Special Olympics Pennsylvania currently has the following volunteer and internship opportunities available to support our Competition and Training Department, and our local Philadelphia program:

Philadelphia Program Internship:

 Social Media Intern (Philadelphia Program)

Sports Internships:

 Eastern Sports Intern (Norristown office)

 Central Sports Intern (State College office)

 Western Sports Intern (Pittsburgh office)

Sports Interns work with Competition Directors and assist in the planning for and implementation of sectional and state-wide competitions as well as general office/job-related duties as assigned.  Depending upon the time of year these interns may also assist with the planning for and implementation of Coach Training Schools and the SOPA/SOYO Multi-Sport Training Camp.

Sports Internships are unpaid and can be structured to meet the requirements of the program/degree of the student applying.  The number of internship opportunities each semester (Spring, Summer or Fall) is determined in part by the number of hours each intern is required to complete, but is generally limited to 1 per section (East, Central, West) of the state.  Click on the link above for the full Sports Intern Position Description. 

Applications for the Sports Internships are accepted throughout the year.  To apply please submit Cover Letter, Resume and the names and contact information for three References to Shane Kiesner, Senior Sports Director, Special Olympics Pennsylvania at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 724-375-9183 (fax) or 200 Cedar Ridge Drive, Suite 214, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.  Please indicate in your cover letter the term during which you’d like to do your internship and the number of hours you need to complete.

Paid Internship:

 Young Athletes Internship

Special Olympics Pennsylvania has an immediate opening for a Young Athletes Intern.  This internship is a rigorous, full-year commitment (which can be broken up into 2 half-year internships) aimed at developing leadership skills through a variety of job responsibilities, community relations, and hands-on opportunities by developing a new and exciting component of our program – the Young Athletes Program.  Through participation in the program, this individual will gain an understanding of the non-profit sector and Special Olympics.  The selected candidate will report directly to the Senior Sports Director, but will have the opportunity to work with other Special Olympics Pennsylvania staff and volunteers and other leaders who will help acclimate the Intern to the program and the role and responsibilities of the position.

The core work experience of this Internship is to work with Special Olympics programs and other organizations across Pennsylvania to introduce children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 2 ½ and 7 to sports and the world of Special Olympics and provide support to those programs already offering a Young Athletes program in their community. 

To apply for the Young Athletes Internship, complete and submit the Young Athlete application to Shane Kiesner, Senior Sports Director, Special Olympics Pennsylvania at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 724-375-9183 (fax) or 200 Cedar Ridge Drive, Suite 214, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.  Questions on the Young Athletes Internship can be directed to Shane Kiesner at the e-mail address above or by calling 724-375-7515, ext. 241.

Sport Director for the following sports:

• Snowshoeing
• Bowling
• Aquatics
• Powerlifting
• Roller Skating
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Softball

The Sport Director is an expert who serves as an extension of the state sports staff.  Individuals serving as a Sport Director need an extensive knowledge of their sport as well as connections with other individuals and organizations throughout the state that can provide assistance with the growth and management of the sport.

Sport Director responsibilities include:

• Serving as the technical liaison to state staff and local programs on sport rules, training techniques and competition management;
• Clinician for or resource for locating clinicians for coach training schools;
• Development of a sports-specific plan to increase training and competition opportunities for SOPA athletes;
• Promote and foster involvement of NGB and their officials at sectional and state-level competitions;
• Assist with the planning and management of sectional and state-level competitions;
• Oversee the Sports Management Team

If you are interested in serving as the Sport Director for any of the above sports, please complete the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Sport Director application and submit to Shane Kiesner, Senior Sports Director, Special Olympics Pennsylvania at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 724-375-9183 (fax) or 200 Cedar Ridge Drive, Suite 214, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.

Sport Management Team Members:

A Sport Management Team is a committee of individuals of various backgrounds and expertise in a particular sport who work together to further the growth and development of the sport throughout Pennsylvania.

Positions on a Sports Management Team include Coach Training Coordinator, Competition Director, Official Coordinator, High School/College Representative, Local Program Representative /Special Olympics Certified Coach, Special Olympics Athlete and National Governing Body Liaison.

The responsibilities of the Sport Management Team include:

• Increasing athlete participation in their sport;
• Identifying areas of the state where they can develop an interest in their sport;
• Develop ties to the National Governing Body for their sport as well as other organizations who can assist with the development and growth of their sport;
• Assist in the planning and management of sectional and state-level competitions;
• Counsel SOPA regarding sports rules and potential rules modifications;
• Clinician for or resource for locating clinicians for coach training schools;

Special Olympics Pennsylvania is currently seeking individuals interested in serving on the Sport Management Teams for all the sports in which we offer training and competition to include Alpine Skiing, Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics (Track and Field), Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Long Distance Running, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Soccer, Softball, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing, Tennis, and Volleyball.

If you are interested in serving on a Sport Management Team please contact Shane Kiesner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 724-375-7515, ext. 241 for more information.

Coach Training Clinicians:

Special Olympics Pennsylvania offers opportunities throughout the year for our coaches to receive additional sports specific training to better prepare them to train their athletes.

To provide the best training possible for our coaches, we recruit individuals with a background and expertise in the sports in which we offer training and competition to serve as clinicians.  During the training schools, clinicians work with the Special Olympics coaches to teach them the rules of the sport and show them drills they can use to teach their athletes the skills of the sport.  Clinicians also answer questions from coaches on problems they are having teaching a particular skill or on advice on how best to work with a particular athlete who is struggling with a particular skill.

The sports Special Olympics Pennsylvania currently offers training and competition in are Alpine Skiing, Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics (Track and Field), Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Long Distance Running, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Soccer, Softball, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing, Tennis, and Volleyball.

Veteran Special Olympics Coaches, with a strong background in a sport, are strongly encouraged to apply to become a SOPA Training School Clinician to share their experience and expertise with our newer coaches.

We have opportunities across the state in all our sports for individuals to serve as clinicians.  Our goal is to build a strong network of clinicians capable of delivering high quality training for our coaches in all sports.

If you are interested in donating your time and talents, to share your sports experience, with our coaches so they can provide the best training possible for their athletes you should:

1. Complete the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Training School Clinician Application and submit along with an overview of what rules and drills you would teach during a training course, the expected length of the training, how you would engage the coaches in the training and if you would utilize Special Olympics athletes during the training (encouraged).
2. Submit the application to Shane Kiesner, Senior Sports Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 724-375-9183 (fax) or Special Olympics Pennsylvania, 200 Cedar Ridge Dr, Suite 214, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.