Special Olympics BC – Delta soccer coach Stuart Holmes loves to see the proud smiles on athletes’ faces when they learn a new skill or achieve a goal.

A highly knowledgeable coach, Holmes is passionate about soccer and has been involved in the game for most of his life. Holmes has been coaching with SOBC – Delta for more than 10 years, and he says working with the dedicated, grateful athletes in his Local has been a rewarding experience.

Holmes says SOBC – Delta provides athletes with meaningful opportunities that help them develop in all aspects of their lives.

When did you start with Special Olympics, and how did you get involved?

I have played and coached soccer for most of my life and have a NCCP Level 2 certification from 1988 from coaching my son in soccer. In the fall of 2006, Dave McCombe, a former playing colleague and SOBC – Delta soccer Head Coach, asked if I would consider helping with their program, which runs in the spring each year. In April 2007, I attended the Special Olympics Competition Sport Workshop and have coached every year since.

After taking the required certification courses, I went with the SOBC – Delta B team to the 2009 SOBC Summer Games in Abbottsford as an assistant coach. Our team returned with a bronze medal even though we were seeded in Division A. In subsequent years, I worked more with the Delta C team, until 2017 when the B team qualified for the 2017 SOBC Summer Games in Kamloops.

What has been your most memorable Special Olympics experience?

My most memorable Special Olympics experience was being Head Coach of the SOBC – Delta soccer team that won the gold medal in Division B at the 2017 SOBC Summer Games in Kamloops. This was a team of athletes with wide-ranging soccer abilities that gave an all-out effort above their normal levels to win their first gold medal.

What is your favourite thing about being involved with SOBC – Delta?

Seeing the genuine smile of achievement when an athlete successfully meets a new milestone or completes a difficult task for the first time. They all genuinely appreciate every little thing you do to help them improve.

What would you like others to know about SOBC – Delta?

SOBC – Delta is a fantastic organization that is constantly working to provide opportunities for athletes to participate in sports that challenge them to develop in new and different ways.