Fall 2025 Unified Flag Football

2025 Fall Unified Flag Football League

Promoting Social Inclusion Through Sport

Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability. That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all. Having sports in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.

Program Overview: This program fosters inclusivity and teamwork among Special Olympics Michigan Athletes (ages 8-15 with intellectual disabilities or developmental delay) and Partners (ages 8-15 without an intellectual disability) through an engaging and structured unified flag football league.

Program Structure:

Location: Unified Sports and Inclusion Center: 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Fall Season: 5 weeks
Cost: Free
Teams: 4-6 teams (36 athletes and 24 partners)
Age Group: (Athletes: 8-15, Partners: 8-15)
Game Time: Sundays starting at either 10am or 11am (You will only be at the fields for 1 hour total regardless of schedule for each week)
Fields: 2 fields, each team allocated half a field for practice (If there is only practice scheduled), and 1-2 referees for games
Week-by-Week Schedule:
September 21st - Week 1: Practice
September 28th - Week 2: Practice/Game
October 5th - Week 3: Game
October 12th - Week 4: Game
October 19th - Week 5: Game
Date TBD: Make Up Week (it's common to use this date if there are any weather cancellations during the season)

Registration and Deadlines:

Registration Opens: Friday, August 1st
Registration Deadline: Sunday, September 21st at midnight
Virtual Coaching Training: TBA

Uniforms: Will be handed out during the 2nd week at the field, for the 1st week, please wear a white or black t-shirt. (PLEASE DO NOT ORDER JERSEY LETTERING AT CHECKOUT)

Included items:

1 mouth guard
NFL-Branded Jersey
Unified flag belt

Footwear: Cleats are optional, but athletic shoes are required

Grand Rapids Unified - Athletes

Registration closes on 09/21/2025 at 12:00 AM
Season Dates: 09/21/2025 to 10/19/2025
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$0.00

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Grand Rapids Unified - Partners

Registration closes on 09/21/2025 at 12:00 AM
Season Dates: 09/21/2025 to 10/19/2025
Show Details

$0.00

+ Register Now

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