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Purpose:
The purpose of the Special Olympics coach certification program is to ensure each coach has the knowledge and tools to train athletes according to sport, safety and Special Olympics guidelines.
Coach Age Guidelines(SONC):
Coaches must be at least 18 years-old to be certified. Anyone age 14 years and up can attend a training school. Anyone 16 year and up serving as a Class A volunteer (which includes all coaches) must take the Protective Behaviors training. Class A volunteers must complete a registration form which includes SONC conducting a criminal and driver's license background check.
Coaching Status
Certified Coach: For all individuals training athletes in a sport, certification as a coach consists of the following components:
- General Orientation: An introduction to Special Olympics and to the program and structure in North Carolina
- Protective Behaviors: Education on how to recognize and handle signs of abusive behavior
- Sports specific skills course: Specific instruction on the sport and modifications within Special Olympics
- Ten practicum hours: Time actually spent training Special Olympics athletes
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Coaches should complete all but the practicum hours prior to coaching Special Olympics athletes.
Coaches can meet the requirements for General Orientation and Protective Behaviors by:
1. Receiving training locally from the local program coordinator
2. Completing the tests located on the SONC Online Testing page
3. Receiving training at a training school
Coaches must receive training in a sports specific skills course by attending a local training school.
Advanced Certified Coach: Required training for an Advanced Certified Coach consists of the following:
- All Certified Coach Requirements
- Coaching Special Olympics Athletes (CSOA): A more in-depth training about how to work with Special Olympics Athletes, recognize and accommodate their needs in the sport, and provide them with an effective sport training and competition experience.
- Principles of Coaching: Education regarding the sport management team approach to recruitment and sport development, how to enhance athlete performance and application of basic principles of coaching.
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Coaches can meet the requirements for Coaching Special Olympics Athletes and Principles of Coaching by:
1. Completing the tests located on the SONC Online Testing page
2. Receiving the training at a training school. This must be specifically requested.
Certified Clinician: For individuals interested in conducting sport-specific training on behalf of SONC. Certification as a clinician consists of the following:
- All Advanced Certified Coach Requirements
- Making Effective Presentations: A course designed to train individuals on how to properly conduct an effective training session which is informative for the participants.
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Coaches can meet the requirements for Certified Clinician by:
1. Receiving the Making Effective Presentations training. This must be specifically requested of the Coaches Education Sports Director and will be provided on an individual basis.
2. Conducting a session with a co-presenter at a training school. SONC will designate someone to co-present/evaluate this first session. Final approval as a Certified Clinician will be granted pending the outcome of the training session.
3.The Certified Clinician will be added to the list of clinicians available to offer training schools in the area in future program years.
4. All future training sessions must first be approved by the Coaches Education Sports Director or participants will not receive credit for the training.
Recertification
The purpose of recertification is to ensure that all certified coaches continue to stay up to date in terms of sport-specific rules updates and new techniques as well as to enhance their coaching skills. Recertification will be sport-specific in order to meet this purpose.
Special Olympics, Incorporated requires that starting in August 2009, all coaches be recertified every three years in order to remain a certified coach in Special Olympics. Coaches have 1 year from their expiration date to become recertified. Recertified courses/tests include:
- SONC recertification tests
- Sports specific skills course
- ASEP online course (click here to access Web site)
- Other SONC approved courses (contact Coaches Education Sports Director)
Failure to become recertified in a sport will result in a loss of certification status for that sport.
For more information on recertification, please contact Beth Brooker, coaches education sports director.
Incentive Program
SONC realizes that recognition is an important part of any volunteer program. It is SONC’s intention to distribute recognition items to coaches twice a year.
For more information, please contact,
Beth Brooker, Coaches Education Sports Director
bbrooker@sonc.net
work: 704-301-3651
fax: 757-689-8461 |
