GVSU students, Special Olympics athletes form soccer league

A group of Grand Valley State University students and Special Olympics of Michigan athletes have teamed together to form a soccer league that plays every Wednesday through June 10. 

The four-team intramural league, called Unified Soccer, plays at 6 p.m. at the soccer fields on the Allendale Campus along Laker Village Dr. 

Games are played in a 7 vs 7 format, with four SOMI athletes and three Grand Valley students playing together on each team. 

The partnership is part of Special Olympics Unified Sports, an international initiative that promotes social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences.  

"The new program provides SOMI athletes and students the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle and create new friendships in an inclusive environment, which is the goal," said Mackenzie Lucius, organizer of the league and graduate assistant for Campus Recreation at Grand Valley. 

Grand Valley plans to add flag football, basketball and kickball programs in the future. 

For more information contact Mackenzie Lucius at [email protected].