Transcript Slide 1

General Session
“The Basics of Special Olympics”
Mission Statement
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide
year-round training and athletic competition in a
variety of Olympic-type sports to children and
adults with intellectual disabilities in order to
develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage,
experience joy and participate in a sharing of
gifts, skills and friendship with their families,
other Special Olympics athletes and the
community.
The mission drives every aspect of the movement.
Athletes Oath
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be
brave in the attempt.”
At every event around the world athletes recite this
oath in unison.
History of Special Olympics
• In 1968, Eunice Kennedy
Shriver organized the first
International Special
Olympics games.
• Special Olympics Wyoming
began in 1972 under the
direction and leadership of
Helen and Lloyd Wampler.
• There are Special Olympics
programs in 170 countries, all
50 US states and the district
of Columbia serving over
4,000,000 athletes
• Special Olympics Wyoming
currently serves almost 1400
athletes.
History of Participation
Special Olympics
Inc
Special Olympics
Wyoming
4,004,415
2012
1,374
750,000
1990
950
588,500
1988
1972
1,000
1968
100*
1963
* Day camp in Mrs. Shriver’s backyard
210
Special Olympics Goals
• To achieve quality growth by creating
innovative opportunities to bring the Special
Olympics experience to more of the world’s
190 million people with intellectual disabilities
• To create positive public attitudes toward a
population that is often rejected or forgotten
• To promote global athlete leadership and
dedicate the movement to empowerment and
dignity, not charity
Statement of Eligibility
• Special Olympics training & competition is provided to:
• Persons with intellectual disabilities
• Aged 8 years or older
• Registration with Special Olympics to participate
(Application for Participation/medical and Release)
* Exception of Unified Sports Partner who are typically a
peer with no disability.
Persons with Intellectual
Disabilities
• Identified by agency or professional
• Have a cognitive delay
• Have a closely-related developmental
disability
Environmental Expression
• More similar to the greater population than different
• Mild limitations
* Learn at a different pace than peers
* May walk and/or talk later
* May have issues in appropriate social behavior
• Severe Limitations
* Traditional schooling may not be appropriate
*Need to master life skills & communications skills
Organizational Structure
Athletes
Local Programs
• Coaches
• Family Members
Area Programs
• Competition
• Training
• Collaboration
State Program (one of 52)
• Board of Directors
• Training
• Competition
•Accreditation
Special Olympics North America
Special Olympics Inc.
Unique from other Sports
Organizations
 Sports opportunities
for all ability levels
 Divisoning for
equitable competition
 Awards for all
participants
 Random draw for
advancement to higher
levels of competition
 No fees charged to
athletes or family
Targeting Potential Athletes
 Elementary and secondary
and transition programs
 Work Settings
 Community agencies
 Park and Recreation
programs
 Current athletes and
families
Special Olympics Regions
Special Olympics Wyoming is split into five different Areas: See map below.
Training Resources
Federation
or
Governing
Body Rules
SOI
Official
Sports
Rules
Sports
Specific
Skills
Program
Guides
Family
Home
Training
www.special
olympics.org
Coaches
Education and
Training
Sessions
Coach Education System
Track for Coaches with
Track for Coaches without
Sport Experience
Continuing
Sport Experience
Education
Comprehensive Mentoring
Sport Mentoring & Assistance
Comprehensive
4
Comprehensive Mentoring
Sport Mentoring & Assistance
Mentoring
Tactics Course
ASEP online or
Sport Strategies & Tactics
Training -Seminar
Principles of Coaching Course
Training
Expanding the Sport Sciences
Seminar
Unified Sports® Course
Expanding the Program
Skills Course
Sport Strategies & Tactics
Principles of Coaching Course
Expanding the Sport Sciences
Unified Sports® Course
Seminar
Expanding the Program
10-hour Practicum
Coaching Special
Training-Seminar
Introduction to Special Olympics
2
Training
Basic Sport Skills and Strategies
General Orientation & Protective
Behavior
3
Tactics Course
Foundation
1
Olympics Athletes Course
Effectively Teaching & Coaching Athletes
General Orientation & Protective
Behavior
Increasing Sports
Opportunities
Protecting Special Olympics
Athletes
• Special Olympics Inc. developed the
Protective Behaviors Training as a tool to
assist with protecting Special Olympics
athletes from abuse.
• Protective Behaviors training required for
Class A Volunteers and staff (16 years of
age and older)
• It requires the assistance of everyone
involved in our organization to help keep
our athletes safe from abuse.
Protecting Special Olympics
Athletes
• Preventing Physical Abuse
- No corporal punishment
- Check temperature of water (showers/baths)
- Do not withhold water or food when needed
- Dispense only prescribed medications as
assigned
• Preventing emotional abuse
- Treat athletes with courtesy & respect; no
profanity
- Provide constructive & positive discipline
• For the Protective Behaviors training click here.
Protecting Special Olympics
Athletes
• Preventing sexual abuse
- Provide at least 2 adults to supervise in
locker room
- Provide appropriate physical contact in
public
- Respect boundaries
- Provide appropriate sleeping
arrangements
- Educate athletes, partners, volunteers, &
family members about appropriate contact
Sports Rules
• Based on
International and
National Governing
Body Rules
• Contain few
modifications
• Provide sports &
events for all ability
levels
• Govern all Special
Olympics
competitors
Divisoning
• Special Olympics
divisoning is based
on age, gender, &
ability
• Ability is the most
important
Progression of Games
World
Global Regions
National
State
Area
Local
Special Olympics Wyoming
Sports
Summer
Sports
•*Aquatics
•*Athletics
•*Basketball
•Power lifting
• *Tennis
• Gymnastics**
*Golf
& *Softball
MATP
Winter Sports Fall Sports
• Snowboarding • *Bowling
• *Snow Shoe
• Alpine Skiing
• *Cross Country
Skiing
** Only offered in Area competition
• *Equestrian
• *Cycling
• *Soccer
* Unified Sports offered
Special Olympics Wyoming State
Events
• Winter Games- February
• Summer Games- May
• Unified Sports Golf
Tournament - August
• G. Michael Perry Softball
Tournament- September
• Fall Tournament- October
Eligibility for National & World
Games
• No other organized event
in the world has the social
and emotional impact of
the Special Olympics
World Games
• Athletes that have
received a gold medal at
the preceding State games
are selected randomly to
compete in World Games.
Enhancing Involvement in
School & Community
Volunteer Interaction
Lifetime Sports /
Skills Development
Unified Sports®
Project UNIFY®
Community-based
Facilities
Athlete Leadership
Programs
Public Education
Media
Unified Sports
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Team sports are about having
fun, promoting physical health
and bringing people together.
Special Olympics Unified Sports
teams do all of that – and shatter
stereotypes about individuals with
intellectual disability in the
process.
Special Olympics athletes and
their teammates without
intellectual disabilities (Unified
Sports partners) practice and play
together on Unified Sports teams.
Unified Sports partners and
athletes should be of equal ability
on the playing field.
Partners are teammates, not
coaches.
Volunteers
Coaches, Chaperones, etc.
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•
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Class A volunteers include volunteers that
are in close contact with our athletes
(coaches, chaperones etc.).
Class A volunteers must complete the
Protective Behaviors Training and complete
a volunteer registration form.
Day of Event Volunteers (Class C
volunteers) are for area and/or state
competitions on the day of the event.
Examples for Class C Volunteer roles
include timing, athlete check in, recording
results, assisting with awards, making
announcements, selling merchandise,
helping with food service and staging
events.
Volunteers are the life-blood of Special
Olympics.
Volunteer Expectations
• Provide health and safety (athletes, volunteers, &
spectators)
• Dress and act appropriately
• Follow all rules & guidelines
• Report all emergencies to appropriate authorities
• Abstain from alcohol, tobacco, & illegal
substances
• Abstain from inappropriate contact or
relationships with athletes, volunteers, or others
Volunteer Opportunities
Project UNIFY
School Liaison
Management Team
(Area & State)
Athlete Recruitment
Public Relations
Training
Games Management Team
(Area & State)
School/Agency/Local Coordinator
State Board Member
Coaching
Athlete Leadership
Mentor
Event Volunteer
Fundraising
Chaperoning
Medical Support
Office Support
Officiating
Athlete Leadership Program
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•
Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs allow athletes to explore
opportunities for greater participation in our movement beyond sports
training and competition: as coaches, officials, team captains,
spokespeople, committee and Board members.
Part of the Athlete Leadership Program includes Global Messengers who
are athletes that spread the message and vision of the movement as well as
the benefits they have gained by participating in Special Olympics. Global
Messengers communicate the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance,
dignity, and courage of Special Olympics Athletes around the world.
Athlete Leadership Program
• Athlete Input Councils are a means for athletes to express their
ideas, concerns and recommendations at the local level, to help
improve the quality and integrity of their Special Olympics program.
• Input Councils meet on a regular basis and recommend new ideas
to their local Management Team and provide valuable feedback on
events and competitions held at the Area or State level.
Special Olympics
challenges/opportunities
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More athletes
Funding
More volunteers, especially coaches & youth
Quality training and competition
Athlete leadership
Inclusive sports opportunities
More family involvement
Public education
Proven Benefits
• Improved strength,
stamina, and motor
skills
• Improved self-esteem
and self-confidence
• Healthy skilldependable
employees
• Greater independent
participation within the
community
Putting it All Together
• TRAINING is the key
• COMPETITION is the
means
• Skill, confidence,
courage & joy are the
OUTCOMES
• Better preparation for
life is the GOAL
• Lifelong skills &
increased
independence are
the RESULTS