As a coach in the Delaware Special Olympics Program, you have the obligation to conduct yourself, as well as your team, in a fashion that will reflect positively upon you, your team and Delaware Special Olympics.  Almost all of the individuals you will come in contact with are volunteers, such as yourself.  Please remember that everyone is working hard to provide a quality and fair experience for your athletes.  Coaches have the responsibility of not only teaching skills and preparing their athletes for competition but must also serve as models for their athletes in regard to appearance, lifestyle, attitudes, conduct and etiquette.  You have an extremely important role in this organization, as you have direct influence over your athletes.  It will be expected that you follow the Delaware Special Olympics Volunteer Code of Conduct.
 
 

MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY
OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Mission

The mission of Delaware Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all eligible children and adults, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, experience joy and participate in a sharing with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community at large.

Philosophy

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with mental retardation can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet the needs of those with special mental and physical limitations.

Special Olympics believes that consistent training is essential to the development of sport skills, and that competition among those of equal abilities is the most appropriate means of testing these skills, measuring progress and providing incentives for personal growth.

Special Olympics believes that through sports training and competition, people with mental retardation benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually; families are strengthened; and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding people with mental retardation in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.

Unified Sports

Unified Sports is a program that combines equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes with peer athletes without mental disabilities (partners on sports teams for training and competition.  Unified sports expands sports opportunities and increases inclusion in the community.
 

SPORTSMANSHIP

Coaches must lead by example!

Coaches must remember that sportsmanship is not something that comes automatically.  It is a set of learned behaviors that are taught, reinforced and modeled by the coach.  There must be time set aside for the coach to explain what good sportsmanship is.  Acceptable behaviors of sportsmanship that takes place during practices and games need to be rewarded while undesirable behaviors need to be disciplined with a re-explanation of the appropriate code of good sportsmanship.  Above all else, it is important for you to understand that your actions and conduct send messages to members on your team.  It is up to you whether these messages are positive or negative.

Code of behaviors for athletes and coaches:
1. Shake hands with opponents after every game.
2. Thank the coaches and referees after every game.
3. Help fallen opponents and teammates to their feet.
4. Cheer in a positive way only.
5. No swearing or arguing with officials, coaches, teammates, opponents, or spectators.
6. No “trash” talking.  Playing the game well will speak for itself.
7. Be gracious when you win and generous when you lose.
8. Treat everyone involved with respect and dignity at all times.
 
SPORTSMANSHIP, CONT.

One of the easiest ways to promote good sportsmanship is to allow everyone to play meaningful minutes during a game and not allow any player to dominate a game or competition.  To help emphasize these concepts the following two rules will be in effect at all Delaware Special Olympics games and competitions.
 

Everyone Must Play Rule

     The Special Olympics official rules book states that in team competition every registered player must play in the game.  Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.  In addition, we strongly encourage you to give every athlete meaningful playing time.  Basically, we expect you to make sure every athlete plays before the final few minutes of the game.
     Examples of providing a lower ability athlete meaningful playing time include: letting someone take the ball out in basketball, using him as a pinch runner in softball, making sure he gets to serve in volleyball, and letting him throw the ball in during a soccer game.
 

Dominating Player Rule

     Special Olympics teams have dominant players just as other sports teams do.  It is our philosophy that no player should dominate a game regardless of the score.  Doing so takes away from the team experience for others and negates the purpose of playing team sports.  We expect our coaches to make every effort to ensure no player dominates a game.  While we expect our coaches and teams to want to win, we expect them to do so in a dignified way.
 
COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES

Head  Coach Responsibilities

Assess athletes
 

• Assess your athletes’ skill levels to ensure proper implementation of practice methods.

•  Be prepared with a detailed practice plan.
•  Review and build upon each session.
•  Keep athletes active as much as possible, avoid lines.
•  Establish a personal rapport with every team member.
•  Help individuals set goals and work towards achieving them.
•  Utilize assistant coaches during practices.
•  Have reliable assistants available to run practice in your absence.
•  Maintain a positive attitude and enthusiasm toward practice.
•  Establish guidelines for practice attendance with minimum standards for advancement to competition.
• Develop sportsmanship skills in you assistants and athletes.

•  Have team members arrive in a timely manner.
•  In your pre-game talk be positive, do not focus on winning.
•  Promote good sportsmanship among each other and with opposition.
•  Work with the officials not against them (most are volunteers too!)
•  Be instructive when correcting mistakes.
•  Emphasize what has been learned during training, do not try to teach a new concept during competition.
•  Show enthusiasm and compliment all good performances.
•  In team sports make sure every athlete has meaningful playing time.
•  Congratulate the opposing team and thank the referee(s) after the game.

•  Provide a safe playing/practice environment.
•  Never leave an athlete at a site unsupervised.
•  Know the whereabouts of each athlete at all times.
•  Have physicals, volunteer emergency #’s, and first aid kit on site always.
•  Ensure all volunteers in your charge adhere to the Volunteer Code of Conduct.

The primary role of the assistant coach is to carry out any responsibility given him/her by the head coach.  These responsibilities should be clearly defined in the practice plan before the practice starts and as part of the pre-game preparation.  If an assistant coach is uncomfortable with an assignment he/she should notify the head coach immediately before the situation arises.

Athlete Physicals

A completed physical form should be on site at every practice and game.  If a form is not there, the athlete should not practice.  This is vital in case of an emergency.  The coaches should be well versed on the medical status of the athletes.  Many Special Olympics athletes are seizure prone and/or on various medications.

Volunteer Forms

While it is essential that the form be on file in the Special Olympics office before a volunteer participates, he/she can participate if it is not on site.  The form does contain emergency phone numbers should a volunteer require emergency medical attention and these number should be available at all times.

Incident Report Forms

These forms are in the Program Director’s Handbook and available from the DSO office.  These forms should be filled out for any medical incident that occurs during a Special Olympics practice/competition.  This form should be filled out regardless of the severity of the injury.
 
 
 

BASIC TRAINING GUIDELINES

The following basic training guidelines have been established by various members of the Special Olympics program including:  board members, staff, program directors, and coaches.  It is expected that each coach will meet these minimum standards when coaching a Special Olympics team. It is expected that these standards will be exceeded as your program develops.  If you have any questions regarding any of the standards or you feel you can not meet one of them please notify your program director.
 

•  Practices conducted by a head coach and assistants
•  Athlete to coach ratio is 4:1.
•  Practices are planned and structured.
•  Physicals are on site.
•  There is one absence from practice policy for athletes and unified partners.
•  Athletes train a minimum of 1x per week for 8 weeks.
•  Practice is at an appropriate facility.
•  Athletes train with appropriate and ample equipment.
•  In unified sports, athletes and partners practice together.
•  First aid kit is on site.

1. Verbal explanation.
2. Demonstration by coach or athlete.
3. Physically prompting the athlete to begin a skill.
4. Physically assisting the athlete through the skill (this may not be done in competition and should only be used in training when the first three types of instruction have not been successful.)

Practice tips:

• Limit explanation & athletes standing in lines.
•  Whenever possible, give every athlete a ball, racket, etc.
•  Utilize assistant coaches effectively.
•  Using stations with various drills keeps interest high.
•  Visit other practices to get ideas.
•  Be sure athletes follow rules in practice.
•  Create games & activities to practice and reinforce skills.
•  Make practice fun.

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of coaching in any organization is dealing with parents.  The best way to avoid parent problems during the season is to make your expectations clear to the parents before the season begins.  These expectations should include:  your coaching philosophy, your role, their role, and any other organizational items that might cause problems (practice absenteeism, playing time, etc.).

We suggest that prior to the season you hold a sport specific meeting for your parents.  Create an agenda (see below) and OK this agenda with your program director prior to the meeting.

The purposes for holding a parent meeting are to:

• Enable parents to become acquainted with you and your style.
•  Educate parents about the philosophy of Delaware Special Olympics.
•  Encourage parents to understand and reinforce the positive approach to coaching that you   will be using.
•  Inform parents of their responsibilities as a parent of a Special Olympics athlete.
•  Establish clear lines of communication between you and your parents.
•  Help you understand the concerns of the parents.

I. Introduction
Introduce yourself and your assistant coaches
Thank parents for attending

II. Philosophy
Talk about your philosophy and how it relates to the DSO philosophy.  This should include your philosophy about who plays and for how long, attending practices, and parental involvement at practice and athlete behavior during games and practices.

III. Details
Practice times and locations
Competition times and locations
Equipment and uniform requirements
Cancellation policy/procedure

IV. Questions/Answers
UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

Delaware Special Olympics takes great pride in providing our athletes with first class competitions.  It is our expectation that the athletes will be in appropriate competition attire.  DSO offers opportunities to assist programs financially in the uniforming of their athletes and coaches.

Guidelines:

Aquatics:  Men’s suit and women’s one piece suit.
Athletics:  Running singlet and running shorts, white socks, and running shoes.
Basketball:  Basketball jersey and shorts, white socks, and basketball shoes.
Bocce:  Polo shirt, slacks or shorts, white socks, and tennis shoes.
Bowling:  Polo shirt, slacks or shorts, socks, and bowling shoes.
Gymnastics:  Men’s gymnastics top and pants, women’s leotard.
Power Lifting:  Singlet with t-shirt, white socks, and sneakers.
Roller Skating:  Speed suit or jersey/shirt and shorts, artistic uniform, white socks.
Soccer:  Soccer jersey and shorts, white socks, shin guards, and sneakers/plastic cleats.
Softball:  Softball uniform, white socks, hat, and sneakers/plastic cleats.
Tennis:  Polo shirt and shorts, women’s skirt, white socks, and tennis sneakers.
Volleyball:  Volleyball jersey and shorts, socks, sneakers, and knee pads.

**please use DSO equipment/uniform request when ordering.
 

SAFETY

The most important issues coaches deal with on a daily basis is safety.  Protecting yourself, your athletes, and your volunteers from dangerous situations has to be a primary concern.  The following are basic things you can do to help prevent harmful situations:
 

•  Keep physicals and volunteer emergency numbers on site at all times.
•  Keep a first aid kit on site at all times.
•  Have access to a phone in case of emergency.
•  Never practice if lighting is near.
•  Check the practice surface and area before athletes arrive for holes, etc.
•  Have adult supervision in all areas (bathrooms, lockers, etc.).
•  Put adult responsibilities in writing (part of your practice plan) and review with assistant coaches before practice.
•  Fill out an incident report form (found in the program directors handbook) for any incident requiring attention regardless of the severity and report it to the DSO office.

A crisis is an unexpected situation or incident posing potential or actual harm to Delaware Special Olympics’ reputation or viability.

In the event of a crisis (death, weather, fire, etc.), Delaware Special Olympics has a crisis management team at all events to handle the situation.

Please do the following in the event of a crisis:

1. Move away from the crisis.
2. Follow the directions of the crisis personnel or any law enforcement/fire officials.
3. Do not talk to the media under any circumstance.

Should a crisis occur at a training site, please notify Delaware Special Olympics (302-831-4653 or 302-855-0546) immediately.
Delaware Special Olympics will respond using the appropriate procedures immediately.  Please DO NOT INTERACT WITH THE MEDIA.

In any crisis or emergency, contact the appropriate authorities immediately (fire company, police, ambulance, etc.).  The safety of our athletes and volunteers takes precedence over anything else.
 
VOLUNTEER CODE OF CONDUCT

As a Delaware Special Olympics volunteer, I agree that while serving as a volunteer, I will:

1. Provide for the general welfare, health and safety of any Delaware Special Olympics athletes in my charge during the course of my assigned duties.

2. Dress and act in an appropriate and responsible manner at all times.

3. Follow the established rules and guidelines of Delaware Special Olympics, Special Olympics International, and/or any agency involved with Delaware Special Olympics.

4. Report any emergencies to the appropriate authorities after first taking immediate action to ensure the health and safety of the participants.

5. Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages and from using unprescribed substances while involved with any Special Olympics event or training session.

6. Familiarize myself with the medical history of any athlete for which I am in charge.

7. Participate in any training sessions offered by Special Olympics to further educate myself and better prepare myself to complete my volunteer assignment.

8. Not engage in any inappropriate contact or relationship with Delaware Special Olympics athletes or other volunteers.
 
 
 
 
 

COACHES EDUCATION
 

Just like the athletes you coach, you can always improve.  Delaware Special Olympics encourages and supports you furthering your education as a coach.  This can be done in a variety of ways:  attending DSO meeting and clinics, attending non-Special Olympics clinics, attending general and sports specific seminars, becoming CPR and/or first aid certified, and attending other Special Olympics and non-Special Olympics practices to learn from other coaches.

There are Special Olympics specific meetings, clinics, and seminars offered throughout the year that we encourage you and your coaching staff to attend.  These focus on the needs of Delaware Special Olympics coaches and will provide you with valuable information you can take back to your team and also educate you about what others in the state are doing successfully.  The Principles of Coaching Course is the most valuable seminar you can attend regardless of your coaching experience.  It provides you with general information about coaching the Special Olympics athlete and will certainly enhance your skills as a coach.  This seminar is offered throughout the year in all three counties.

If you are interested in attending a non-Special Olympics clinic or seminar please contact our office and we will help you, if at all possible, both in finding a clinic to attend and assisting with the costs of the event.

Our first priority is to provide our athletes with first class sports training and in order to do so our coaches must be first class.  We appreciate your desire to help carry out the mission of Special Olympics.

Reference Guides (call the Chapter office for more information):
Special Olympics Sports Skills Guides (sport specific)
Special Olympics Sports Rules Book
National Governing Body Rules Book (sport specific)