OSO FAQ

Q.  When are the Ohio Senior Olympics(OSO) held?

A.  The State Games events are held each year from May to September. 

Q.  Where are the Ohio Senior Olympics held?

A.  Our events are held in various locations throughout the state.  Please check our Events Homepage for each sport location and details.

Q.  What sports are offered at the Ohio Senior Olympics?

A.  Currently we offer the sports of:  Archery, Basketball(Team), Basketball Shooting Skills, Billiards, Bowling, Cornhole, Cycling, Disc Golf, Pickleball, Power Walk, Racquetball, Race Walk, Softball(Team), Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball(Team).

Q.  What are the age requirements to compete in the Ohio Senior Olympics?

A.  All athletes must be 50 years of age by December 31 of competing year.  Athlete’s competition age is based on his/her age on December 31, 2025.  Only exception is for team events(basketball, volleyball and softball) where team members maybe 49 yrs of age by December 31, of competing year. 

Participants will compete in one of the following age categories for both individual and or doubles sports: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99.  Team sports are divided into brackets: 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, and 80+.

Partner and team age groups will be determined by the age of the youngest partner/team member.

Athletes may be required to show proof of age during the State Games.  Any athletes unable to show proof of age will be disqualified.  Any team with a rostered individual who is not of minimum age, or whose age as listed on the roster is incorrect and causes the team to play in the wrong age division will be disqualified. 

Q.  Do I have to qualify at a regional Senior Games event to compete in the Ohio Senior Olympics?

A.  No, you do not.  Anyone who will be 50 years old is welcome to participate.

Q.  Do you need to be from Ohio to compete in the Ohio Senior Olympics?

A.  Ohio is an open state.  This means that anyone from outside of the state of Ohio may compete in our State Games.

Q.  How can I register?

A.  Registration opens each year in Mid-March.  You can find a link on our website to register online as well as details on each sport.  We have discontinued the use of paper registrations.  Athletes must register individually for all sports and events. 

Q.  How many sports may I sign up for?

A.  Athletes can register for as many sports as they would like, providing they do not conflict.  For team events(basketball, softball and basketball), athletes may compete on up to two teams per sport, providing that the teams are in different age groups.

Q.  How do I Qualify for the National Senior Games?

A.  The Ohio Senior Olympic State Games that take place in even numbered years act as the qualifying competition for The National Senior Games, which are held every two years, in odd numbered years. (In 2026 athletes qualify for the 2027 National Senior Games in Tulsa, Oklahoma)

To compete at The National Senior Games athletes must compete and qualify in their chosen event. Qualifying criteria varies from event to event but is established in advance of the qualifying State Games by The National Senior Games Association.

Q.  Is there more than one qualifying site in Ohio for the National Senior Games?

A.  No.  The Ohio Senior Olympics is the only qualifying event for the National Senior Games.  Our events are offered in various locations throughout the state from May to September.

Q.  Will out of state qualifiers knock out Ohio athletes from qualifying for the National Senior Games?

A.  To qualify for the National Senior Games, an athlete must be 50 years of age in a qualifying year and meet the qualification standards for the sport at a Qualifying State Senior Games that is sanctioned by NSGA. 

Qualifying standards differ depending on the sport/event; please CLICK HERE to view the current NSGA Rulebook.

Athletes qualify in even numbered years to attend the National Senior Games in odd numbered years.

Q.  Are my Username and Password the same as it was last year?

A.  Yes!  Your username and password will remain the same from year to year.  Please do not make a new account each year.  Make sure to review your personal info and email and make any updates so you can stay in touch and receive all confirmations and updates.  If you need assistance, please reach out to us at ohiosrolympics@gmail.com.

Q.  What if I need a partner for a doubles event? Or what if I want to join or find a team?

A.  Once registration opens for the Ohio Senior Olympics we have a Partner Finder page on our website.  Here you can fill out a form and post your contact information including what sport and event you are looking for a partner or team.  Athletes can also view information from other athletes looking for as well.  

Scroll down to the bottom half of the page to see a chart of athletes who are also looking for partners.  It is the responsibility of the athlete to contact other athletes as Ohio Senior Olympics will not put together teams or form partnerships.

Q.  Can my partner be from outside of the state?

A.  Yes, your partner can be from another state.  All Doubles teams made up of one in-state and one out-of-state athlete will be designated as an out-of-state team.

Q.  Where do I pick up my T-shirt? 

A.  T-shirts that are ordered during registration will be available for pick up at athlete check in at the event venue.  A limited number of extra T-shirts will be available at the event for purchase.  An OSO representative will accept Cash or PayPal only.

Q.  Something has come up and I am not able to compete.  May I receive a refund?

A.  Refunds are available with no explanation minus a $25 administration fee for all sport registrations. All refunds must be filed 14 days in advance of the sporting event/close of registration. No refunds will be processed after this point. The one-time Ohio Senior Olympics processing fee of $5 is non-refundable. Please contact Dina Hanks at dinahanks87@gmail.com to request a refund.

Q.  What does the Tentative Schedule mean?  When will the final schedule be determined?

A.  It is hard for us to determine the exact days for events this early in the registration process.  We are evaluating the registration each week to try and update all sporting event schedules.   When we post a new tentative schedule, it will have the date beside it to let you know when it has been updated.  

Q.  Where can I find the rules for each sport?

A.  All rules for each sport are set by the National Senior Games Association.  Visit the NSGA website at www.nsga.com for specifics.

Q.  When will the results be posted online?

A.  We will post the results to our website as soon as possible on the individual sport pages.

Q.  I don’t see an answer to my question here.  How do I contact the Ohio Senior Olympics?

A.  The best way to reach out to the Ohio Senior Olympics is by emailing us at ohiosrolympics@gmail.com.