Opportunities For Everyone
Special Olympics New York attracts volunteers from all walks of life, all year ‘round.
These dedicated supporters make our local, regional and state competitions and programs possible.
Special Olympics New York attracts volunteers from all walks of life, all year ‘round.
These dedicated supporters make our local, regional and state competitions and programs possible.
Become Involved By Volunteering Today!
No matter which volunteer role you choose, each has a game changing impact on the athletes of Special Olympics New York.
Contact us at volunteer@nyso.org for more information.
I started as a day-of volunteer, unaware of just how much Special Olympics would inspire me and change my life for the better. Volunteers across the state come back year after year because working with the athletes really gives our lives a sense of purpose and community. If you’re considering becoming a volunteer, I can attest that not only will you not regret it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
- Jill Warner
I started as a day-of volunteer, unaware of just how much Special Olympics would inspire me and change my life for the better. Volunteers across the state come back year after year because working with the athletes really gives our lives a sense of purpose and community. If you’re considering becoming a volunteer, I can attest that not only will you not regret it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
- Jill Warner
Read More About Our Volunteer RolesRead More About Our Volunteer Roles
Class C – A short-term opportunity that involves providing assistance at a competition or event, but not necessarily in close contact with our Special Olympics New York athletes. Volunteers aged 13 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult and we welcome any age to become our “fans in the stands.”
| ROLE | CLASS | DESCRIPTION | COMMITMENT | GET STARTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day of Volunteer | C | During competition, volunteers perform short-term tasks associated with conducting competitions (i.e., timer, scorekeeper, escort, etc.) | Half day to full day shifts. | Join us on our Volunteer Portal: Log In or Create Profile Help page |
| Official | C | Serve as a referee, official, or judge at competitions. Please note that this role requires training and/or certification in a specific sport. | Commitment ranges from a few hours to at least 1 full day at competition. | Looking to get started, please reach out here. |
Class A – A long-term opportunity that involves having close physical contact and supervision of Special Olympics New York athletes on a regular basis. These Class A volunteers are in a position of authority and must be at least 16 year old.
| ROLE | CLASS | DESCRIPTION | COMMITMENT | GET STARTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | A | Work directly with athletes to improve their skills in specific Special Olympics sports. | Participation is seasonal for each sport - the usual commitment is two hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks. Travels to games. | Become a Coach |
| Sport Assistant | A | Assist coaches during practice. Sport Assistants can also be chaperones, venue captains and event organizers. | Participation is seasonal for each sport - the usual commitment is two hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks. Can travel to games. | Become a Coach |
Volunteers can also help in additional roles such as: joining our Impact Club, becoming a community level Unified partner, or helping as a sports director, providing medical assistance, or participating in fundraising & media relations or even as taking the charge as a committee member, (full descriptions here). Student internships are also available and encouraged.
Inquire here to be learn more about any and all these opportunities available in your local community.