Snowshoe
Email Contact:
db5515585@msn.com
Overview:
Local practice is held on the ball field just outside Leonard Hall Drill Hall in the afternoons on Thursdays from January through February. On-snow skiing training is held in January and February at Whitetail Ski Resort nearby Pennsylvania (weekend trip). State competition in late February is at Whitetail Ski Resort just north of Hagerstown (3-day trip). Races offered are 25M, 50M, 100M, 200M+, relay teams.races are part of the Arctic Winter Games and the winter Special Olympics.
Equipment:
SOMD-SMC will provide athletes with snowshoes. Athletes are free to bring their own snowshoes. If you want to purchase your own snowshoes, please talk with the Head Coach about the snowshoe rules prior.
Uniform Requirements:
SOMD-SMC will provide athletes with a jacket, vest, fleece, and hat. Families can purchase and keep their uniform or return them at the end of the season. Athletes are responsible for all other apparel. Sneakers are normally worn with snowshoes, especially in races. We recommend that athletes wear some form of water-resistant pants for Snowshoe.
Practice Overview:
Local practice is held on the ball field just outside Leonard Hall Drill Hall in the afternoons on Thursdays from January through February. On-snow skiing training is held in January and February at Whitetail Ski Resort nearby Pennsylvania (weekend trip). State competition in late February is at Whitetail Ski Resort just north of Hagerstown (3-day trip). Races offered are 25M, 50M, 100M, 200M+, relay teams.races are part of the Arctic Winter Games and the winter Special Olympics.
Training:
Dry Land Practices:
Occurs at Occurs at Leonard Hall Softball Field in Leonardtown on Thursday afternoon from 4:30PM-5:30PM from the season start through the week before Winter Games. Location: Leonard Hall, 23145 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown, MD 20650.
On Snow Practices:
Occurs at Whitetail Ski Resort during January and February. On-Snow Race Training, organized by Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD), is available on two dates each season providing experience with athletes from other counties.
Location:
Leonard Hall Recreation Center, 23145 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Whitetail Ski Resort https://www.skiwhitetail.com/
Timing:
Practice occurs every Thursday afternoon from the season start until the Thursday before Winter Games.
Activities:
Practice begins with warm-ups. Once warmed-up, athletes put on their snowshoes to practice running on grounds of the ball field as Leonard Hall. Practices include drills and games, all with the aim of improving their running skill with snowshoes on.
Eligibility for State Competition:
There are a required number of qualifiers needed to attend the state competition. Some of those can be the 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:
SOMD Winter Games are held at Whitetail Ski Resort in late February.
Participation in Other SOMD-SMC Sports:
Snowshoers can participate in other SOMD-SMC sports so long as the athlete can maintain full practice participation in all of their sports.
Athlete Participation Contract:
Not Required
Housing Requirements for State Competition:
Athletes participating in Winter Games will be housed for two nights in hotels in Hagerstown along with chaperones and the coaching staff, at a ratio of 3 athletes per chaperone/coach.
Athletes participating in Time Trials alone will participate as Day-of Athletes, without housing.
Other Considerations:
None.
Volunteers:
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 athletes and registered volunteers are allowed in the training area. 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.