1. Preseason Sport Coaches Meeting
Introductions
Your role as a Sport Director.
Develop the sport to make it the best possible experience for athletes, unified partners, and coaches.
Ensure that all athletes are participating at the appropriate level and are receiving the best possible training.
Point of contact regarding the sport.
Brief information on the Area Structure.
Working as a team to make sure all coaches have the resources needed to be successful.
Members responsible for registrations for athletes and volunteers, social functions, athlete leadership programs, family information.
More people doing more functions so not all responsibilities fall on one person. Frees all of you (coaches) up to just coach.

2. Coach’s Oath
“In the name of all coaches, we shall follow written and verbal instructions of Special Olympics officials at all times, have our athletes at the appropriate events and activities at the proper time and abide by the rules and policies, in the spirit of sportsmanship.”
Great responsibility comes with being a coach.
Emphasize that coaches have the most direct impact on the athletes. This impact far outreaches the skills of the sport but also their sportsmanship, effort, attitude and reactions to situations that may arise.
The success of the athlete comes with the commitment you (coach) make to training the athletes.
Coaches are the backbone of Special Olympics… without coaches athletes would not have the opportunity.

3. Coach’s Handbook Code of Conduct
By agreeing to Code of Conduct you are agreeing
To abide by the rules of Special Olympics Delaware
To carry out the Mission of Special Olympics
To treat everyone with dignity and respect
Give everyone a chance to read this over.
Emphasize the importance of this for every participant (coach, athlete, volunteer) to insure that everyone is being treated fairly and in a professional manner.
The Code of Conduct should be taken seriously and the coaches should be proactive in making sure not only are they adhering to it but also everyone on their team.

4. Coach’s Handbook Responsibilities of a Coach
Coaches should always make sure
That safety is always FIRST PRIORITY.
That the rules are always followed. Keep the integrity of the sport by helping to enforce rules and not trying to bend them.
That every athlete has the opportunity to maximize their abilities.
Safety. Emphasize how the environment should be safe.
Practice in facilities that are quality (as much as possible).
Using proper equipment.
Fields/Courts free from obstructions .
Coaches aware of medical conditions.
Rules. It is not just officials but coaches that enforce the rules.
Coaches should correct rules infractions at practice.
Emphasize the importance of athletes knowing the rules.
Maximize Abilities.
Assessing athletes abilities is vital to the athletes success. Athletes should be placed in events within a sport that are challenging to the athlete but will not compromise their safety.
Just because an athlete wants to do something does not mean they are physically or emotionally ready to do it.
Place athletes with other athletes of similar ability so they can train and compete with some level of success.

5. Coach’s Handbook Coach Commitment
As a coach you are committing that you
Will be respectful responsible, professional and positive
Will coach your athletes like you would any athlete at any level
Emphasize to your coaches to be the kind of coach they would want their child to play for.
Commit to being the best coach you can be in words and in action.
Do not treat this as “just helping out”
Athletes will train/compete as hard as you do

6. “The better the coach the better the athlete!”
Coach’s Handbook
Coach’s Certification Program – WHY??
Maintain quality training and competition
Maximize safety
Learn rules and coaching techniques
“The better the coach the better the athlete!”
Becoming a better coach should not be seen a chore but as way to provide athletes the tools to be successful in sports.
Learn the sport and pass that knowledge on
Think of how many times you have seen coaches you wish would teach your child more… be the coach who teaches more!
Even if you think you know it all in a sport improve your knowledge.

7. Coach’s Handbook Coach’s Certification Program – STEPS
Become a Class A Volunteer
Get Sport Certified
Maintain Certification
Keep Track
For steps 1-3 on this slide follow the steps to becoming certified on pages 6-8 of the Coach’s Handbook.
Highlight being a Class A Volunteer first. Class A certification is necessary for the safety of the athletes and to familiarize you the coach with the organizations procedures.
Keep Track. Have coaches use the chart on page 9 of the Coach’s Handbook to keep track of their status. Coach’s should also let Sport Directors know of any changes or additions to their status.
Sport Directors make sure if they take a course outside of Special Olympics that they approve it through you first.

8. Coach’s Handbook Safety & Risk Management
#1 Priority at all times is safety
Good Planning = reduced risk of injury to athletes and reduced liability to you and the organization
Considerations: Athletes in proper level, valid medicals, safe field of play, weather, tending to injuries.
# 1 Priority. Coaches are responsible for the safety and well‐being of athletes during Special Olympics training, competitions and events. The coach needs to provide appropriate supervision for all practices and events.
Best Practice: Having parents/care givers stay at practices or if leaving the cell phone of who is picking up
Having access to 911
Considerations.
Athlete assessment: Placing athletes where there skill level says they should be and their motivation and readiness determine. Everyone wants to be at a certain level but that does not mean they should be.
Valid medicals. Athletes must have current medicals before practicing and competing. These forms should be onsite at each training/competition.
Field of Play. Make sure the field/court is safe and free of obstruction and is appropriate for the sport. Example: playing softball on a softball field and not in a parking lot.
Weather. Whether its rain, thunder and lightning, or heat have a plan when there is inclement weather. Refer to page 12 of Coach’s Handbook for considerations.
Injuries. When in doubt call 911. Basic treatment should only be provided by someone trained in first aid. Refer to page 11 of Coach’s Handbook for tending to minor injuries.

9. Sport Specific Information

10. <Sport> Team Compositions & Levels of Play
Assessing Athletes, Unified Partners & Coaches
Athlete & Coach Levels
A Level – High
B Level – Middle
C Level - Low
D Level – Developmental/MATP
MATP Coaches should be skilled in working with these athletes
Group Athletes According to
Gender
Age
Ability
Assessing Levels. To ensure consistency throughout the state, Areas will adhere to the following criteria. These criteria will establish equitable competition and an opportunity for all to train, compete and coach at a level where they will enjoy the most success.
For the purposes of meaningful training sessions and meaningful and balanced competition, athletes should not only compete, but just as importantly, train according to the following criteria:
By Gender. To create meaningful competition athletes of different gender may be combined provided that doing so will not pose a risk to the health and safety of the athletes.
By Age. Divide into the following age groups: 8‐11, 12‐15, 16‐21, 22‐29, 30+. Additional expanded age groups may be established based on the sport and the number of competitors.
By Ability. Within each age group, identify each athlete’s ability level and separate into the performance levels.
Refer to page 13 of Coach’s Handbook and discuss the levels of play and how you see this fitting in to your group.
Coach Levels. These are goals and what we should be trying to attain. Main focus is to have coaches working with athletes that fit their coaching ability and make it fun for them as well.

11. <Sport> Training & Competition Requirements
All players should be held to the same standard.
Example- Unified Partners & Athletes must practice together and same requirements of attendance must be enforced.
ON THIS PAGE DISCUSS YOUR SPORT PRACTICE AND COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS AS OUTLINED WITHIN YOU SPORT DIRECTOR’S HANDBOOK.

12. <Sport> The Season Ahead Goals for our program Schedules
Considerations when putting teams together
Gathering needed resources – Equipment, Volunteers, Locations
Communicating with Athletes, Unified Partners & Families
Building a Program
ON THIS PAGE DISCUSS YOUR SPORT AND THE OUTLINE SUBJECTS ON THE SLIDE. THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL PUT THE INFORMATION YOU WANT TO DISCUSS ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM (EXAMPLES: ATTENDANCE POLICIES, ISSUES, EXPECTATIONS). THIS TIME IS DESIGNED FOR YOU TO GET EVERYONE MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. YOU MAY ADD MORE SLIDES OR INFORMATION TO FIT YOUR NEEDS.

13. Thank you. “The better the Coach… the better the Athlete!”
Emphasize teamwork and accomplishing goals together. Include your words of wisdom and motivations to be successful
Supporting Documents. Distribute as necessary.
Training Tips & Guidelines
Athlete Behaviors & Strategies to Improve Learning
Template Practice Plan