2026 State Summer Games

June 12-13^th, 2026

University of New Hampshire
145 Main Street
Durham, NH

New this year: Softball is joining the Summer Games!

Please take a moment to review the rules of the sport and the order of events included below. Click on each of the sports listed below to access the rules for the sport.

The 2026 State Summer Games will offer competition in:

• Athletics
• Bocce
• Equestrian (event location not yet confirmed)
• Powerlifting
• Softball
• Unified Sprint Triathlon
• Swimming (competition will take place at Philips Exeter Academy)

You will register for the State Summer Games in Agon using the registration timeline below.

IF YOU NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS

About registration, which includes compliance, the registration process through Agon including intent to participate, registration and scratch, please contact Bridget at BridgetC@sonh.org or by phone at (603) 969-9572.

About the season or event, which includes preseason and coaches calls, final information, and day-of questions, please contact Mary at MaryC@sonh.org or by phone at (603) 770-4055.

EVENT INFORMATION

General Schedule

Thursday

• 4-7pm Local Program Check-in
• 5pm Housing available

Friday

• 7:30-10am Local Program Check-in
• 8am Competition Begins
• 11am Lunch
• 5pm Dinner
• 7:30pm Opening Ceremonies
• 9pm Field Dance

Saturday

• 6:30am Breakfast
• 8am Competition Begins
• 12pm Lunch

GENERAL INFORMATION

• LPs will be assessed $100 per registered participant (athletes, unified partners and LPVs).
• Housing
  • Will be on campus; you must bring your own linens.
  • Local programs will be assessed $32 per bed per night for housing.
  • Housing is a pass-through expense so Local Programs pay the actual cost of housing if they choose to utilize it.
• Meals will be provided beginning with dinner Thursday and ending with Saturday lunch.
• Training is an important part of athlete growth in both skill development and overall physical fitness.  Special Olympics New Hampshire encourages teams to train twice a week for 10 weeks prior to the State Tournament, with one practice focusing on sport specific training and one practice focusing on fitness (cross training etc.) to allow for optimal performance and readiness at the State Tournament.
• If the event is cancelled, it will not be rescheduled. 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

During the registration process, we will communicate with the primary LP contact, head coaches, Local Program Coordinator, Secondary Local Program Coordinator, Communications, and Compliance contacts.

FIRST PRACTICE SHOULD BE HELD BY

April 3^rd, 2026

Training is an important part of athlete growth in both skill development and overall physical fitness. Special Olympics New Hampshire expects teams to train twice a week for 10 weeks prior to the State Tournament.

PRESEASON VIDEO CALL

April 20^th

• Invitations for this virtual meeting will be sent to all primary games contacts and head coaches in Agon.
• We will discuss:
  • The season
  • Sports offered
  • Rules
  • High-level overview of the event

Intent to participate (Tell us you’re coming)

By April 29^th

• Please enter the primary Local Program contact for the Games as well as the Head Coach for each sport (these may be the same or different people). 
• Give us an estimate of the number of athletes/teams participating for each sport.  We are looking for a rough estimate for planning purposes only, this number can change as you move through registration.

COMPLIANCE (TELL US WHO IS COMING AND DEAL WITH PAPERWORK)

Now until May 13^th

• No athletes, unified partners, head coaches, coaches or LPVs may be added to your roster after the compliance period ends.
• New athletes must be recorded in Agon.
• If you would like your registration from a prior year flipped into this year, please email Bridget.
• By the end of the compliance period, all athletes, Unified Sports partners, head coaches, coaches and LPVs must be compliant (showing as green in Agon).
  • Requirements to be compliant can be found here:
    • Athlete
    • LPV / Unified Partner
    • Coach

REGISTRATION (ENTER EVENTS, QUALIFYING SCORES, LEVELS, TEAMS & MEALS)

May 14^th through May 27^th

• All athletes and Unified Sports partners must be registered for event specific information (event, level, qualifying score and team, if applicable).
  • Participants may compete in athletics OR bocce OR swimming and equestrian, powerlifting, softball and sprint triathlon (as long as events aren’t overlapping on the schedule – be sure to look at the schedule and make sure athletes have time for awards before their next event).
  • Accommodations are available Thursday and Friday nights at The Gables.
    • Each unit has six beds.
    • Local Programs will be assessed $32 per bed per night.
  • Coaches can request necessary lane accommodation, if needed please let Bridget know prior to the close of registration.
  • Additional housing (family members, spectators etc.) is available at UNH, contact Mary directly to book.
• Sports Specific
  • Athletics
    • Participants may register for events in only one category.
    • Participants may register for up to four events.
    • Do not register for back-to-back events.
    • Athletes may register for only one of the following events: tennis ball throw, softball throw or shot put.
    • Athletes may only register for one of the following events: running long jump or standing long jump.
    • Athletes may register for walking and running events as long as they are in the same category.
    • Enter a qualifying score for each event.
  • Bocce
    • Qualifying scores are not needed as ability is determined during the on-site qualifying round.
    • Participants may register for up to four events: a qualifying round, singles competition, doubles competition (traditional or Unified) and team competition (traditional or Unified).
    • All athletes and unified partners must compete in the on-site qualifying round.
  • Equestrian
    • Level must be entered for each athlete.
    • Name of horse is entered as the qualifying score.
    • Proof of negative Coggins test for horses dated within 1 year emailed to Bridget.
  • Powerlifting
    • Weight category must be entered for each athlete.
  • Swimming
    • Participants may register for up to four events.
    • Enter a qualifying score for each event in YARDS.
• Number of meals must be entered:
  • Local Programs will be assessed at a rate of $3 for each additional meal requested. Number of additional meals are calculated as outlined below:
    • (# of meals requested) – [(# of athletes + # of LPVs) * (# of meals offered)]
  • Please indicate in the notes how many meals are needed at the pool and/or barn (if applicable).

SCRATCH (UPDATE QUALIFYING SCORES & REMOVE PEOPLE)

June 3^rd, 2026

• Local Programs will be assessed for each person registered for the Games at the end of the scratch period.
• Please ensure that qualifying scores accurately reflect each athletes ability as they will be used to create divisions for the Games.

COACHES VIDEO CALL

June 8^th, 2026

• Invitations for this virtual meeting will be sent to all primary games contacts and head coaches in Agon.
• We will discuss the Games, including:
  • Draft final schedule
  • Menu
  • Competition
  • Weather

FINAL INFORMATION

June 9^th, 2026

• Final order of events and any follow up information required after the coaches video call will be distributed.