Nine schools, 22 divisions and 37 teams — made up of 300 middle-schoolers of all abilities — gathered at Elk Ridge Middle to compete in one of Special Olympics’ fastest-growing events: bocce ball.

Courtnie Worthen of Special Olympics Utah said bocce is a game of accessibility that helps students build physical skills and confidence. Teams of four aimed to roll their balls closest to the pallina to score points. 

Elk Ridge ninth-grader Eliza Millet teamed up with eighth-grader Spencer Darrington.

“I like making new friends here,” Eliza said. “I like playing in all the unified sports – bocce, basketball, soccer – with my teammates.” 

Spencer added, “It’s fun when we get together to play.”

South Jordan seventh-grader Sam Gomez partnered with peer tutor Coen Trujillo.

“I’ve practice throwing it at school before today; it’s fun being outside with my friend playing the sport,” Sam said, who also was looking forward to middle school unified golf, his favorite sport, a few weeks later this past spring.

Coen added, “It’s fun when everyone plays; it builds our school spirit.”

Oquirrh Hills teacher Kathy Taylor values the sport for its inclusivity.

“I love bocce ball for my kids; no matter what their disability is, they can attempt it and have some successes,” she said. “Most of my kids play bocce; they’re learning social skills and enjoying cheering for everybody.”

Mountain Creek Principal Mike Glenn agrees. “All the kids can play bocce ball. Everyone gets a turn. They’re developing eye hand coordination and muscle strength and the kids love it. Their peer tutors love it. It brings about excitement.”

Elk Ridge PE teacher Steve Pollock and his students set up more than a dozen courts.

“I volunteered our school to host bocce because these students get left behind all the time; they get ignored,” he said. “I love having them in my PE class, and I’m just done with them getting ignored. So, my students help set up and take down the courts; they’re refereeing and they’re realizing a lot of students want to participate, they just don’t often get invited to play. I hope this makes them more empathetic and opens their eyes to their peer students.”

Pollock hopes to make it an annual event.

“When they walk through the arch onto the field with big smiles, and everyone’s cheering them, and they’re so excited to be involved, then this is what we need to do,” he said. “This is unified sports at its best.”λ