Basketball is one of the top sports for Special Olympics Washington. Players take it up at all ages and at all abilities, from young players learning to handle the ball and keep it under control while dribbling to older, more experienced players who have the moves and know the strategies to play challenging ball. We offer team events as well as individual skills competitions that help athletes train and compete in basic basketball skills before advancing to team play.
It is also one of the favorite sports for the Special Olympics Unified Sports initiative, when players with and without intellectual disabilities form teams to play other unified teams. It's a learning experience that brings together communities and helps foster a spirit of inclusion.
Basketball is offered in all 16 of Special Olympics Washington’s Areas.
Basketball was first contested in 1968 at the first Special Olympics Games in Chicago, Ill.
Learn the Rules for Basketball
Rules Sheet
Basin Area Director
Tim Toon (Interim Director)
Ttoon@sowa.org
Capitol Area Director
Cheyenne Baird (Interim Director)
Cbaird@sowa.org
Cascade Area Director
Punkie Doyle
CascadeAD@sowa.org
Columbia River Area Director
Barry Gill; Elizabeth Francis
Barry.gill@pkinetics.com; Elizabeth.francis@outlook.com
King County Area Director
Chad VanderPoel
Cvanderpoel@sowa.org
North Central Area Director
Tim Toon (Interim Director)
Ttoon@sowa.org
Northeast Area Director
Tim Toon
Ttoon@sowa.org
Peninsula Area Director
Wendy Bonham
PeninsulaAD@sowa.org
Pierce County Area Director
Cheyenne Baird (Interim Director)
Cbaird@sowa.org
Southeast Area Director
Lori Landrus
SoutheastAD@SOWA.org
Tri-Cities Area Director
Donna Tracy
Donnat@arcoftricities.com
Valley Area Director
Tim McDonald
Valleyad@sowa.org