Coach

Special Olympics athletes are capable and enjoy sharing life experiences – listening to music, playing video games, watching the latest movies and, yes, having fun – as well as working together toward athletic excellence.  Special Olympics’ hope is that individuals take the time to reach out to people with intellectual disabilities and say, to quote Special Olympics athlete Troy Daniels, “Come sit by me” – a simple gesture that reflects a world of acceptance and mutual respect.

Across Pennsylvania, more than 4,000 coaches reflect that world of acceptance and respect by providing Special Olympics athletes with instruction, guidance, support, and encouragement to achieve new goals. They teach sports fundamentals, techniques and strategy, but they also reinforce sportsmanship, teamwork, team spirit, self-confidence.  Most coaches have full-time jobs, but they always find the time for coaching in addition to performing other duties such as obtaining equipment and transporting athletes to competitions.

Coaches not only provide skills training for athletes, but they also serve as role models and character builders.  They give Special Olympics athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve.

Coaches often begin as volunteers at an event.  If you are interested in becoming a certified coach, please complete the online registration form.   Although no specific sport skill is required to be eligible to coach, many coaches already have expertise in the sport they select.

Special Olympics coaches often find that the personal rewards they receive sometimes outweigh the benefits they offer the athletes they train.  Special Olympics coaches have a unique opportunity to work with athletes in competitive situations to assist in their training for life.

To become a certified Special Olympics coach, an individual must participate in a training course.  For more information click here Training Schools. 

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS COACHING PHILOSOPHY:

ATHLETES FIRST, WINNING SECOND

A Coach is an individual who assumes responsibility for athletes, actively trains athletes and coaches them in competitions.

SOPA Policy states every local program is required to have at least one certified coach in each sport in order to register for sectional or state-level competitions.  The certified coach must be in attendance at the sectional or state-level event.