NIRSA Rec Center: Rowan Unified Sports: Fostering Friendship and Inclusion in Sports

In this recent video by Rowan Radio/TV/Film student Adam Reim, see how Rowan Unified Sports is breaking stigmas and promoting inclusion by combining general and special education populations on the courts and fields.

Unified Sports is a Special Olympics affiliated club at Rowan that brings together Rowan students and Special Olympics athletes from around Gloucester County. In 2018, Rowan University was named a Top 5 National Banner Unified School by ESPN.

NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation and Special Olympics—the world’s largest provider of sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities—teamed up in 2016 to expand Special Olympics Unified Sports® programs and opportunities at participating NIRSA member colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Special Olympics and NIRSA Align to Promote Inclusive Sports

Special Olympics Unified Sports is an inclusive sports program that combines an approximately equal number of Special Olympics athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and Unified partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) on teams for training and competition. Unified Sports can be held in team sports such as basketball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball and in other sports such as bocce, golf, and tennis. Successful Unified Sports programs include a number of criteria, including meaningful inclusion for athletes and Unified partners, as well as appropriate sport selection.

In partnership with NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, hundreds of colleges are providing Special Olympics Unified Sports intramural leagues on campus. These leagues are inspired by a simple principle: Training, playing, and competing together is a quick path to friendship, understanding, and meaningful inclusion. On these campuses, Unified Sports teams are made up of people of similar age and ability, making games more competitive, exciting, and fun for all. Special Olympics Unified Sports intramural leagues welcome Special Olympics athletes, whether students or from the community, and student Unified partners at any level of skill or experience.

Explore Special Olympics Collegiate Unified Sports Resources on the NIRSA website.​