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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.
English > Initiatives > Athlete Leadership Programs > Athletes as Coaches
Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs)
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Fan Gin-Chia (Michael) and his mother Angela

Fan Gin-Chia (Michael) loves competing — he's won gold at the World Games — but says his greatest joy came when, like his mother Angela (pictured with him above), he became a Special Olympics Certified Coach and started working with the younger children in the Chinese Taipei Program.
Learn more about Gin Chia's accomplishments in the Meet our Coaches section.

Athletes as Coaches

After years of participating in the same sports, many athletes report that they are looking for new activities and challenges. Allowing athletes the option to formally move into coaching gives them an opportunity to continue their involvement with Special Olympics in new and challenging ways.

Athletes as coaches also provide a new source of reliable volunteers to help expand program offerings in sports that the athletes are most interested in.

How can athletes as coaches help a Special Olympics Program?

When communities and other athletes see Special Olympics athletes stepping up to Assistant Coach and Head Coach roles, they see Special Olympics as inclusive and cutting edge. When athletes see an opportunity to grow and take on new roles, they are more excited and engaged in Special Olympics.

An Athletes as Coaches Workshop is available from Special Olympics free of charge.

For more information on specific ALPs initiatives, visit the links below:

      ALPs Training
      Athletes on Boards of Directors
      Athletes as Coaches
      Athletes as Officials
      Global Messengers

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Contact Information
 
Dave Lenox, Vice President, Sports & Competition, +1 (202) 628-3630 or dlenox@specialolympics.org.
 

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