Category: Coach
South Bay Coach Preaches Team First
By Julie Devine For South Bay coach Dave Barro, Special Olympics Southern California is an experience of a lifetime. In more than nine years, he has seen basketball transform lives and continue to shape athletes with determination, and provide a sense of community. A former high school basketball player, Dave began his involvement with SOSC ...
National Volunteer Week: In the Coaches’ Words
Coaches come from various backgrounds at Special Olympics Southern California. Some have personal connections to a particular sport and wanted a way to give back, others are law enforcement officers making time despite a busy schedule. Whatever the backstory may be, the coaches all share a common joy in watching the athletes grow. "I love ...
Congratulations 2019 SOSC Volunteer Award Recipients!
Every year, Special Olympics Southern California recognizes volunteers that go above and beyond in their volunteer roles. Congratulations to our 2019 John West and Harahan award recipients! We appreciate all you do for our athletes and our movement! 2019 JOHN WEST AWARD WINNER The John West Award is presented annually to honor volunteers’ accomplishments within ...
INSIDE SOSC: 2019 Floor Hockey Championship Recap
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Kern County proved to be a tremendous host, as its athletes and coaches put on quite the performance Saturday at the Special Olympics Southern California Floor Hockey Championship. Kern County was one of the four gold medalists, as 16 teams battled it out in four divisions at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The ...
Mike Higgins: 2019 Floor Hockey Coach of the Season
Special Olympics Kern County's Mike Higgins was named the 2019 floor hockey coach of the season. Higgins, a floor hockey coach the past three seasons, first got involved when his son became an athlete in 2007. Two years later, he started coaching basketball. When his son's interests started to turn to other sports, so did ...
An Opportunity to Shine
Think of any sporting event, at any level, and the athletes involved share common goals. The teams and individuals want to test themselves, striving to rise to the occasion and perform their very best when the stakes are the highest. Special Olympics Southern California athletes are no different, and they continue to prove that year-round ...
RECAP: 2018 Fall Games, Day 1
The opening day of the 2018 Special Olympics Southern California Fall Games featured competitive action in a revamped championship event lineup Saturday in Fountain Valley. More than 1,100 athletes competed in traditional fall sports soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball, and golf made its Fall Games debut after the introduction of a new sports plan prior ...
What They’re Saying at the 2018 Fall Games – Day 1
Special Olympics Southern California athletes and supporters were out in full force Saturday as the 2018 Fall Games kicked off in Fountain Valley. Here's what a few of them had to say on Day 1: "I began to love softball when I was young and watched my brother play baseball. I love it! It’s so ...
INSIDE SOSC: Growing Family
Special Olympics Southern California family has been growing, and quickly. From the more than 34,500 athletes to the families that take them to every practice and competition, Special Olympics is one big family. It's size continues to grow as evidence by the past four days during these very hot summer days. From the Orange County ...
2018 USA Games: July 3 Round-up
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Two more Special Olympics Southern California teams felt the joy of a victory at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games for the first time on Tuesday. Both the women's basketball team and Unified soccer team bounced back from 0-2 starts in pool play. Women's Basketball Bernadette Valencia scored 10 of her 12 ...