Overnight Housing Policy

Our Commitment to Athlete-Centered Safety
Special Olympics is an athlete-centered movement welcoming individuals with intellectual disabilities of all abilities.

• Ages 8 and up are eligible for traditional Special Olympics training and competition.
• Under 8? Learn more about our Young Athletes Program for early developmental activities.

At Without Limits – Team Galaxy, we align with Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) in placing the health and safety of all participants above all else—including athletes, coaches, and volunteers—especially during overnight events.

Minimum Housing Policy Requirements
All Without Limits – Team Galaxy overnight housing arrangements must follow these rules:

• Age-Based Room Assignments
  • Ages 14 and under may only room with others 14 and under.
  • Ages 15 and over may only room with others 15 and over.
• Athlete Eligibility
  • Must have an active CoE Account / Portal
    • Medical Form Requirements
    • Renewed every 3 years

Chaperone Requirements

• Must be Class A Certified (Apply Here)
• Must complete:
  • Background Check
  • Online Protective Behaviors & Concussion Awareness Training
• Must be 18 years or older
• Certification is valid for 3 years

Gender-Based Housing Rules
Athletes and volunteers may not share a room with individuals of the opposite sex.
Without Limits – Team Galaxy policy:  Coaches/chaperones do not share rooms with athletes.
Approved Exceptions Include:

• Married athletes both registered for the event
• Married volunteers both Class A certified and registered
• Opposite-sex family member chaperones (Class A certified, one-on-one with the athlete)
• Mixed-gender groups in multi-room housing (e.g., condos/dorms) — but private rooms must remain single-gender
• Open-room environments (e.g., gyms or barracks) — athletes must be separated by gender and space

Non-Registered Participants
Only registered athletes, coaches, and Class A certified chaperones may stay in delegation housing.
Friends, spectators, or even family members not registered with the delegation are not permitted to stay overnight.
Violations may result in:

• Fines
• Delegation probation
• Exclusion from future events

Supervision & Ratios

• Maintain a 1:4 coach-to-athlete ratio
• Proper overnight supervision does not require a coach to be in each athlete room
• Coaches may not room with athletes

Young Athletes Overnight Policy
Young Athletes (under age 8) require enhanced supervision:

• Must be accompanied by a screened and registered parent, guardian, or approved 1:1 chaperone
• Rooming should be separate from the main delegation (e.g., separate hotel room or floor)

Best Practices for Safe & Smart Housing

• Match roommates by age, maturity, size, and ability
• Provide each delegation member with their own bed (when possible)
• Use door markers (color-coded paper or names) to indicate chaperone rooms
  (Avoid using full names on signs for privacy)
• Do not prop open exterior doors—this can compromise athlete safety and increase the risk of theft

Questions?  For housing arrangements, contact us at:  [email protected]