Fitness Model Endorsement Application

Thank you for your interest in Special Olympics International’s fitness model endorsement process. A fitness model is a structured, yet adaptable, form of fitness programming that intentionally promotes healthy behaviors in physical activity, nutrition, and hydration supported by evaluation evidence. Please complete all fields on this form. Materials will be reviewed by SOI’s Fitness and Research & Evaluation teams, as well as the Global Fitness Task Force (comprised of approximately 15 members representing all 7 regions).


Eligibility for endorsement:

  • Programming must have taken place for at least two years.
  • Programming must be a minimum of 6 weeks in length.
  • At least one evaluation completed, with data on participant-level outcomes for a minimum of 20 athletes (people with ID).
  • Programs must own the rights to the fitness model (for example, if working with a university partner, the university does not hold exclusive rights to the program).


Benefits of having your model endorsed by Special Olympics:

  • SOI will provide technical assistance to support growth and sustainability of the model, including resource dissemination and training.
  • SOI will host a fitness models training annually, open to all Programs, with information on how to implement the model (to be co-led by the Program who developed the model).
  • SOI will regularly share strong practices and lessons learned across Programs through ongoing training and technical assistance.

Timeline:

  • Application Review: Annually between February-April, starting in 2025.
  • Applications Due: On-going submissions. To be considered for 2025, submit by Friday, February 7, 2025.
  • Decision to Programs: April 18, 2025


SOI will reserve the right to work with Programs to adapt resources as need to ensure cultural and global relevancy.


For questions about this process, please contact fitness@specialolympics.org.

Program Contact Information

(e.g. Special Olympics Missouri)

Fitness Model Description

Summarize in 1-2 paragraphs

Note that this fitness model must have been implemented for a minimum of 2 years with at least one year of evaluation data.

Adoption

You may also upload materials in the file upload section.

Maintenance and Sustainability

(e.g. space, equipment)

Reach

Enter total number over the course of the years you've implemented programming.

Enter total number over the course of the years you've implemented programming. This may include family/caregivers, Unified partners, group home staff, etc.

(e.g. Older adults with ID; students ages 8-21 with and without ID)

Evaluation

Please select all that apply.

Implementation

Note that multiple options can be selected.

Select or enter value
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(e.g. Conduct site visits, ask facilitators to complete checklists)

Innovation

File Upload

  1. Fitness model resources, training materials, and other relevant materials used to implement this model.
  2. Evaluation Materials:

         A. Evaluation Protocol including the following information:

  • How the evaluation was conducted
  • Place of data collection
  • Personnel needed to conduct the evaluation
  • Data collection instruments (e.g. surveys) and recording sheets.

       B. Outcomes/key findings of the evaluation

  • This can include written reports, data summaries, publications, conference presentations, etc.
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