NSO Sports
Unified Basketball
Basketball is a favorite among Nashua Special Olympics athletes! In addition to team competition, Nashua Special Olympics Basketball also offers individual skills competition, which allows athletes to develop fundamental basketball skills.
Nashua Special Olympics currently has five Unified Teams, as well as our Skills Team. Throughout our practice season, our teams practice 2-3 hours weekly, with at least two competition events during the season.
Season: January through April
Competitions: Regional Tournament, Keene State College and SONH State Basketball
Tournament, Derry, NH
Head Coach: Dodi Mitchell dodi2@mac.com
Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding
Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding are exciting winter sports that challenge the athlete’s downhill racing ability and coordination. Athletes are paired on the slopes at a 1-1 ratio with an experienced volunteer/partner to work on improving their skills each week.
Nashua Special Olympics welcomes all levels of ability into the ski program and has helped many athletes progress from first time skiers & snowboarders to intermediate or advanced levels!
Practices are held weekly at Gunstock Mountain through the ski season, with two competitions during the season.
Season: January through March
Competition: Regional Assessment Dartmouth Ski Area, NH
And SONH Winter Games, Waterville Valley NH
Head Coach: Maureen Knepp
knepp@comcast.net
Cross Country Skiing
Cross Country Skiing is a winter sport, which promotes superior physical conditioning while providing enjoyment for athletes of all ages.
Nashua Special Olympics welcomes all levels of ability into the Cross Country ski program. Athletes are paired on the trails at a 1-1 ratio with an experienced volunteer/partner to work on improving their skills each week.
Practices are held weekly locally in Nashua throughout the season, with two competitions during the season.
Season: January through March
Competition: Regional Assessment Coe Brown, NH
And SONH Winter Games, Waterville Valley NH
Head Coach: Laurie Heskett
bltbheskett@yahoo.com
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is very similar to athletics and shares the same excellent cardiovascular workout as Cross Country skiing.
Nashua Special Olympics welcomes all levels of ability into the Snowshoe program. Athletes are paired on the trails at a 1-1 ratio with an experienced volunteer/partner to work on improving their skills each week.
Practices are held weekly locally in Nashua throughout the season, with two competitions during the season.
Season: January through March
Competition: Regional Assessment Coe Brown, NH
And SONH Winter Games, Waterville Valley NH
Head Coach: Jan Kolesar
J.Kolesar@yahoo.com
Swimming
Because of the wide array of swimming events offered, aquatics are appropriate for a range of ages and ability levels. Nashua Special Olympics currently has two teams: Youth ages 15 & under and Adult 16 & older.
Nashua Special Olympics welcomes all levels of ability into the Swim program, from advanced swimmers to athletes in assisted swim levels. Athletes work in the pool weekly with the swim coach and experienced volunteers.
Practices are held weekly throughout the Swim season, on Sundays, at the Boys & Girls Club of Nashua, with two competitions during the season.
Season: January through June
Competition: Regional Assessment, SNHU Manchester, NH
And SONH Summer Games, UNH Durham, NH
Head Coach: Bethany Justason
bethanyjustason@gmail.com
Athletics
Athletics consists of Track & Field and Bocce Sports. Track & Field offers a wide range of events, including from the 50/100/400 meter race, the pentathlon, high jump, long jump, shot put, relays and wheelchair events.
Bocce is a game of skill and strategy. The object is for one team to get as many of their balls (boccia) closer to the smallest ball (pallina) than the opposing team’s closest ball. There may be anywhere from two to four players on a team.
Nashua Special Olympics welcomes athletes of all ability levels into the Athletics program. Athletes will practice weekly on the field to improve their skills with the help of the Athletics Coach and field volunteers.
Both Track & Field and Bocce practices are held weekly during the season at the Pennichuck Junior High School track.
Season: April through June
Competition: Regional Assessment, NH
And SONH Summer Games, UNH Durham, NH
Head Coach: Position is currently open…..please consider volunteering to Coach!
Unified Softball
Softball is an exciting team sport, in which Athletes play slow-pitch Softball. Our teams are Unified, with Athletes and Unified Volunteer partners playing together as a team and continually working on developing softball and team skills. Nashua Special Olympics has two teams: beginner and Intermediate/advanced.
Practices are held weekly throughout the season locally at Nashua softball fields with competitions at the end of the season.
Season: July through September
Competition: SONH State Games, Keene, NH
Head Coach: Lauren Collins, Jamie Abrams, Steven Wiggett (603-557-7087)
Unified Golf
The Nashua Special Olympics Unified Golf program is centered on two educational phases designed to encompass all skill levels: learning to swing a golf club and learning to play the game. Athletes may participate in Skills, 5 Hole Unified, Unified 9 Hole and Unified 18 Hole events. Each athlete is paired with an experienced Volunteer Golf Partner each week during practice to work on learning the game and improving skills. At the beginning of practice season, the Golf team spends several weeks at the driving range before moving on to the course.
Practices are held weekly on Sunday & Monday evenings throughout the Golf season at Green Meadow Golf Course in Hudson, NH.
Season: June through August
Competition: Regional Assessment (2 tournaments)
And State Golf Tournament, Nippo Lake Course, NH
Head Coach: Head Coach John Chesnulevich at nfdx01@gmail.com.
Unified Soccer
Soccer is a popular sport for children and adults around the world. Athletes are able to improve their overall physical fitness through training and competition. Nashua Special Olympics Athletes work on the field with their Coach and Partner/Volunteers to build soccer and team skills.
Practices are held weekly throughout the season, locally in Nashua, with two competitions during the season.
Season: July through September
Competition: SONH Fall Games
Head Coach: Bruno Soares
bsoares.nh@gmail.com
Bowling
Bowling is a popular sport in Nashua Special Olympics! Teams practice, build their skills and compete in Candlepin style bowling.
Practices are held weekly at Leda Lanes in Nashua throughout the season.
Season: September through late October
Competition: SONH State Bowling Tournament, Nashua, NH
Head Coach: Virginia Morency
justva8@yahoo.com
Unified Floor Hockey
Floor Hockey is played on a rink, but the surface is made of wood or concrete, not ice. The teams are composed of six players, including a goalie. Floor Hockey is a Unified Sports competition and athletes and partners use hockey sticks with a plastic blade and an orange vinyl puck.
Season: We are looking to begin offering this sport again in the near future!
Competition:
Head Coach: Position is currently open…..please consider volunteering to Coach!