14 Del. Admin. Code § 1009-6.0

Current through Reigster Vol. 28, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 1009-6.0 - Interscholastic Unified Sports

6.1 Interscholastic Unified Sports is a joint effort between DIAA and Special Olympics Delaware (SODE) to incorporate Special Olympics Unified Sports® programs in DIAA Member Schools as an extension of their existing interscholastic athletic programs. Unified Sports brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together to compete in DIAA recognized sports. Unified Sports teams shall follow all rules and regulations governing interscholastic athletics unless otherwise provided.

6.2 To be eligible to participate in Unified Sports, Unified Athletes and Unified Partners shall meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 2.0 of this regulation and 14 DE Admin. Code 1028, comply with the pre-participation physical examination requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1034, and appear on the eligibility report as set forth in subsection 2.6 of this regulation.

6.2.1 A student athlete whose functional limitations are based solely on emotional, physical, sensory, or behavioral disability, is not eligible to participate as a Unified Athlete but may be eligible to participate as a Unified Partner.

6.2.2 Any student athlete who appeared on the eligibility report for football at any time during the season is not eligible to compete in Unified flag football.

6.2.3 Any student athlete who appeared on the eligibility report for Unified flag football at any time during the season is not eligible to compete in football.

6.2.4 Any student athlete who appeared on the eligibility report for basketball at any time during the season is not eligible to compete in Unified basketball.

6.2.5 Any student athlete who appeared on the eligibility report for Unified basketball at any time during the season is not eligible to compete in basketball.

6.2.6 The use of an ineligible student athlete is subject to subsection 2.7 of this regulation.

6.3 The composition of a Unified Sports team shall include student athletes with necessary sport-specific skills and shall combine an approximately equal number of Unified Athletes and Unified Partners. A Unified Sports team shall not include student athletes who dominate play, exclude other teammates from contributing to the success of the team, or present a health and safety risk. By permitting any student athlete to dominate play, other student athletes' roles and opportunities are greatly limited.

6.4 Student athletes who participate in Unified Sports are allowed to concurrently participate in non-interscholastic sports offered in the SODE Community program.

14 Del. Admin. Code § 1009-6.0

7 DE Reg. 1698 (06/01/04)
9 DE Reg. 126 (07/01/05)
9 DE Reg. 1954 (06/01/06)
11 DE Reg. 1642 (06/01/08)
14 DE Reg. 1186 (05/01/11)
15 DE Reg. 75 (07/01/11)
19 DE Reg. 745 (2/1/2016)
21 DE Reg. 147 (8/1/2017)
21 DE Reg. 218 (9/1/2017)
21 DE Reg. 719 (3/1/2018)
22 DE Reg. 61 (7/1/2018)
22 DE Reg. 398 (11/1/2018)
22 DE Reg. 767 (3/1/2019)
23 DE Reg. 123 (8/1/2019)
24 DE Reg. 540 (12/1/2020)
26 DE Reg. 185 (9/1/2022)
28 DE Reg. 117 (8/1/2024)
28 DE Reg. 119 (8/1/2024)
28 DE Reg. 385 (11/1/2024) (Final)