Lucas County Lightning Newsletter
Spring 2024
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Hello Everyone!
I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and ready to leap into the spring sports season! We have been very busy this winter keeping up with 5 basketball teams, pep club, competitive cheer, swimming and powerlifting. We are excited with our new addition of the Little Lightning basketball team this season, who made it to States!!
Please read the entire newsletter before registering. If you are registering online once you hit send, you will see a thank you message on your screen. This means we have received your information. We ask that you please do not call or email to ask if we received it.
Below is a description of each spring sport that will be offered. Athletes can only register for one sport from the list plus walking group, if desired. The spring sports season wraps up with State Summer Games, which are June 28-30. Please know that not all athletes who play a spring sport will qualify for summer games. Ohio Special Olympics limits the number of athletes we can bring, and there are different rules for different sports. Please reach out to our staff if you have questions.
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Spring Special Olympics Program | | |
Spring will be here soon, and that means a new season of sports!! We will be offering Volleyball, Tennis, Bocce, Track & Field, and Walking Group. You can join Walking Group plus ONE other sport (or just one sport). Please make sure you read the information for each sport before registering. | |
We will be offering a modified volleyball team (uses a bigger, softer ball) and traditional volleyball team. If you decide to register for volleyball, you will receive information regarding a screening day once registration closes. This will allow coaches and SO staff to determine which team athletes will be assigned to, based on their skill level.
**Please note each volleyball team is only allowed 10 athletes. Unfortunately, some athletes may not make a team. Athletes who do not make a team will be able to choose another spring sport to participate in.
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Over the years, we have seen more athletes request to play tennis!! As a result, depending on the number of registrations, we may have to conduct a screening day this season.
Once signs ups are completed, we will send out more information.
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Another sport that has gained popularity is bocce! It is one of our more relaxing yet competitive sports that fits any ability and age range!! We have two artificial turf courts at our Larc Lane campus where we hold our practices. Depending on how many sign up and how many volunteer coaches we have, we may have to limit how many teams we are able to have this season. Once registrations are completed, we will send out more information.
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Track and Field is back!! Interested in running, walking or wheelchair events? Interested in shot put, mini javelin, long jump or softball throw? You are in the right place! Track and field events are for any skill level and offers wheelchair events as well. If you choose to register for track and field, you will receive information regarding practice times and location once registration is closed.
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Looking for something more relaxing and not competitive? Then walking group may be for you! Anyone is welcome to join. You can register for just this, or another sport and still be a part of our walking group (as long as it does not interfere with other practices). Once registered, location and times will be sent out after registration closes. |
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**Spring Sports Registration Information** | | |
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The online registration form for spring sports is found by clicking here.
The registration page for our spring sports is open now and will close on Friday, March 8. You must register during this time or you will not be able to participate!
To register, you must be at least 16 years old, reside in Lucas County, have a qualifying diagnosis and have a current Special Olympics medical form (completed within 3 years) on file with our office. (If the athlete is between the ages of 8-15 years old, they would be in the Little Lightning program and will receive information at a later date. For further information or to join that mailing list, please email littlelightning@lucasdd.org.)
Click here to download the New Athlete Packet for Special Olympics (Skip this if you are already registered with Lucas County Special Olympics)
Please return your completed packet by either:
-email to specialolympics@lucasdd.org
-conventional mail to:
Lucas County Special Olympics
Attn: Lisa Martin
1154 Larc Lane
Toledo, Ohio 43614
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Important information! Please read:
**Anyone who has questions regarding Special Olympics, like practices and games, or anything else, please contact our office at specialolympics@lucasdd.org or 419-380-5115 and talk directly to Special Olympics staff. Programming, practice (including cancellations/scheduling), and competition decisions are all made by the Special Olympics staff.
We ask that any and all questions be directed to Special Olympics staff. Please respect our volunteer coaches and their time, as they already donate so much to our program, by letting the Special Olympics staff take care of all your questions.
Additionally, Special Olympics staff and coaches do not provide direct supervision to athletes. Please make appropriate arrangements if supervision is necessary.
If you have any questions about this, please email Kelley Watson at kwatson@lucasdd.org or call 419-380-5109.
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Another Healthy Athletes Session! | | |
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Healthy Athletes is a program designed to improve an athlete’s health and fitness and their ability to train and compete in Special Olympics as well as in life.
The program is 6 weeks long and held at the University of Toledo Recreation Center, 2800 Rocket Dr. Sessions are one day per week for 2 hours each day. Spring session will begin Tuesday, March 12 and run through April 16, from 3:30 - 5:30pm.
The 2-hour sessions will include 1.5 hours of fitness training and a half hour of educational information on topics including nutrition, wellness and sportsmanship. Each athlete’s “fitness” will be assessed by UT Exercise Science students at the beginning and the end of the session.
Athletes must be at least 16 years of age to participate and a Special Olympics athlete. Once registered, we will send out detailed information about pick up and drop off times/locations. Special Olympics staff do not provide supervision.
THERE IS NO COST, BUT THE SESSION IS LIMITED TO
10 PARTICIPANTS! PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO
HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY.
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STATE WINTER GAMES INFORMATION! | | |
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The 2024 State Winter games will be held at Bowling Green State University the weekend of February 24-25. Lucas County will have several athletes competing in different events! Below is the most up-to-date information, however it is subject to change. If you have any questions, please contact our staff.
· Our D2 Basketball Team will play at 9am on Saturday at the Perry Field House.
· Our skills basketball players will be competing on Saturday morning from 9am-noon
· Our Lucas County Lighting Cheer Team will be competing on Saturday at 10:45am at the Perry Field House.
· Our D4 Basketball Team will play at 11 am on Saturday at the Community Center.
· The Swim Team will be competing on Sunday morning beginning at 9am. Events will occur throughout the day at the pool at the Student Rec Center.
· The D2 Basketball Team will have a basketball game at 9am on Sunday, but the location will depend on the outcome of Saturday's game. (Check our Facebook page for updates.)
· The D4 Basketball Team will have a basketball game at Perry Field House on Sunday, but the time will depend on the outcome of Saturday's game. (Check our Facebook page for updates.)
· The Little Lighting Team will have a basketball game at 11am on Sunday, at the BG Community Center.
Click here to go to our Facebook Page for updates! We hope to see you at the games!
Questions? Contact Kelley at kwatson@lucasdd.org or 419-380-5109
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Upcoming Board Events (not all Special Olympics but FUN events you may be interested in - click each event for details!)
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Saturday, Feb. 17: Free Community Movie Day from 1-4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24: Chuck a Puck starting at 7:15 p.m.
New Support Groups: Lucas DD has a monthly support group for parents called Family Ties. The first meeting is February 15. Click here for more information! There is also a new support group for people with disabilities who want to be parents, are expecting a child, or are already parents (no matter the age of their child). Two sessions offered each week though the beginning of April! Click here for more information.
Lucas DD Night at Detroit Pistons - March 9
Celebrate DD Awareness Month with a fun experience! Click here for more information!
For additional events, please check out our online calendar by clicking here. To receive information about events in your inbox, click here and add your email.
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Comments or questions?
Please feel free to email Kelley at kwatson@lucasdd.org or call 419-380-5109 if you have any questions and/or suggestions regarding this newsletter or anything else.
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