The Dwarf Athletic Association of America will be hosting the 29^th National Games during the 2015 Little People of America’s National Conference in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) was founded in 1985 as a non-profit organization with the mission to provide athletic competition, guidance, support and information to people of short stature and to their families. DAAA organizes a competition annually in conjunction with the Little People of America’s National Conference to provide sports in a safe and controlled competition as part of their mission. Our competition has been growing yearly with over 300 athletes competing is a variety of sports during the week of the conference.

Some of the athletes who started out with DAAA and continue to compete with DAAA are currently training and competing with Team USA in the Paralympics.  DAAA was a starting ground for these elite athletes.   

There is no membership requirement to participate in the DAAA National Games.  DAAA encourages all athletes of short stature, no matter the level of ability and skill to join the competition. It is very rewarding to compete with other athletes who are of similar height, size and ability in a safe and controlled competition.

There are sports for every comfort zone and ability.  DAAA offers individual competitions and team sports.  The sports we are offering for individual competition this year are Track & Field, Swimming, Boccia, Badminton and Kurling.  Our team sports will be Soccer, Basketball, Team Boccia, Volleyball and Touch Football.

All athletes who wish to participate are required to register for the National Games. 

For those who are not able to compete or want to be involved, DAAA usually needs about 100 volunteers to assist with the organization and execution of each year’s National Games. Without the many volunteers we have every year we would not be able to provide the level of competition that we do.  We have many long term volunteers that enjoy the time spent with the athletes as well as being involved in providing something these athletes cannot get anywhere else, a competitive sporting event. 

DAAA is using VolunteerSpot (the leading online signup and reminder tool) to organize volunteers for the 2015 National Games. 

Please sign up for DAAA National Games Volunteers! 

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps: 
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot:http://vols.pt/u8Ho1S 
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot) 
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy! 

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually. Amy.welch@live.com 

DAAA is looking forward to a great National Games in St. Louis and hopes you will be a part of the fun.  

IMPORTANT NOTICES – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Medical Evaluations:  

All Athletes are required to complete a current Medical Evaluation. Medical Evaluations are good for two years. A 2014 Medical Evaluation submitted for the National Games in San Diego will be valid for the 2015 National Games. If you did not complete a new Medical Evaluation in 2014 you will need to have a new Medical Evaluation completed this year. Questions regarding the status of your Medical Evaluation should be directed to daaa@flash.net.  Athletes who are only participating in Boccia do not need a Medical Evaluation.

 The form can be accessed here or at daaa.org.

Event Times:

Times indicated on the schedule are the check-in times for the event.   Busses will leave 30 minutes prior to check in times. All times are subject to change. Please verify event times at the on-site DAAA registration room when arriving in Saint Louis and during the week of the National Games.

DAAA wants to offer as much as possible during the National Games so unfortunately there are some events that are being held at the same time.  All athletes must make a choice as to which events they want to participate in.  It is not possible to participate in two events that are scheduled for the same time.

Registration Completion on-site:

All Athletes must complete their registration at the DAAA office on-site in Saint Louis BEFORE competing in any events.  To complete the DAAA registration process athletes will need to:

• Turn in current Medical evaluation
• Sign Athlete Code of Conduct and Waivers
• Sign Family and Friends Code of Conduct and Waivers
• Receive Athlete Participation Number (required to check in and participate at all events)

Registration Deadline for Individual Events:

Registration deadline for individual events is 24 hours prior to the event.  Events can be added on-site as long as it is before the final deadlines.  There will be no on-site additions for Soccer events on July 4, 2015.

Classification:

Open and Master athletes participating in swimming and/or track and field must complete the Classification measurement requirements. All junior athletes who opt to compete in the open division for swimming and/or track and field must complete the Classification measurement requirements.

Team Rosters:

Team Captains only are allowed to submit team rosters. Team Roster Forms are due June 15, 2015. Minimum team size for touch football, volleyball and basketball is ten players per team with a maximum team size of twelve players.  Minimum team size for soccer is twelve players per team with a maximum team size of fifteen players per team.   DAAA maintains the right to fill incomplete team rosters with independent players at DAAA’s discretion. You can access the Roster form here or at daaa.org

If you are participating in a team sport and have concerns or requests about beings placed on a team you may send a confidential email our Roster Specialist at daaa.roster.request@gmail.com. 

The DAAA Registration office will be open in Saint Louis at 1:00 pm on Friday July 3, 2015.

Eligibility

You are eligible for competition if you are a disproportionate dwarf (diagnosed with chondroplasia) that is less than or equal to five feet in height, or a proportionate dwarf less than or equal to 4 foot 10 inches in height. 

Divisions

• Future: Age 4 to 6 years as of December 31, 2015 (Able to Participate in Swimming, Track, Field, Kurling & Soccer)           
• Junior A: 7-11 years old as of December 31, 2015 (Track/Field/Swimming will use 7-9 years old, 10-12 years old, 13-15 years as of December 31, 2015 for the participation categories) Junior Athletes may compete in Open Individual events but athletes cannot compete in more than 1 age division per event. Junior athletes MAY NOT compete in Open Team Events.
• Junior B: 12-15 years old as of December 31, 2015 (Track/Field/Swimming will use 7-9 years old, 10-12 years old, 13-15 years as of December 31, 2015 for the participation categories) Junior Athletes may compete in Open Individual events but athletes cannot compete in more than 1 age division per event. Junior athletes MAY NOT compete in Open Team Events. 
• Open: 16 - 34 years as of December 31, 2015
• Masters: 35 years and above as of December 31, 2015 (Masters Athletes may compete in Open events but athletes cannot compete in more than 1 age division per event. Master Athletes will play with open athletes in team events.)