From Competing to Coaching:
Special Olympics Athletes Taking Leadership Roles
- Are you ready for a new challenge in Special Olympics?
- Do you know how to talk with other athletes so that they understand what you mean?
- Do you like helping the coach?
If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then it may be time for you to think about becoming a coach or coach's assistant.
To become a certified Special Olympics coach you will need to attend a Coaches Training School. You can ask your local coordinator when and where the next one will be held for the sport you want to coach. Whether you want to be a head coach or a coach's assistant, it is a good idea to attend the Training School. You'll learn a lot about your sport and what the coach is supposed to do. And the coaches there will learn a lot from you about how to talk with athletes.
You may want to ask someone to help you go through the process of registering for the Training School, getting to class and then finding a coaching assignment. We call this your "support person." A support person might be a parent of brother or sister; it might be a coach you have now; or it might just be a friend. You will need to talk with your support person about what you need.
What does a coach do?
Coaching is made up of three different jobs.
The first job is to plan the practices. This means that you have to think about your players and what they need to learn to improve at their sport. The coach works to plan each practice session before the players arrive so that the athletes learn a new skill or improve on one they already know. The coach has to make sure the athletes don't get frustrated. This takes practice and knowing what skills are needed, how to teach those skills and how to work with each athlete.
The second job is to conduct the practice. This job requires that you be able to get and keep the players' attention and to set up the workout so that everyone is doing something most of the time. Knowing how to talk with athletes is very important. A coach's assistant is someone who helps conduct the practice but is not in charge of planning the practice.
The third job is to make sure the athletes get to competition. Part of this job is to fill out registration forms, procure transportation to the competition, make sure the team gets to the gym or field on time and get them through the competition. Some coaches have an assistant that just does the paperwork so the coach can work to ensure athletes are ready to compete.
Some people find that they are ready to do some of these jobs, but not all of them. They become coach's assistants. They still go through Coaches Training School, but they ask to be assigned to a head coach who will be in charge.
How do I know I'm ready to be a coach?
Nobody knows for sure until they try it! Many people volunteer to be Special Olympics coaches and then find it just wasn't for them. You may find same thing once you go through the Coaches Training School. The best way to determine if you are ready to be a coach is to watch a coach and ask yourself if that is what you want to do. If you really want to do it, you are probably ready!
Another way to see if you are ready is to ask your coach if you can be an assistant. Ask him/her to show you how to plan the workouts, set up the practice and get ready for competition. Ask if you can help with one or more of those jobs. If you like doing that job(s) and you want to learn more, you can ask about going to a Coaches Training School in that sport.
What should I do if I think I am ready to be a coach?
First, talk to your coach to get his/her ideas. He/she needs to know that you are ready to move on to coaching and may be able to give you some practice being a coach's assistant while you are waiting to go to a Coaches Training School. Your coach can also help you decide whether you need a support person to help you through the certification process.
Second, talk to your local Special Olympics coordinator and ask when and where the next Coaches Training School will be held for your sport. You can also talk to him/her about a possible coaching assignment once you get certified. Most people start as a coach's assistant for at least one year before assuming more responsibility. By letting the coordinator know that you are going through this training, you are letting them know that you are their newest volunteer.
Third, study the Sport Skill Guide for the sport you want to coach. Your coach or coordinator should be able to give you a copy. It will tell you how Special Olympics recommends that you teach the athletes the skills they will need. If you need help understanding the Sport Skill Guide, you can call on your support person to help.
