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Special Olympics offers training and competition opportunities in 30 Olympic-type sports for athletes 8 years or older.  For children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7, Special Olympics provides a Young Athletes Program. Special Olympics coaches have a unique opportunity to work with athletes in competitive situations to assist in their training for life. As a grass-roots organization, Special Olympics relies on volunteers at all levels of the movement to ensure that every athlete is offered a quality sports training and competition experience. Individual donors, corporate partners and many others make it possible for Special Olympics to offer children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy through participation in the program.
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Xue Hua, Special Olympics China football coach, reviews plays with his athletes
Xue Hua, Special Olympics China football coach, reviews plays with his athletes 25 June 2003, during the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. The American Sport Education Program offers online courses open to all Special Olympics coaches around the world. [Photo by Marc O'Sullivan, EDI]

One of the keys to improving athlete performance and well-being is the guidance of a well-trained coach. Special Olympics is committed to ensuring its athletes receive the best coaching possible, and ongoing coaches training is essential. In addition to its core training opportunities, Special Olympics now offers online courses to Special Olympics coaches through a partnership with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP).

ASEP's online courses are open to all Special Olympics coaches around the world, and can fulfill re-certification requirements for Special Olympics North America coaches. Special Olympics North America coaches who have completed the Special Olympics General Orientation and Skills Course may take ASEP's online Coaching Youth courses to maintain certification/re-certification in their respective sports. There is a charge for the ASEP courses; Special Olympics does not receive any portion of those charges.

ASEP online courses include:

  • Coaching Youth Basketball;
  • Coaching Youth Soccer;
  • Coaching Youth Softball;
  • Coaching Youth Tennis; and
  • Coaching Youth Volleyball.

To learn more about the ASEP online courses or to take a course, visit the ASEP Web site.

In addition to the ASEP courses, there are other options available to Special Olympics coaches for recertification. Approved recertification courses include:

  • First-Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course;
  • Officials Training;
  • Rules Updates;
  • National Governing Body Courses; other sport organizations' coaching courses;
  • Positive Coaching Alliance — Double Gold; and
  • Other Special Olympics headquarters-approved coaching courses.

For more information about these courses and coaching recertification in general, contact your local Special Olympics Program.
     < More about Special Olympics coaching certification >

About the American Sport Education Program

American Sport Education Program logoASEP develops and delivers online and instructor-led courses and resources for coaches, officials, sport administrators, athletes and parents of athletes. ASEP partners with both national and local sport organizations to provide sport education for their members. This education is also available to all people in all levels of the sport community through online courses, books, videos, and software. Thirteen national governing bodies for Olympic sport use ASEP's programs, and more than 200 colleges and universities teach ASEP courses or use ASEP resources.

 

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