Union County
Welcome to Special Olympics Oregon – Union County Local Program, serving athletes throughout Union County. We are dedicated to empowering athletes through year-round sports, training, and community involvement. With three sports seasons each year, there are countless opportunities to compete, grow, and connect with others. Explore this page for information on athlete and volunteer registration, seasonal sports schedules, and current program updates.
Sports Seasons | Winter | Summer | Fall |
| Dates | Jan-Apr | Apr-Jul | Sep-Nov |
| Sports | Cornhole Powerlifting | Athletics Golf | Bowling Swimming |
| Updates shared via Email & Facebook | Mid-November | Early March | Mid-July |
| Registration Deadline | Mid-December | End of March | Mid-August |
Contact Us
Mailing Address
PO Box 168
La Grande OR, 97850
Voicemail
971-238-5981
Local Program Team
Local Program Coordinator
Lis Thorne
Medical Manager
Julie Kay Dudley
For Athletes
Become an Athlete
ATHLETE HEALTH HISTORY RELEASE FORM
You must be enrolled and have a form on file before participating in any Special Olympics Oregon events, practices, or competitions.
- The NEW Athlete Health History Release form is required of athletes joining for the first time and current athletes as they renew.
- This form expires annually but no longer requires a physical exam or physician’s signature, so the renewal process is much easier.
- This form replaces the old “Athlete Medical” form.
- Complete this fillable form and return it to your Local Program.
- Once the Local Program receives a complete copy of the form, the athlete will be eligible for practice and competition.
Sports & Event Schedules
Sports & Event Schedules
2026 Fall Season
Medical and Registration Deadline: September 8th, 2026
Bowling
Season Date Range: September 12th – November 7th
Practice Day and Time: Saturdays, 9am – 11am
Location: Brickyard Lanes 1212 Jefferson Ave. La Grande, Oregon
Head Coach: Kevin Baldwin
Regional Competitions: November 7th, Pendleton, OR
Swimming
Season Date Range: September 10th –
Practice Day and Time: Thursdays 6pm to 7pm
Location: Veterans Memorial Pool – La Grande, Oregon
Head Coach: Susie Evans
Regional Competitions: Sunday – November 1st 2026 – YMCA SAM-O-SWIM Center
State Competitions: Practices will occur weekly until Regionals and then qualified athletes will continue until Fall State Games – Saturday, November 14th – THPRD Beaverton
Additional Notes:
Attendance Policy: Please remember for all sports: You are only allowed to miss two practices. If you cannot commit to the entire season, keep in mind that you will be eliminated if you miss three. Due to our numbers, we must hold athletes responsible for attending practices and not taking the place of an athlete who can/will make all the practices. Exceptions are possible on a case by case basis but not for vacations or other non-illness choices.
Clothes/Jewelry:
- Please wear clean, comfortable clothes.
- ALWAYS bring a water bottle
- Please avoid anything that might be offensive to your teammates.
- Please wear modest clothing – nothing too revealing.
- No jewelry, please.
- NO Denim of any kind
Local Program events
Bowl-A-Thon
Swimming Regional Competition – Sam-O-Swim Baker City Oregon
Swimming State competition – TBD
Bowling Regional Competition
Please check back later for further updates
For Coaches/Volunteers
Become a ‘Class A’ Volunteer
COACH – UNIFIED PARTNER – LOCAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TEAM
All volunteers who have close contact with athletes or who handle the financial assets of Special Olympics Oregon must complete a Class A volunteer application. This includes coaches, chaperones, Unified Partners and Local Program Management members. Volunteers need to complete the Class A Volunteer process which includes an online application, background check and online trainings.
Click on the link below to complete the application and trainings. The system will automatically guide you through the appropriate training modules for adults and minors.