Transcript Document

How to Plan a
Productive Practice
Session
What Special Olympics Athletes
Want From Their Coaches
From the Athlete-Centered Coaching Guide
• Dedicated to the Team
• Committing to Learn More
• Know individual strengths, weaknesses and
personality traits of Team
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Characteristics Affecting Athlete
Performance in Training & Competition
Athlete’s:
• Confidence level
• May be hesitant to try new things
•
Ability to take in new information
• Ability to connect previously learned ideas to new
ones
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Coaching tips
Sensory Challenges = Struggle to Interact with Sports
Environment
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Psychological Considerations Related to
Learning & Recommended Teaching Strategies
There are four main psychological considerations
related to an athlete’s ability to learn:
• motivation,
• perception,
• comprehension,
• and memory
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Psychological Considerations Related to
Learning & Recommended Teaching Strategies
Motivation
• Keep drills short
• Make short-term goals
• High Fives!
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Psychological Considerations Related to
Learning & Recommended Teaching Strategies
Perception
• Provide equipment or other accommodations
for athletes with impairments
• Connect new concepts with previously learned
ideas
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Psychological Considerations Related to
Learning & Recommended Teaching Strategies
Comprehension
Coaching tips
Structure your season to use early practices to teach
basic skills and provide opportunities for team play.
Then build on those basic skills and team play each
following practice. Planning the whole season of
practices will make it easier to modify your practices
to fit the unique needs of your team and still ensure
you will be ready for competition.
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Psychological Considerations Related to
Learning & Recommended Teaching Strategies
Memory
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Developmental Appropriateness
When working with any athlete population, it is
important for coaches to ask athletes to perform
technical skills (fundamentals) and tactical skills
(game or event strategies) that are developmentally
appropriate relative to athletes’ physical and
intellectual capabilities
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Communication Considerations When
Working With Special Olympics Athletes
Check in with athletes!
Communication methods include:
• Verbal communication
• Gesture cues (thumbs up, high-fives)
• Pointing to pictures. Pictures can be very simple; free
applications are available for download on smart
phones and tablets
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Use People-First Language
Person with an intellectual disability
Vs
Intellectually disabled person
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Teaching Sportsmanship and
Teamwork
Consider team rules in these areas of competition
conduct:
• Athlete language
• Athlete behavior
• Interactions with officials or judges
• Discipline for misbehavior
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Coaching Unified Sports®
When Unified Sports teams are made up of people of
similar age and ability, practices are more fun and
games more challenging and exciting for all.
When coaching a Unified Sports team, it is important to
remember and emphasize that every player on your
team is equally important to the success of the team.
Partners should be coached as much as athletes to
ensure team cohesion and success.
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Be Flexible
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Coach Pre Season Planning and
Preparations
Improve your sports knowledge and skills by attending
training schools and clinics.
Locate a facility with proper equipment for practice
sessions
Recruit volunteer assistant coaches (4:1 ratio)
Plan an 8 week training and competition plan.
Ensure all athletes and volunteers have completed
forms on file with local coordinator & state office.
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Essential Components of a Training
Session
Warm Ups
Previously Taught Skills
New Skills
Competition Experience
Feedback on Performance
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1. Keep active
2. Create clear, concise goals
3. Give clear, concise instruction
4. Record progress
5. Give positive feedback
6. Provide variety
7. Encourage enjoyment
8. Create Progressions
9. Plan maximum use of resources
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10.Allow for individual differences
Assign assistant coaches their roles & responsibilities
in accordance to your training plan.
When possible, have all equipment and stations
prepared before the athletes arrive.
Alter the plan according to weather (don’t just cancel
practice)
Change activities before the athlete becomes bored
and loses interest.
Devote the end of practice to a fun, group activity that
can incorporate challenge and fun always giving them
something to look forward to at the end of practice.
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Safety
• Establish clear rules for behavior
• Make sure athlete’s bring water
• First-aid kit on hand
• Train on emergency procedures
• Proper stretching
• Improve general fitness
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Competition Component
Ask local high school if your athletes can compete with
them as a practice game/meet.
Incorporate competition components at the end of
every training session.
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Skills Assessments
Sport-specific
See coaches guides
Daily performance records
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