Sporting Meets / State Games
1. I don’t think my child will be comfortable on the bus. Can I take my child with me to the event and meet the group there?
No. All athlete’s are required to take the bus to all sport meets, including
weekend state games. If your child is in a wheelchair, a lift bus will be utilized for the group for that trip to ensure
that we are able to stay together as a group. This rule is non-negotiable. Athletes who do not take the bus with the group will not be allowed to participate
at the meet.
After the meet parents may take their athlete with them back home, in lieu of them riding the bus, if they wish to
do so. Deb Clason must be advised that you have your athlete and are leaving
before you leave the event so that all of our athletes can be accounted for.
If there are extreme extenuating circumstances, parents may discuss their concerns with Deb Clason no less than
one week prior to the day of departure. In very rare situations, athletes
have been allowed to ride with their parents, following the bus to events. This
determination can only be made by Deb Clason.
Having all the athlete’s together provides beneficial and peer appropriate socialization by allowing the athletes
to get to know each other, along with our coaches getting to know the athletes, within a relaxed and fun environment. Additionally, our newer athletes are able to acclimate themselves more easily to being
“one of the group” without the presence of their parents.
Our coach-to-athlete ratio is small and each athlete will have the necessary supervision, support and care that they
need. Our newer athletes—or more medically impacted athletes--sit near
or next to their coach or another coach to help with this first transition. As
with any bus full of kids, friends are able to sit together. If your athlete
already knows someone within KCSO that they would like to sit with every effort will be made to seat them together.
2. Is there
a packing list that needs to be followed for overnight meets?
Yes. Click “here” and you will be taken to our Forms page. From there you can download and print
the packing list.
3. How will
my child’s medication be handled on day and weekend trips?
There is a detailed medical form that parents fill out for their athletes prior to any overnight event that covers
medication needs. Click “here” to be forwarded to our Forms page, where you can download and print a copy of this medical packet.
Prior to departure for the event, all parents will receive small medicine envelopes in which to put their athlete’s
medication, by dose and time. Liquid medications, medications requiring refrigeration
or medications delivered via machines or injection must be provided to Deb Clason no later than one day prior to departure.
All operation instructions for machine delivered medications are to be written
/ typed up and reviewed with Deb Clason no later than one week prior to the date of departure. This review should take place in person, so that adequate understanding of the machine operation can take
place. Parents are responsible for making this review appointment with Deb Clason. Directions for medication administration or machine operation will not be accepted
the morning of departure.
4. My athlete likes to drink soda pop. Can I provide this
for him/her?
No. Soda pop of any kind is not allowed at area meets and at/over state game weekends.
The health of our athletes is our top priority. Soda can be dehydrating
and many of our events can be physically draining and/or take place within hot, humid environments. Further, many of our athletes cannot have soda pop, due to medical or dietary restrictions. By not allowing it for all of our athletes, we eliminate the risk of friends sharing their pop with someone
who cannot have it. KCSO provides water or sport-type drinks, such as Propel,
at our events for our athletes. If an athlete is seen with soda pop, it will
be taken away. This rule applies to our volunteers and coaching staff, as well,
and we request that parents who will be at our events comply to alleviate any misunderstandings on the part of our athletes.
5.
Can I bring in a special lunch for my athlete?
No. KCSO provides lunches for all athletes at our meets.
At our weekend state events, meals and snacks are provided.
There are exceptions to this rule if your athlete has specific dietary restrictions, such as those listed below:
-
Allergies to common food ingredients
-
Follows a medically monitored diet
-
Is tube or button
fed
-
Has a chewing/swallowing weakness that prevents them from chewing up certain substances without creating a safety risk
Parents should express their concerns to Deb Clason, no less than one week prior to the date of the event for
a determination on their athlete’s meal(s) for the day/weekend. Any
exception to this rule will be made by Deb Clason only.
Under no circumstances
will it be allowed for a parent to bring in a special meal from a restaurant of any kind at any time for their athlete. Any special meals will be made ahead of time as a sack lunch.
6. Can I come into the dorm with my athlete and help him/her
unpack and get settled?
No. Illinois State rules prohibit
parents from being in the dorms on the room floors.
7. Can my athlete
bring his/her cell phone to State Games?
No. KCSO does not allow it’s athletes to bring their
individual cell phones to weekend State Game events, due to the risk involved of loss, theft, breakage and misuse. Each of our coaches and exec board members who are attending the event will have their cell phones on them
at all times. These numbers are shared among the group and Deb Clason has a master
list. If an athlete is seen with his/her cell phone, it will be confiscated and
kept in a secure area and provided to the parents at the end of the event.
General Questions
8. Where can I get a medical form to be filled out by my doctor?
You can download and print a copy of the state required medical form by clicking “here”, where you will be forwarded to our Forms page. Remember that the State of Illinois
Special Olympics Association requires that both signatures be original. Photocopies of either signature will not be accepted.
Your athlete MUST have a current medical form on file with KCSO no later than the first practice of their first event,
if they are a new athlete. Returning athletes MUST have a current medical form
on file with KCSO no later than the first practice of the event immediately following the expiration of their previous medical
form. If we do not have a medical on file for your athlete, they will not
be able to participate at practice or the meet.
9. Do parents need to stay for every practice and attend each
event?
Practices
No. Many of our parents will leave their athlete(s) at practice while they run errands. KCSO does require that a guardian be present at the end of practice in which to pick
up the athlete on time.
Event
and State Games
No. As athletes ride the bus to/from area meets
and state games, many parents will come to the event or portion of the state game that their athlete is participating in only. Parents are not required to stay for the entire event or
come to State games, although they are certainly welcome and encouraged to do so.
10. Do parents need to stay at non-sporting events with their
athletes?
Yes. KCSO will not have adequate coaches to safely supervise all athletes at our non-sporting events. Specifically, KCSO’s Halloween Dance, Holiday Party and End
of Year Banquet require your athlete have an accompanying guardian who will be responsible for them for the entire time
they are in attendance.
Parents do not stay at the Spring Dance/Fun Night, as these are for “athletes
only”. Parents should be sure to note what time the Dance/Fun Night will
be over, so that they are able to be available to take their athlete home on time.
Parents are welcome to stay, but do not have to stay, at the Special Populations Cruise at Starved Rock and the Torch
Run, both of which take place in June. Bus transportation will be provided and
we will have appropriate coaching staff for supervision purposes.
