Professionals are needed to provide their expertise and services in a variety of ways to the SONJ community. Whether you are a medical professional looking to help with medical screenings or a certified aquatics official wishing to help at a state event, SONJ has many opportunities available to suit your time and skill set.
Professional volunteer positions include medical volunteers, healthy communities volunteers, office support, photographers, sports officials, clinicians, and more.
Medical Volunteers provide onsite coverage of Special Olympics New Jersey competitions and events by providing simple first aid. Medical Volunteers can be physicians, athletic trainers, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and/or paramedics.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Medical Volunteer requirements:
- Volunteer Forms and Waivers (SSN is required to register): must be completed every three years.
- Protective Behaviors training: must be completed every three years.
For more information on how to become a medical volunteer, please email volunteer@sonj.org.
Healthy Communities is a Special Olympics program recognized and accredited by Special Olympics International for its commitment to reducing disparities in health status and increasing access to community health resources for Special Olympics athletes and others with intellectual disabilities (ID).
In addition to free health screenings through our Healthy Athletes program, we provide a number of initiatives developed to support the overall well-being of our athletes.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Healthy Communities Volunteer requirements:
- Volunteer requirements vary based on volunteer role.
For more information on how to become a healthy communities volunteer, please email volunteer@sonj.org.
Office Support volunteers help Special Olympics New Jersey with a variety of administrative projects. Volunteers assist with tasks that include data entry and event planning. This is a seasonal volunteer opportunity and is available at the Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Office Support volunteer requirements
- Volunteer Forms and Waivers (SSN is required to register): must be completed every three years.
- Protective Behaviors training: must be completed every three years.
For more information on how to become an office support volunteer, please email volunteer@sonj.org.
Volunteer photographers help to capture the most memorable moments of our athletes and events, helping us to highlight the movement. Volunteer photographers must supply their own photography equipment.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Photographer requirements
- Volunteer Forms and waivers: must be completed every three years.
For more information on how to become a volunteer photographer, please email Marco at mc@sonj.org.
Sports officials ensure athlete safety during competition by enforcing rules of play, maintain integrity of sport by enforcing current rules and regulations, and maintain flow of game with proper mechanics and communication. This is a great role if you love staying in the action of the game and engaging with our superstar athletes.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Sports Officials requirements:
- Volunteer Forms and Waivers: must be completed every three years.
For more information on how to become a sports official, please email volunteer@sonj.org.
Sports Clinicians are the backbone of our programs, as they provide the instruction and platform for coaches to learn the rules and regulations of their particular sport. Sports Clinicians are responsible for presenting a sport-specific training curriculum for the purpose of helping our volunteer coaches meet their certification requirements. If you have experience with sport rules and regulations and love to help train other coaches, this is the role for you.
Minimum age: 18 years old
Sports Officials requirements:
- Volunteer Forms and Waivers: must be completed every three years.
For more information on how to become a sports clinician, please email volunteer@sonj.org.
Professionals with additional expertise and services can email volunteer@sonj.org. A contact from Special Olympics New Jersey will reach out to you with more information on how to get involved.