Coaches Alliance

Special Olympics, Inc. mandates a coaches’ certification program be implemented to ensure coaches throughout the world are being trained properly. Special Olympics District of Columbia uses this platform to provide continuing coaches’ education with the intention of improving competency and accountability of all individuals directly involved with Special Olympics athletes.

Structure

SODC conducts meetings throughout the year for Program Coordinators and head coaches. Program Coordinators meetings (see Program Coordinator description) are scheduled 4 times per program year and are conducted prior to the start of each sport season (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Games). Coaches Alliance meetings are conducted at multiple times within each sport season. Coaches are required to attend one of these meetings during each sport season as a condition for advancement to any championship event for that season. Coach Alliance meetings cover the following topics:

  • Special Olympics General Orientation
  • Coach Development Course
  • Administrative details for season-ending sports championships

Coach Certification

SODC requires all coaches to be certified as a condition for their Program and athletes to be eligible for advancement to championship events.

Steps to become a certified coach:

  • Complete and submit a Class A Volunteer Form
  • Attend a General Orientation
  • Complete and pass the on-line Special Olympics Protective Behaviors course
  • Attend one Coach Alliance meeting per season in which your Program is actively participating.
    • Fall Season

      Golf Individual Skills, Tennis Individual Skills, Youth Basketball and Adult Unified Bocce: September 20

    • Winter Season

      Bowling (youth and adult), Speed Skating, Adult Unified Basketball: December 13 and January 10

    • Spring Season

      Track and Field, Traditional and Unified soccer, Tennis Match Play, Aquatics, Traditional and Unified Volleyball, Traditional Bocce: TBA

    • Summer Games

      Mandatory meeting for all Program Coordinators and head coaches: TBA

  • Complete a 10 hour coaching practicum by working directly with their Special Olympics athletes
  • Complete and submit the Special Olympics Coaches Certification form

Coaching Levels

All coaches must have at least a Level I certification.  Levels II and III are optional.

Level 1

  • Complete a Class A Form and Protective Behaviors Test
  • General Session 1 - Special Olympics Overview: Class and Exam
  • Coaches must complete a 10 hour practicum working directly with their athletes.

Level II

  • General Session II - Coaching Special Olympics Athletes Course and Exam
  • General Session III – Principles of Coaching 1

Level III

  • General Session IV -  Principles of Coaching 2 and 3

Recertification will be available for coaches yearly.