THE UNITY LEAGUE

Where the disabled and challenged are empowered to participate, play, and compete.

OVERVIEW

The Unity League is designed to provide additional swim opportunities for disabled and intellectually challenged athletes to practice and compete during the winter and spring months (February - May). There are two components to the league. First, the athletes will be able to practice and train 1-2x a week with qualified coaches and volunteers in their local area. Second, we will be offering developmental swim meets for them to compete and prepare for the Desert Challenge Games.

Athletes do not have to qualify or meet a minimum standard to compete in these meets, and they can swim up to five events in each meet. Also, they are not required to practice with the local coach to compete in the meets. They can sign up individually for the meets and they are not required to compete in any minimum number of meets offered. The meets will be offered in River, Mountain, Palo Verde, Four Peaks, Coronado, and Monument Regions. This provides everyone ages 10-18+ an opportunity to compete in their local region and not always have to travel to the same region.

Swim Clinics - May 2026

Provides 2-hour clinics to get athletes back in the water or provide extra training with qualified Coaches.

Seeking qualified swim Coaches and Volunteers to assist with practices and swim meets.

Athletes can choose 1-5 events to compete in. These meets will be offered once a month in various locations throughout the state.

Coaches & Volunteers

Developmental Swim Meets

Coach & Volunteer Interest Form

Registration Form

Desert Challenge Games

Bringing AZ Disabled Sports & Special Olympics of AZ Together

To create opportunities for disabled and challenged athletes to develop skills and enjoy competitive competition within their own unique communities.

Our Mission

Get Involved

Whether you are a coach, volunteer, or parent by fostering community and support, we open doors for everyone to experience the joy and challenge of sports, no matter their abilities.

River: Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Yuma, and surrounding cities
Mountain: Flagstaff, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona, Williams, Verde Valley, Paige Payson and surrounding cities
Palo Verde: Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, Phoenix, Surprise, and surrounding cities
Four Peaks: Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, and surrounding cities
Coronado: Casa Grande, Douglas, Eloy, Marana, Nogales, Rio Ric, San Manuel, Sells, Sierra Vista, Tucson, Vail, Willcox, and surrounding cities
Monument: Clifton, Globe, Holbrook, Morenci, Navajo Nation, Safford, Show Low, Springerville, and surrounding cities

Regions & Local Areas

Our Programs & Services

Empowering every individual to train, compete, and thrive together.

Swim Clinics - May 2026

It's time to swim. These 2-hour clinics are designed for disabled and intellectually challenged athletes ages 7-18+ to work on various swim techniques with experienced coaches. All participants do not need to know how to do all the strokes. However, they do need to be able to swim or move in the water without assistance. If they cannot swim without a parent, guardian, or caregiver in the water with them then they need to be present and in the water to provide proper assistance for that participant.

*Pricing - $40 is the amount paid for the first clinic attended by the participant. Any clinic attended after that will be $20 and collected at the clinic.

#1 – The Barn Academy

Date: May 2, 2026

Location: 20025 E. Germann Rd, Queen Creek 85142

Time: 1p-3

Price: $40
#2 – Ability 360

Date: May 9, 2026

Location: 5031 E. Washington St, Phoenix, 85034

Time: 11a-1

Price: $40 or $20 if participated in previous clinic

#3 – The Barn Academy

Date: May 16, 2026

Location: 20025 E. Germann Rd, Queen Creek 85142

Time: 1p-3

Price: $40 or $20 if participated in previous clinic

#4 – Ability 360

Date: May 23, 2026

Location: 5031 E. Washington St, Phoenix, 85034

Time: 11a-1

Price: $40 or $20 if participated in previous clinic

Developmental Swim Meets

Developmental meets will be offered January - May 2027 to provide opportunities for swimmers to compete in 1-5 different heats per meet. Athletes do not have to meet any minimum time standards, and the results will not qualify them for any National events or competitions.

These meets are designed to give athletes opportunities to compete and get more comfortable with how a swim meet works and to provide opportunities to race in heats that may not be their specialty.

They will be offered in different regions across the state. They do not have to be participating in our prep program to participate, nor do they have to compete in a minimum number of meets.

They do have to be members of both AZDS and SOAZ to compete in these unified meets.

Desert Challenge Games 2026

May 27-31st (National Qualifying Meet hosted by AZDS)

Competitions included in the 2026 Games:

Air rifle & air pistol competition
Track & field
Swimming
Archery

For more information, click here https://www.arizonadisabledsports.com/registration

Calling all coaches and volunteers! We are looking to hire Independent Contractors to assist with our prep teams and swim meets.

In order to participate in our events, we require any adult participating in an intimate role with the team (head coach, assistant coach, volunteer, driver, basically anyone performing a role for the team that goes beyond parent or spectator) to complete some trainings, waivers, and a background check to ensure that we are keeping our athletes safe with the people who are around them.

A link will be provided to the Class A portal through SOAZ and will walk participants through the steps of completing these trainings. Completing everything required to become certified should take roughly an hour, and the background check is paid for by Special Olympics Arizona.

All coaches and registered volunteers will be 1099 Independent Contractors and will be paid an hourly rate for practices and a flat rate for swim meets which includes one paid meal. Coaches are not required to attend swim meets but encouraged to assist athletes and parents.