6
- VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
- State Spring Games
- May 29 – 31 | Tacoma and Federal Way
- Pre-registration deadline: 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 26
- VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
- Thursday, May 28 | Set-up
- Thursday, May 28 | Campus Support (Volunteer Check-in, Admin prep, etc.)
- Friday, May 29 | Set-up
- Friday, May 29 | Campus Support (Volunteer Check-in, Admin prep, etc.)
- Saturday, May 30 | Swimming (Federal Way)
- Saturday, May 30 | Athletics
- Saturday, May 30 | Soccer
- Saturday, May 30 | Healthy Athletes
- Saturday, May 30 | Olympic Town
- Saturday, May 30 | Hair Fair
- Saturday, May 30 | Victory Dance
- Saturday, May 30 | Campus Support (Volunteer Check-in, Merchandise Sales, Lunch Distribution)
- Sunday, May 31 | Athletics
- Sunday, May 31 | Soccer
- Sunday, May 31 | Olympic Town
- Sunday, May 31 | Campus Support (Volunteer Check-in, Merchandise Sales, Lunch Distribution)
- Sunday, May 31 | Tear Down
Please note that Bocce, Golf and Softball events will be held during the Summer Season.
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED – Spring Season 2026
Calling health professionals of all disciplines: We want you! Licensed and credentialed volunteers are needed in a wide variety of volunteer roles throughout Spring Season and at State Spring Games. Even if you’re not a health professional yourself, please share these opportunities with any you may feel interested in volunteering. Thank you.
- First Aid/Medical Volunteers – provide sideline first aid at regional and state competitions. Must be at least 18 years old, current health care provider or at least certified in First Aid / CPR / AED. Volunteers will be screened and scheduled through our partners with Emergency Management Group of Washington.
- Healthy Athletes Volunteers – assist in providing free screenings and health information at the State Spring Games on May 30 at the University of Puget Sound. We will be looking for health professionals and general volunteers to support the Opening Eyes, Special Smiles and FUNfitness (physical therapy) disciplines.
First time volunteering? Here is how to get started:
Step 1: Create a profile in the SO Portal: https://portals.specialolympics.org
- Note: Your email activation code will be sent from “Microsoft on behalf of Special Olympics B2C Production.” Please be sure to check your spam folder as well.
Step 2: Register for your desired event/role/shift by using the registration link (listed above) – find more resources below.
Contact Us
Do you work for a company that would like to learn about group volunteer opportunities? Does your school, sports team, community organization or faith community? Want to be added to the weekly volunteer mailing list? Please contact the Volunteer Team at volunteer@sowa.org. Thank you for your interest in supporting our athletes!
Resources
- Are you a volunteer between the ages of 11-13? Please have a parent or guardian apply for the Event Volunteer Group Lead role prior to registering for a shift. Please refer to Register a Group for step-by-step instructions.
- Interested in other volunteer roles?
- Review the Become a Volunteer Leader page and apply for other volunteer roles under Do More with Special Olympics (find more specifics of when and where under Sign Up for An Event)
- Currently recruiting for Winter Season (Nov 2025 – March 2026): https://portals.specialolympics.org/event-details/?id=e691f9fb-de72-f011-bec3-000d3a30b017
- Questions or need support? Email us at volunteer@sowa.org or submit a request: bit.ly/SOWA-PortalSupport.
- Have other skills and talents you’d like to share? Let us know about your interests, skills, and talents under My Checklist > Add Your Skills so program staff can help match you
- Still having trouble? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to volunteer@sowa.org and let us know how we can help!