Requirements for Coaches
Becoming a coach with Special Olympics has many rewards, one of the main ones being to work with such an amazing group of athletes. Our training programs and certification requirements are designed to ensure that our athletes receive the best care possible and to provide you with the tools to meet the needs of any athlete involved in our organization with both confidence and skill.
RESPECT IN SPORT
All volunteers, including coaches, are required to complete their Respect in Sport (RiS) certification. This online course provides an overview of the potential issues and circumstances that one may face while participating in any sport program, with a main focus on bullying and harassment. The RiS curse assists coaches and volunteers with how to identify certain behaviours and what to do in a case where a situation may arise. You can find more information on how to complete your RiS training by visiting resources for volunteers and coaches.
MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS
All volunteers taking on a coaching role, whether that is head coach or assistant coach, are also required to complete their Making Ethical Decisions – Train To Win (MED) online evaluation. This training helps coaches to identify the legal, ethical, and moral implications of difficult situations while equipping these coaches to handle such situations with confidence. You can find more information on how to complete your MED training by resources for volunteers and coaches.
SPORT SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Special Olympics Canada (SOC) has a coach training course specific to Special Olympics coaches. The SOC – Competition Sport workshop is for coaches who are looking to work with athletes at various levels of domestic and international competitions. The main goal of this course is to prepare the coach for training with athletes at local, regional, provincial, and national competitions with the primary focus on safety, fun, fitness, fundamentals, performance, and basic sport skills. For dates of upcoming SOC – Competition Sport Workshops in Saskatchewan, please our event calendar.
Head coaches and assistant coaches within Special Olympics will also be required to complete the NCCP Sport Specific Training courses. Each sports specific requirement is outlined in the table below. For dates and locations of any sport specific courses please contact your sports Provincial Sport Governing Body (PSGB). Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing, and Powerlifting sport specific workshops are organized and facilitated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan. For more information and to sign up for sport specific workshops please contact Ben Lozinsky at 306-780-9181.
Stay tuned for upcoming information from Special Olympics Canada on a bocce coaching course, a golf caddie course, and a peer mentorship program!
Please note that Respect in Sport, Making Ethical Decisions and SOC Competition Sport are all required to be a Special Olympics Saskatchewan coach or assistant coach.