On Wednesday, September 15th, the Switchbacks Unified Team hosted the Colorado Rapids Unified Team in the first ever USL Unified match. Immediately following the Switchbacks vs. Rio Grande Valley match, the two teams took to the pitch at Weidner Field for an abbreviated 45-minute game (two 20-minute halves with a five-minute intermission).
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC partnered up with Special Olympics Colorado to build the first ever USL Unified team. The team, made up of 20 players, is a blend of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peer partners (volunteers who will assist in game play). Tryouts were held in May, with nearly one hundred athletes coming out to do their best to make the team. Athletes had to be official Special Olympic athletes in order to be eligible for the team, and must be over the age of sixteen. The team hopes to be an inspiration for other USL teams to make their own Unified teams, and eventually have a competitive slate of matches that make up a season.
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks Unified Team will next take the field on October 23rd at Dick Sporting Goods Park, for tickets, head to the Colorado Rapids website and search for their Unified team.
October 23, 2021
Following: Colorado vs Portland
Dick Sporting Goods Park
Denver, CO
On Wednesday, September 15th, the Switchbacks Unified Team hosted the Colorado Rapids Unified Team in the first ever USL Unified match. Immediately following the Switchbacks vs. Rio Grande Valley match, the two teams took to the pitch at Weidner Field for an abbreviated 45-minute game (two 20-minute halves with a five-minute intermission).
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC partnered up with Special Olympics Colorado to build the first ever USL Unified team. The team, made up of 20 players, is a blend of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peer partners (volunteers who will assist in game play). Tryouts were held in May, with nearly one hundred athletes coming out to do their best to make the team. Athletes had to be official Special Olympic athletes in order to be eligible for the team, and must be over the age of sixteen. The team hopes to be an inspiration for other USL teams to make their own Unified teams, and eventually have a competitive slate of matches that make up a season.
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks Unified Team will next take the field on October 23rd at Dick Sporting Goods Park, for tickets, head to the Colorado Rapids website and search for their Unified team.
October 23, 2021
Following: Colorado vs Portland
Dick Sporting Goods Park
Denver, CO