I worked in a Special Olympics tournament this morning.
Freeby.
Fun.
Rewarding.
Try it. You'll like it
This is the epitome of "being there for the players".
mick ;)

Yep, did this last year, and I'm doing it again next Saturday. Great time, kids love it...so did I. :)

Did one a few years back. Kids enjoyed it, but was spoiled by the coaches having a go at the refs.

I tip my hat to you
 

Good for you guys to give up your time to help out kids from the Special Olympics. I tip my hat to you!

I did one a couple of years ago...it was a blast...and they offered to pay me...but I refused.

Ours is coming to Houston in March
 

From what I have heard it is the most fun you will ever have as an official. Most years the refs have to fight over the games and they end up doing 3 man. Looking forward to it this year.

I did one years ago and had a great time.I had a coach mess up and did not start an autistic player,about to start the second half and the young man gets extremely upset because the scoreboard should be at 00 to 00.

The coach explained about the importance of routine for
autistic children,so I got the coaches together and we agreed to put the scoreboard back to 00 to 00 keeping the actual score in the book for the second half.The boy's mother gave my partner and I a hug after the game,thanking us for bending the rules a bit,so that her son could play.

My son and I will be helping this Saturday doing our first special olympics. I have heard nothing but good things aobut the program.

Thanks for sharing....
 

TWO THUMBS UP for the Officials who have done the right thing!

My brother-in-law coaches the Special Olympic team (Cross-Country Skiing) for WI.
Last year they spent a week in Alaska! A life-time of memories...

I volunteered two games this Saturday in a tournament that is a prep to the state tournament that I'll work next month. It is a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year.

Working those games gives you the opportunity to see true sportsmanship in action which, unfortunately, we rarely see.