Basketball
Winter (January through March)
Email Contact:
director@somdsmc.org
Overview:
Basketball is a very popular sport in St. Mary’s County. We have basketball programs for all ages – elementary, middle school, high school and adults – and ALL abilities. We have both skills and competitive programs.
Our programs hold practices where athletes prepare for competition against other teams at Qualifiers and at State Games. Attendance at qualifiers and at State Games often requires travel out-of-county. Our athletes compete at many different levels of ability.
• Skills – lowest level of play where they are learning the basics
• Player Development Unified
o There are 3 or 5 people on the court but one of them is a Mentor and not an actual player
• Traditional- all players have intellectual disabilities and there are two levels:
o 3v3-half court play
o 5v5-full court play
• Unified – a mixture of athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities
o 3v3-half court play
o 5v5-full court play
Our programs vary depending on the athlete and volunteer participation. Several athletes and coaches didn’t return after COVID. So, where we once had 11 teams, we are somewhat lower today.
Age Grouping Guidance - All team members should be closely matched in age:
• Within 3-5 years of age for athletes 21 years of age and under.
• Within 10-15 years for athletes 22 years and over.
For example, in basketball, an 8-year-old should not be competing against or with a 30-year-old athlete.
• Another guidance is from our Age Waiver form from SOMD showing:
o Elementary School age (8-11)
o Middle School age (12-15)
o High School age (16-21)
o Young Adult age (22-49)
o Senior Adult age (50 and over)
Equipment:
The equipment - basketballs will be provided.
Uniform Requirements:
Uniforms consisting of a jersey and shorts will be provided
Practice Overview:
Basketball is a very popular sport in St. Mary’s County. We have basketball programs for all ages – elementary, middle school, high school and adults – and ALL abilities. We have both skills and competitive programs.
Our programs hold practices where athletes prepare for competition against other teams at Qualifiers and at State Games. Attendance at qualifiers and at State Games often requires travel out-of-county. Our athletes compete at many different levels of ability.
• Skills – lowest level of play where they are learning the basics
• Player Development Unified
o There are 3 or 5 people on the court but one of them is a Mentor and not an actual player
• Traditional- all players have intellectual disabilities and there are two levels:
o 3v3-half court play
o 5v5-full court play
• Unified – a mixture of athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities
o 3v3-half court play
o 5v5-full court play
Our programs vary depending on the athlete and volunteer participation. Several athletes and coaches didn’t return after COVID. So, where we once had 11 teams, we are somewhat lower today.
Age Grouping Guidance - All team members should be closely matched in age:
• Within 3-5 years of age for athletes 21 years of age and under.
• Within 10-15 years for athletes 22 years and over.
For example, in basketball, an 8-year-old should not be competing against or with a 30-year-old athlete.
• Another guidance is from our Age Waiver form from SOMD showing:
o Elementary School age (8-11)
o Middle School age (12-15)
o High School age (16-21)
o Young Adult age (22-49)
o Senior Adult age (50 and over)
Training:
INDIVIDUAL SKILLS BASKETBALL:
This program is one that teaches the basics of basketball to the least skilled athletes. These are the athletes that need more instructions and are trying to learn the sport. There are two levels of competition.
Level one is:
Target Pass
10 Meter Dribble
Spot Pass
Level two is:
Catch & Pass
12 Meter Dribble
Perimeter Shooting
Once they master these functions they are considered for advancement to a team team (either PDU, traditional or Unified depending on the skill level attained).
TEAM SPORTS:
Team sports bring people together. Unified sports are programs that empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports.
TRADITIONAL BASKETBALL:
The traditional teams are comprised of athletes with intellectual disabilities. They have demonstrated the ability to play the sport and can complete with others without any on-court instructions.
There are two levels of the traditional basketball:
3v3-half court play for those that don’t have the stamina for the full court play
5v5-full court play
The object is to move people up to a higher level of training and competition if possible.
UNIFIED BASKETBALL:
There are two levels of Unified basketball teams:
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT UNIFIED (PDU)
The MENTOR does:
Serve as the on-court instructors and facilitators to the athletes learn to play basketball
Give verbal & visual instruction to the athletes on their team
Dribble
Pass
Use common sense to restrain themselves from taking the game out of the athletes’ hands
The unified partner cannot:
Shoot
Steal the ball
Set screens
Play defense against the opposing team
Rebound (unless the ball comes directly to them)
Compete against an athlete for a loose ball
REGULAR UNIFIED
The second type is a mixture of athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities. The unified partners are there to play the sport alongside the SO athletes. These teams are higher functioning and know the sport and can play without on-court instructions. There is a unity of both intellectual and non-intellectually disabled players.
Location:
3V3, 3V3 Skills and 3v3 PDU are all held at Green Holly using both Gyms A and B.
5V5 Traditional, 5V5 Unified and 5V5 PDU are all held at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church gym.
Timing:
3v3 practices - Saturday mornings starting around 7:30am to 12:00pm 5V5 practices - Saturday m mornings around 7:30am to 2:00pm
Activities:
Practice begins with warm-ups. Once warmed-up the teams will begin their practices.
Eligibility for State Competition:
There are a required number of qualifiers needed to attend the state competition. There is one required qualifiers announced throughout the season. Each athlete must also attend at least 8 practice sessions to be qualified to compete at the State competition. The athletes and families will receive notification of all qualifiers.
State Competition:
Special Olympics Maryland State Basketball Championship is the state competition. It normally is held at the University of Maryland – College Park, College Park, MD 20742 normally the last Saturday and Sunday of March.
Participation in Other SOMD-SMC Sports:
Alpine Skiing athletes can participate in other SOMD-SMC sports as long as the athlete can maintain full practice participation in each participating sport. The athlete must discuss and gain agreement from each sport head coach about participating in more than one sport for a season.
Athlete Participation Contract:
Not Required.
Housing Requirements for State Competition:
Not Required
Other Considerations:
None.
Volunteers:
Given the size of our Basketball program, we are always on the lookout for new volunteers to serve as Team Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Unified Partners. SOMD-SMC volunteers qualify for SSL hours. Contact the Head Coach for each program for the most up-to-date information on that program’s volunteer needs.
We always need help for a successful season. We are a 100% volunteer coaching and management staff. Parents who wish to help, please register as volunteers. (See information at the bottom of this page).
Only registered SOMD-SMC ski athletes and registered volunteers are allowed on the court. Parents and spectators who are not registered as volunteers MUST watch from outside the training area.
Anyone with an intellectual disability age 7 and older are invited to become a Special Olympics athlete.
ATHETES MUST BE AGE 8 PRIOR TO BEING ALLOWED TO COMPLETE.
Athletes age 7 are allowed to train with the other athletes but just cannot compete.
All athletes/volunteers must sign up for sport training prior to attending practice. Please sign up online as soon as possible so that we can make plans for coaching needs.