Special Olympics Chittenden Summer Sports

Hi all, we just finished a great season of basketball and bocce. It was so good to get back to indoor sports with basketball and in person competition with bocce! Thanks to all of our coaches and partners for making it a great season!

Over the summer, we will continue hosting the Essex Fitness Walk on Mondays from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at the Willey Family Farm, use 4 St James Pl, Essex on maps. You may show up this Monday to sign up or contact me. I believe our regulars are coming back but more are welcome to join!

We are working on the schedule for Fall Sports which will include softball, soccer, track and golf. Our goal is to start the last week of July. There will be a one day Fall Sports Competition for all four sports on September 17th. Stay tuned for more information. Thanks, Dave

Northern Recreational Bocce Tournament at Willey’s Family Farm - 1:00 - 3:00 PM, June 4th

From: Ian Fulton-Black

Hi everyone!

I wanted to give a few updates regarding the Northern Recreational Bocce Tournament at Willey’s Family Farm on June 4^th. A big thank you to our hosts is in order, as well as to all of you for communicating your team sizes in a timely and efficient manner. I’m happy to report that we have 14 teams currently registered -- from Addison, Caledonia, and Chittenden.

The Google Maps Address is – 4 St James Pl, Essex Junction

The schedule can be found here. Games will start at 1:00pm and conclude at 3:00pm. Each team will play 4 matches – 20 minute games with a 10 minute break between each game for hydration, rest, or anything else. It is important to note that the schedule is based on time and not score: i.e. each game will conclude after 20 minutes regardless of the score. This way, everyone can find their next match without people finishing up at different times.

There will be a total of 7 courts, each labeled with a number. This means everyone will be playing at the same time, but there is always flexibility if someone needs a longer break, or needs to sit out a game. Along these same lines, if you have any last minute additions or subtractions, don’t worry! We can either edit the schedule, or make it work the day of. The hope is that this will be a fun chance for everyone to connect for a beautiful day of bocce .

Volunteer-wise, we are leaving the invitation open for anyone that would like to help with set-up, breakdown, scorekeeping, time keeping, or awards (certificates). If any of this sounds up your ally, let me know! We will have a few staff members on-site, but it is the same day that a few of us are heading to Orlando for USA Games.

A few more reminders and logistics: make sure to bring water, snacks, and sunscreen! We will supply the bocce balls, so no need to bring those. Feel free to bring a tent, although we will also bring 2-3 tents for shade. At the end of the day, everyone will get a participation certificate to cap off a great day!

Thank you all so much, it should be a very fun afternoon. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or anything else.

Best,

.....

Ian Fulton-Black

Operations Coordinator, Sports and Programs
.....

Special Olympics Vermont

16 Gregory Dr. Suite 2

South Burlington, VT 05403

Tel 802 861 0283

Fax 802 863 3911

Email ifultonblack@vtso.org

www.SpecialOlympicsVermont.org

Chittenden Bocce cancelled - 4/20/22

We are cancelling tonight's bocce practice. Hope to see everyone next week! 

2022 Spring Fitness Walks

 Now that our Winter Sports have finished, we are going to kick off our Fitness Walks again in addition to Bocce and Basketball. We will host two locations this time:

• Essex Fitness Walk, Mondays, 5:00 - 6:00 PM, 4/11/22 through 5/30/22 starting at the Willey Family Farm (park at 4 St. James Place, Essex Junction) 
• Williston Fitness Walk, Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30 PM, 4/12/22 through 5/31/22 starting at the Williston Community Park Canceled
  

We will still have a COVID-19 check-in and ask the COVID-19 questions. 

Please contact me at dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840 to sign up for one of the groups. 

2022 Chittenden Basketball Practice

 It is time to sign up for Basketball!  Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to preregister so that we can have your medical at practice.

We are pleased to announce that we have scheduled two Basketball practice sessions, Tuesday and Thursday, starting April 12th and April 14th, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Colchester High School. Practices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays through June 2nd. Athletes will be assigned to one practice depending on which team you are on. We need to keep our group size smaller so you may only attend your assigned practice.

Masks will be required while indoors and during practice.

Special Olympics Vermont will not be offering Summer Games Basketball competition this year. 

2022 Chittenden Bocce Practice

 It is time to sign up for Bocce!  Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to preregister so that we can have your medical at practice.

We are pleased to announce that Bocce practice begins Wednesday, April 13th, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Willey Family Farm in back of the Fairgrounds in Essex Junction. Take the St. James Place entrance to the fairgrounds from route 2A. Practices will be Wednesdays through June 1st. 

Masks will be optional for those who are vaccinated for COVID-19 and have had booster shot. Masks will be required for those not vaccinated for COVID-19.

Special Olympics Vermont is hoping to offer a Bocce Sports Competition on Saturday June 4th. The location and times for the competition have not been finalized but it will be a one-day event! 

 

2022 Winter Sports Update

Hi all, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! We announced Winter Sports in early December and have had 28 athletes and 12 coaches and support sign up! Unfortunately, we have to postpone the start of Winter Sports due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. We are all sad about this.

The current Special Olympics COVID-19 policy will not allow in-person activities when the COVID-19 case rate is over 50 cases per 100,000 at the local level. Chittenden county surpassed that about 2 weeks ago and has continued to climb and is currently at 110 per 100,000. We are not likely to drop below 50 before next weekend so we are postponing the start of Winter Sports.

Special Olympics has announced plans to revise the COVID-19 guidance by the end of January or early February. The new policy may allow in-person activities if every participant is fully vaccinated. So, if you haven't already, please get your vaccination and booster shots! 

I will send out an update on when we can start as soon as Special Olympics updates the policy or the case rate drops below 50 per 100,000. Until then, please continue to stay safe and implement a personal fitness program so that you are ready to play in the snow when we start back up!  

 

You may check the COVID-19 case rate here: https://mchvaughan.shinyapps.io/so_guidance/

 

Thanks, Dave