Track & Field
-
Special Olympics Texas Track & Field has events for all athletes – walks, wheelchair races, assisted races, runs, and field events.
Each athlete can participate in two events – one race and one field event – but is not required to do both to compete. Some athletes may have a third event – a relay consisting of four athletes working together to run a race.
KISD Special Olympics Texas Track Athlete Eligibility:
- Athletes are eligible to participate in one running event and one field event;
- Athletes are placed in events by KISD Special Olympics Texas coaches based upon ability and performance of required skills;
- Athletes may also be eligible to participate in a relay event. The relay is considered an extra event, in addition to one running and one field event. Athletes are selected to participate in relay events by the KISD Special Olympics Texas coaches based upon ability and performance of required skills.
- Relay events at local competitions are considered opportunities for practice and skill development. Athletes who are 8 years of age and older are eligible to participate in relay events at the local level, chapter, area, and state level of competition.
All practices will be held at from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Indian Springs Middle School (305 Bursey Road) Keller 76248 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
For questions, please contact Jennifer Guess at Jennifer.Guess@KellerISD.net.
-
Can anyone participate in KISD Special Olympics Texas Track and Field?
Athletes must be able to follow directions and refrain from any physical aggression towards others or one's self.
-
Do I need to attend practices in order to participate in track or can I just show up for competition?
Athletes must attend and participate in scheduled practices at the designated location in order to participate in competitions.
-
When and where are track practices held?
Track practices are heldl from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Indian Springs Middle School (350 Bursey Road).
-
Why would you use a starting pistol at practice or meet?
A starting pistol may be used at practices to prepare the athletes for the track competition either at the Local, Area, or Chapter level, at which a pistol is used to start the running events.
-
Is Special Olympics Texas considered an extracurricular activity?
Special Olympics Texas activities are considered extracurricular events. Practice and competition events will be conducted or terminated consistent with KISD policy and administrative regulations.
-
What are the requirements to be eligible for Area competition?
All athletes must be provided with an opportunity to compete in either one Local competition or two scrimmages before Area competition.
-
What are the two track competitions in which Keller ISD Special Olympics participates so that athletes are eligible for Area?
The Keller ISD Annual Chad Powell Memorial Track Meet and the Grapevine-Colleyville Track Meet.
-
How are athletes arranged in groups for competition?
Athletes are divided into competition divisions based on gender, ability, and age: 8-11 years, 12-15 years, 16-21 years, 22-29 years, and 30+ years.
-
What is the minimum participation requirement for Local-Level Competition?
Athletes must be 8 years of age, have a completed physical examination record on file, and participate in scheduled practices for a minimum of eight weeks.
-
What is the minimum participation requirement for Area-Level Competition?
Athletes must be 8 years of age, have a completed physical examination record on file, participate in scheduled practices for a minimum of eight weeks, and have competed in at least one Local competition or two scrimmages prior to the Area competition.
-
What is the minimum participation requirement for State-Level Competition conducted outside of the DFW Metroplex area?
Athletes must be in middle school, high school, or high school transition; have a completed physical examination record on file; participate in scheduled practices for a minimum of eight weeks; and have competed in at least one Local competition or two scrimmages prior to the Area competition and competed in the Area competition.
-
What is the minimum participation requirement for State-Level Competition conducted within the DFW Metroplex area?
Athletes must be at least 8 years of age, have a completed physical examination record on file, participate in scheduled practices for a minimum of eight weeks, and have competed in at least one local competition or two scrimmages prior to the Area competition and competed in the Area competition.
-
What track events are offered by Special Olympics Texas and Keller ISD as competition events at Local, Area and Chapter competition?
Running events are: 25-Meter Dash, 50-Meter Dash, 100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Run, 400-Meter Run, 800-Meter Run, 1500-Meter Run, 3000-Meter Run, 5000-Meter Run, 10K Run, 110-Meter Hurdles (men), 100-Meter Hurdles (women), 4-by-100 Relay, 4-by-400 Relay, 4-by-100 Unified Relay, and 4-by-400 Unified Relay.
Walking events are: 25-Meter Walk, 50-Meter Walk, 100-Meter Walk, 400-Meter Walks, 800-Meter Walk, 10-Meter Assisted Walk, 25-Meter Assisted Walk, and 50-Meter Assisted Walk.
Wheelchair events are: 10-Meters Race, 25-Meter Race, 30-Meter Slalom, 4-by-25-Meter Shuttle Relay, 30-Meter Motorized Slalom, 50-Meter Motorized Slalom, 25-Meter Motorized Obstacle Race, 100-Meters Race, 200-Meter Race, and 400-Meter Race.
Road races include the Half-Marathon and Marathon.
-
What field events are offered by Special Olympics Texas and Keller ISD as competition events at Local, Area, and Chapter competition?
Field events offered are Running Long Jump, Standing Long Jump, High Jump, Softball Throw, Ball Throw for Distance (tennis ball), Shot Put, Mini Javelin, and Wheelchair Shot Put. Additionally, the Pentathlon is a combined track and field event that includes the 100-Meter Dash, Running Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, and 400-Meter Run.
-
What is the "Rabbit Rule?"
The "Rabbit Rule" was established in athletics, aquatics, bowling, and cycling for the purpose of equalizing competition and protecting against inaccurate entry scores or sandbagging in preliminaries.
Special Olympics Texas feels that the "Rabbit Rule" is a fairer revision of the Honest Effort Rule that is listed in the SOI Sports Rules. Application of the Special Olympics Texas, Inc. Honest Effort Rule would require any athlete who performs by more than a 15 percent improvement be disqualified in any sport that has an entry score.
-
What is the "Rabbit Rule" percentage for track events?
25 percent
-
What it the "Rabbit Rule" percentage for field events?
All throws will utilize a 35-percent rabbit percentage. All jumps will utilize a 20-percent rabbit percentage. The pentathlon will utilize a 20-percent rabbit percentage.
-
How does the "Rabbit Rule" work?
The "rabbit" percentage is determined by using the best score in a heat.
For example, in track events, the rabbit percentage is 25 percent. If the fastest time in a particular heat (M2005) is 20 seconds, then the rabbit score for heat M2005 would be calculated be 15 seconds (20 seconds x 75 percent). This means that any athlete within heat M2005 that runs a time faster than 15 seconds (over a 25 percent improvement) would be identified as a "rabbit" and would have his score removed in the determination of awards for that heat. The other athletes would move up one place.
-
How are Rabbits awarded?
If an athlete outperforms everyone else in their age group and gender within a single event, he or she will automatically be awarded first place, regardless if they rabbited or not. If an athlete rabbits, they will be awarded using their final score and placed within the closest heat based on that final score. If an entire heat rabbits, all athletes will stay in that original heat and be awarded based on their final scores within that heat.
