Motor Activity Training Program

The Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program is designed for athletes with severe or profound intellectual disability who are unable to particpate in Official Special Olympics sport competitions because of their skill and/or functional abilities.

These links lead you to detailed information on the MATP, including illustrations and video clips. Downloadable versions of the MATP materials are also available at right. 

Introduction to Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Program
The Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program is designed for athletes with severe or profound intellectual disability who are unable to participate in Official Special Olympics sport competitions because of their skill and/or functional abilities. The Motor Activity Training Program is designed to prepare athletes with severe or profound intellectual disability, including athletes with significant physical disabilities, for sport-specific activities appropriate for their abilities. Athletes with significant disabilities are those who, because of their physical, mental, or emotional problems, need highly specialized training programs. As a unique sport-based program, The Motor Activity Training Program does not exclude any athlete. It is designed to provide individualized training programs to all athletes with significant disabilities. The Motor Development activities presented in this manual correspond to Official Special Olympics sports. These activities are offered as a starting point when designing specialized training programs for each athlete. The closer one comes to performing the activities outlined here, the closer one comes to acquiring skills considered essential in the recognized skill progressions leading to participation in Official Special Olympics competitions.

Acknowledgements
Special Olympics wishes to thank the professionals, volunteers, coaches and athletes who helped in the production of the MATP Coaching Guide. They have helped fulfill the mission of Special Olympics: to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Special Olympics welcomes your ideas and comments for future revisions of this guide. We apologize if, for any reason, an acknowledgement has been inadvertently omitted.

Contributing Authors
Dr. Martin Block, University of Virginia
Dr. Billye Chatum, University of Michigan
Pablo Delano, Special Olympics Chili
Suzanna Dillon, Special Olympics Missouri
Lydia Flynn, James E. Duckworth School, Beltsville, MD
Cynthia Gill, Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago
Georgia Harvala, Special Olympics Greece
Kathy Irving, Special Olympics Iowa
Dr. Patricia Krebs, Special Olympics Maryland
Dave Lenox, Special Olympics, Inc.
Angela Lukas, Special Olympics
Gibraltar Ryan Murphy, Special Olympics, Inc.
Sheila O'Callaghan, Chicago Public Schools
Dr. Eleni Rossides, Special Olympics
Cyprus Margaret Strzalkowska, Special Olympics Poland

Special Thanks To the Following for All of Your Help and Support
Special Olympics Maryland
Starring Athletes from James E. Duckworth School, Beltsville, MD
Staff from James E. Duckworth School, Beltsville, MD
Trinell Bowman
Jay Bass
Eric Luxner
Prince George's County Public Schools
Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia
Special Olympics Latin America
Special Olympics North America