The Benefits of Football
Football is generally considered to be the world's most popular team sport. Played in just about every country, the sport's success is due to the fact that it can be played by boys, girls, men and women of just about any physical build and ability. Football requires little in the way of specialized equipment and is organized using simple, intuitive rules.
Football is a particularly appropriate sport for individuals with intellectual disability. Football:
- Involves all of the participants constantly;
- Is easy to teach and immediately rewarding to play;
- Allows relatively rapid initial improvement in skills and basic game understanding;
- Is a great conditioning activity.
Above all, football is fun.
The wonderful thing about football is that you do not need to be an expert to begin coaching. You just need enthusiasm and a commitment to learn the basics. With some guidance, anyone with time and interest can become a successful Special Olympics football coach and help athletes with intellectual disability join the worldwide football family.
