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.

Training Prep Program

Provides additional opportunities to swim 1-2x week with a Coach or Volunteer. Teams will be formed in various cities throughout the state.

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

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.

Training Preparation Program

It's time to prepare for the Desert Challenge Games. Join our 10- week training preparation program. All levels and abilities ages 10 - 18+ are welcome.

We offer athletes an opportunity to swim 1-2 x week for 1 hour and 15 minutes per session, for a total of 2.5 hours of training a week. The sessions provide an opportunity to improve stroke skills, speed, and endurance. This is not designed to teach swim lessons to non-swimmers. There is no attendance or meet participation requirements. Swimmers will work with athletes with similar abilities and may not be divided strictly by age or gender. We will staff with the highest level of coaches and/or volunteers available in the area.

The minimum ratio is 1 coach for every 10 swimmers. If a swimmer requires additional assistance, a parent, guardian, or caregiver may assist and attend practices with them. They will not be brought on as an Independent Contractor and will work with their member only during practices and meets.

All practices are designed to work and challenge the participants. All four strokes will be reviewed and if a site permits, swimmers will work on dives throughout the season.

Required Equipment (not included in participation fees): fins, goggles, and kickboard. Optional Equipment: swim bag, snorkel, and parka

10- Week Training Preparation Program Dates: March 22nd - May 28th Location: Offered in local regions throughout the state Cost: $400 Options to offset or cover costs are available through our SNAP Fundraiser and Swim-a-thon

Developmental Swim Meets

Developmental meets will be offered March - May 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.

Dates and Locations 2026 - TBD

February 21st: AZ Cardinals Climb, State Farm Stadium

March: TBD

April: TBD

May - Swim-A-Thon, CDT Barn Academy, Queen Creek

May - Desert Challenge Games, May 27-31st (National Qualifying Meet hosted by AZDS)

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.