Our athletes need you
Sign up for more information on becoming a Special Olympics Volunteer:
Overview:
Becoming a coach with Special Olympics has many rewards. Along the way, we are always here to help. Our training programs are designed to ensure that you are able to meet the needs of any athlete involved in our organization with both confidence and skill.
Special Olympics Canada sees our volunteers coaching in two main areas; those that are preparing athletes for Provincial/Territorial, National and World Games, and those who will work with athletes in their community who wish to be active for life.
For this reason, we provide coach education that focuses on reaching the potential of both athletes and coaches in these two sporting areas.
To receive sport technical knowledge, a Special Olympics coach must also participate in the sport-specific workshop. These workshops provide the necessary knowledge in order to coach the technical aspects of the sport.
Special Olympics Canada does not run workshops pertaining to the technical aspects of Special Olympics sports. This is accomplished through our partnerships with national sport organizations (NSOs) and provincial/territorial sport organizations (P/TSOs). To access sport technical training please go to the NSO website.
For more information on becoming a Special Olympics coach, visit your Provincial/Territorial Chapter’s website.
NCCP Training:
Special Olympics in Canada provides three NCCP courses for coaches;
Coaching Young Athletes
- SO Coaching Young Athletes Workshop
- Fundamental Movement Skills Workshop
Competition – Introduction
- SO Competition – Introduction Workshop
In the new NCCP, a coach is described as:
- In Training – when a coach has completed some of the required training for a context;
- Trained – when a coach has completed all required training for a context;
- Certified – when a coach has completed all evaluation requirements for a context.
Special Olympics coaches can now become certified in the Special Olympics context.
Pan Canadian Coaching Minimum Standard:
Level of Coaching |
Minimum Standard |
| Initial Onboarding | SOC Orientation Course (Within 1 month of program placement) Criminal Record Check (CRC) |
| Community Coaches/ Grassroots | SOC Orientation Course NCCP SOC Competition Introduction Course (Trained) Safe Sport (CAC or RIS) MED Evaluated |
| Provincial Games |
NCCP SOC Competition Introduction (Trained) Safe Sport (CAC)or Respect in Sport |
| National Games (Head Coach) | NCCP SOC Competition Introduction Course Sport-Specific Training Safe Sport (CAC) MED Evaluated Current CRC |
| National Games (Assistant Coach) | NCCP SOC Competition Introduction Course Sport-Specific Training Safe Sport (CAC) MED Evaluated Current CRC |
| National Games (Mission Staff) | NCCP SOC Competition Introduction Course Safe Sport (CAC) MED Evaluated Current CRC |
| World Games | NCCP SOC Competition Introduction Course Sport-Specific Training Safe Sport (CAC) MED Evaluated Current CRC |
| Recommended Courses | First Aid/CPR NCCP Making Head way SOC Coaching athletes with Autism SOC Coaching athletes with Down syndrome NCCP Diversity and Inclusion in Action NCCP MultiSport NCCP Coaching athletes with a disability NCCP Mental Health in Sport NCCP Sport Nutrition NCCP Emergency Action Planning |
