The effects of a Special Olympics Unified Sports Soccer training program on anthropometry, physical fitness and skilled performance in Special Olympics soccer athletes and non-disabled partners

The Game of Life soccer program: Effect on skills, physical fitness and mobility in persons with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder

“…This finding is in accordance with the findings of Baran et al (2013), who reported that the Unified Sport soccer programme for youth (ages 12-15) resulted in a significant increase in the participants' soccer skills. Therefore, the present authors aimed to investigate the effect of the GOL programme not only on physical fitness and mobility, but also on soccer skills.…”

A systematic literature review of the physical and psychosocial correlates of Special Olympics participation among individuals with intellectual disability

“…) and one RCT (Baran et al . ). In one additional non‐RCT, Wright & Cowden () reported 25 athletes with ID, ages 12 to 18 years, who participated in 10 weeks of Traditional SO showed greater gains in cardiovascular endurance as compared with a comparison group of physically inactive youth with ID.…”

“…; Baran et al . ; Favazza et al . ) were RCTs with adequate concealment methods and outcomes measured in a standard, valid and reliable manner.…”

“…Other studies, however, determined the degree of physical fitness and some anthropometric changes to be not clinically meaningful ( n = 4; Baran et al . ; Marks et al . ; Pitetti et al .…”

Understanding Special Olympics Experiences from the Athlete Perspectives Using Photo‐Elicitation: A Qualitative Study

“…Baran et al . () found that youth with intellectual disabilities in a Special Olympics training group showed improvements in physical abilities and sport‐specific techniques compared to youth with intellectual disabilities, who were involved in a traditional school physical education programme, and suggest that there are important health benefits to participating in organized sport above and beyond what is offered in traditional physical education programmes.…”