Coaches and Official are integral elements to Special Olympics. Through coaches, Special Olympics athletes get the necessary skills and training to perform both on and off the field. The sport official ensures the adherence of the rules and the safety of competition and the athletes. Find out how you can get involved.

Coaches - the Key to Athlete Development

Coaches play a unique and indispensable role in Special Olympics around the world. Coaches provide the sports skills and spirit that define a true athlete. In addition, coaches are role models and character builders. Coaches give Special Olympics athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage, and capacity to grow and improve.

Special Olympics coaches:

• Obtain necessary facilities and equipment for training.
• Help to recruit athletes and assistant coaches.
• Assist athletes in learning sports skills and applying them in competitions.
• Encourage confidence and self-esteem through sport.
• Conduct demonstrations in the community.
• Help start Partners Clubs® of peer coaches with their athletes.
• Start Unified Sports® teams.

Becoming a certified Special Olympics coach

The key to improving athlete performance and well being is based on the quality of training and experiences provided by the Special Olympics coach. The Special Olympics Coaches Education System identifies basic standards and competencies necessary and essential for being a Special Olympics coach.

Becoming a certified Special Olympics coach involves the following components:

1. Attend a Special Olympics General Orientation
2. Participate in an approved course.
3. In most cases, complete a minimum of 10 hours in teaching and coaching Special Olympics athletes.
4. Complete the Special Olympics Application for Sports Training Certification and submit it to the local Special Olympics Program.

Upon completion, he or she is eligible for certification. Education and certification is looked at as an ongoing experience. In order to provide the best experiences for athletes, continuing education (updating, or upgrading education) is necessary and essential. For further information on courses available for coaches, see Training Opportunities for Coaches.

Special Olympics coaches often find that the personal rewards received are equal to or even outweigh the benefits they offer the athletes. Special Olympics coaches have a unique opportunity to work with athletes in competitive situations to assist in their training for life.

Officials - The Key to Quality Competition

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Sport officials complete the third component necessary for sporting competition - athletes, spectators and officials. The sport official ensures the adherence of the rules and the safety of competition. Special Olympics encourages all persons officiating Special Olympics competitions to become certified in their sport.

Special Olympics officials are necessary to ensure the integrity of the sport. Sport officials complete the third component necessary for sporting competition - athletes, spectators and officials. The sport official ensures the adherence of the rules and the safety of competition. Special Olympics encourages all persons officiating Special Olympics competitions to become certified in their sport.

Special Olympics provides an opportunity for anyone interested, including Special Olympics athletes to become a certified Special Olympics sport-specific official. There are two ways to become a certified Special Olympics sport-specific official.

Track 1 - Persons with sport-specific officiating certification(s), and no Special Olympics experience Track 2 - Persons with neither sport-specific officiating certification(s), nor Special Olympics experience

Find out more about the Officials Certification process.

Under extraordinary circumstances when the criteria cannot be met, authority to deviate from established procedures may be requested of the appropriate body.  Alternate selection procedures must not conflict with Principles of athlete advancement stated in the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules.