COACHES

Coaching Special Olympics athletes can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.  But in addition to teaching sports skills, building friendships with your athletes can lead to a  long and lasting relationship.

As you build relationships with your athletes, they may begin sharing more about their life with you. Once the athletes know that you are there for them, your role as a coach becomes a lot easier. As a Special Olympics coach you have many roles, but the greatest role may be letting your athletes know that you care about them. Coaches give Special Olympics athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage and capacity to grow and improve.

Every practice or games is always a new challenge. But meeting that challenge and achieving new goals is just one of the rewards of coaching Special Olympics athletes.

All coaches are subject to a background check. All Management Team members and any volunteer, other than single day event volunteers, are required to have a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check on file with the Management Team.

THE COACH'S OATH

"In the name of all coaches, I promise that we shall take part in these Special Olympics Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our team."

COACHING REQUIREMENTS

Experience in a particular sport is helpful but not necessary. Most coaches have full-time jobs as business people or educators who may or may not have been athletes themselves. Special Olympics Westmoreland County will assist you with all of the necessary tools to becoming a successful coach. Requirements are simply the desire to help others achieve success in sports while giving the athletes an awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve.  Coaches are role models who the athletes look up to.

Coaches are classified as certified head coaches and assistant coaches.

• Certified head coaches are required for each sport offered by each county program. While only one is required, it is recommended that all assistant coaches who regularly attend practice also become certified. Training for certified head coaches is provided by Special Olympics Pennsylvania at various locations in the state.  All sports training programs are offered in both the eastern and western portions of Pennsylvania to eliminate the need for long distance travel.
• Assistant coaches work with the athletes during training sessions and competitions, both local and at the regional, state and international level. 

COACHING TRAINING

To become a certified Special Olympics coach, an individual must participate in a training course offered by Special Olympics Pennsylvania.  The first level of training is the general session or volunteer orientation, which offers information on Special Olympics as an organization, rules, programs, mental retardation, and the stipulations of eligibility.  After focusing on a specific sport, the prospective coach attends a coaches school in that sport and participates in a 10-hour practicum in which he or she trains athletes.  Upon completion, he or she is eligible for certification and to serve as a head coach at all levels of Special Olympics.

On-going training is provided by Special Olympics-Westmoreland County.  As the coach works with the athletes, they learn more about their athletes and any special needs and tendencies they may have.