Coaches Information

Special Olympics coaches inspire the greatness in each of our athletes by sharing their spirit and skills. In return, our athletes will help you remember why you love the sport and game.

Our volunteer coaches are both role models and character-builders for our athletes. They give Special Olympics athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage and capacity to grow and improve.

Experience the Rewards of Coaching

Regardless of your level of sport or coaching experience, you can be the role model that inspires a Special Olympics athlete to achieve greatness.  Whether you're a returning coach or just considering the opportunity to coach, Special Olympics North Dakota offers support and a rewarding experience. Often, Special Olympics coaches find that the personal rewards received are equal to or even outweigh the benefits they offer the athletes.

Special Olympics coaches get to experience the way sports should be. Our athletes are excited to play, respectful of players and officials, and devoted to their coaches. With a little encouragement from a coach like you, these exceptional athletes can do anything.

Steps to Becoming a Special Olympics North Dakota Coach

It is easy to become a Special Olympics coach.  There is a simple registration and certification process to complete and you will be on your way to becoming a coach.  Having well trained coaches is a key to the success of the Special Olympics North Dakota program.  We strive to provide training in the sport you coach and provide tips to help your team through their sport season.  There are a number of levels of certification that can be achieved. 

Level 0 Certification

All coaches need to be Level 0 certified prior to working with athletes. Level 0 coaches can coach any sport.

1. Complete the Volunteer Application.- A copy of your driver's license or State issued ID is required to verify your identification.  A background check is required for all volunteers 18 years of age or older.  
2. Review the General Orientation Packet and complete the General Orientation Quiz.
3. Complete the Protective Behaviors Training.

The Volunteer Application and General Orientation Quiz may be submitted to SOND via fax: 701-772-1265 or by mail to Special Olympics North Dakota, 2616 So. 26th St, Grand Forks, ND 58201

Level 1 Certification

If you wish to become level 1 certified in a specific sport you must attend a training school for that sport.

1. Complete level 0 certification paperwork (see above).
2. Attend a sport-specific training school. 
   
3. Complete a 10-hour practicum working with Special Olympics athletes.
   

Coaches become level 2 certified by completing the practicum.

Level 1 Recertification

Level 1 certification is good for three years. Coaches who are level 1 certified in multiple sports can get recertified for all of their sports at the same time. To do this, coaches must complete one recertification course and complete one recertification application. 

1. Attend a Recertification Course, which could be:
• First aid
• CPR
• AED
• Crisis prevention
• Principles of Coaching
• Sport Skills training school
• The Leadership Conference in October
• An ASEP online course
• An NFHS learn online course
  
• Lifeguard certification
• A continuing education course
• Online Concussion Training
• A different course that applies to working with Special Olympics athletes.
2. Complete the Recertification application.

Additional Training and Certification Questions

Level 2 Certifications and beyond, plus additional training opportunities are available at the Leadership Conference held in October. 

Online Learning

Special Olympics continues to research and find ways to utilize the newest technologies to provide our coaches the best training in the most user-friendly format.  There are now a number of online courses available to coaches to recertify as a coach or advance your level of certification. 

Coaching Unified Sports through National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS)

Special Olympics North America and NFHS is proud to introduce the Coaching Unified Sports course.  This free course is designed to introduce coaches to the Unified Sports program, and will qualify a coach at a level 1 certification or can be used for recertification. 

About the Course:

• 100% Free
• Can be completed in as little as 90 minutes
• Includes a free resource locker room with PDF's that can be saved or printed and accessed forever.
• Course is active for one year from starting date
• Provides interactive learning experience with Video, Text on screen, and Narrated voice text.

To learn more about or access the course visit the course page at the NFHS Learn website.

Coaching Special Olympics athletes through American Sport Education Program (ASEP)

Special Olympics North America and the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) have teamed up to design the Coaching Special Olympics athletes online course.  This game changing course prepares Special Olympics coaches to use their sport-specific knowledge in coaching athletes with intellectual disabilities.  The course meets the SOND standards for level 1 certification or recertification. 

About the Course:

• Course can be purchased for $16.95
• Available for one year from start date
• ASEP offers 24/7 technical support to coaches taking the course
• Teaches and Reinforces the essentials of coaching individuals with intellectual disabilities

To learn more about or access this course and the many other online sport courses available to SOND coaches through ASEP visit the ASEP webpage by clicking here.

Principles of Coaching Online Course through West Virginia University

SOND Coaches Corner Newsletters