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Coach assistants and coaches together at the end of the event with Nolwen Grassin (kneeling, far right, in white), ALPs Manager, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, who conducted the training. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation (THF) uses sport and football in particular as a means to improve the quality of life for children and young people in local communities. The Foundation receives significant financial support from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, one of England's Premier League Clubs.
James Isaac, Inclusion Officer for Disabled People at THF, attended the 2008 Special Olympics European Football Cup to explore how THF and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia can work together and learn from each other. He was especially interested in learning about the Coach Assistant initiative that gives Special Olympics footballers the chance to take on new responsibilities in a sport that they compete in and know well.
“The Coach Assistant initiative offers individuals with learning disabilities the opportunity to develop their confidence and understanding of Special Olympics football. This initiative is an excellent way to support Special Olympics players to achieve their ambitions and dreams within football,” Isaac said.
Four Special Olympics athletes who successfully completed a Special Olympics Coach Assistant training had the chance to show their skills as coach assistants for the first time at a European-level event. Prior to the start of the Cup competitions, Ryszard Sneider, 28, from Poland, Ionut Gheorghe, 22, from Romania, Tomi Varjo, 16, from Finland and Sebastijan Novak, 33, from Slovenia participated in a workshop where they learned about divisioning, a key component of any Special Olympics competition. They then assisted their coaches in warm-up exercises with their teams. The coach assistants went on to participate in the divisioning process in which they assessed teams based on ability level, individual skills, goalkeeping and team performance. “It was an interesting exercise. I have a better understanding of how my team and other teams function,” said Novak.
“I was impressed by the analysis of coach assistants. They provided extremely insightful and valuable comments throughout divisioning,” said Miroslaw Krogulec, Senior Manager, Organizational Development and Sports, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.
“Having coach assistants involved in the divisioning was a very interesting step,” said André Peeters, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Sports Advisor for Football. “The next step would be to formally include one or more athletes as officials on the divisioning team,” he added.
Over 300 Special Olympics athletes in Europe/Eurasia have been trained as coach assistants since the initiative started in 2004.
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