Resources for Coaches & Local Programs

Becoming a Certified Special Olympics Coach

To become a Special Olympics Massachusetts Coach you must complete the following:

Beyond the role of Coach,  you can become a Head Coach by completing the following:

  • Complete a Unified Sports Course to coach a Unified Sports team here (note: you will need to list “Special Olympics MA” as your Organization name under your account)
  • Complete the SOMA Sport Specific Certification:

Sports Specific test is intended to be informational and provide sport specific information and links to help coaches become better informed. This is good for Special Olympics Massachusetts Sport Specific Head Coach Certification Coaches must receive a 90% passing grade and can take the test multiple times if needed. Certification is good for three years within a particular sport

Find your sport specific test:

 

  • Sailing
Helpful Coaching Resources

Below are some links to websites that Special Olympics Massachusetts have found to be helpful and educational for all coaches. These resources will help our coaches become more knowledge and better coaches thus allowing our participants to grow to become better athletes in their sport of play.

If you know of other resources please let us know so we may share them with all our coaches.

Special Olympics Coaches Guides

Special Olympics International  provides all coaches with thorough, practical and informative tools and guides. The information provided assists with everything from sports rules, 8-10 week training guides, practice schedules, unique sport specific information and general coaches’ enrichment. Coaches guides are updated periodically to ensure new and interesting articles and tips are available. Up to date coaches guides can be found here.

Special Olympics Massachusetts Modified Rules and Video Tutorials

Note all S.O. rules are based on National Governing body rules and NGB rules shall be employed unless in conflict with Special Olympics and Special Olympics Massachusetts modifications

Sport Safety
  • If there is an injury at practice fill out the Special Olympics Incident report and return to Special Olympics Massachusetts Business Operations department ops@specialolympicsma.org
  • Here is a great resource for all coaches and programs to read and have from the Center of Disease control when it comes to treating, reacting and dealing with an individual who is having a seizure. CDC 1st aid for seizures
  • A Coaches Aid to First Aid by David Paterson. This in depth article provides coaches on the appropriate steps to follow and links to resources to a variety of different first aid situations you may encounter on the playing field, from head injuries, bleeding, heat issues, sprains & strains
  • Staying Healthy & Avoiding Injury In Sports. This easy read website  explains the symptoms of different injuries and tips on how to treat them
  • Coming Soon SOMA Sport Safety power point / overview
Resources for Local Programs

Financial Management Guidelines

2016 Financial Management for Local Programs

Uniform Guidelines & Logos

  • A guide for local programs concerning team uniforms can be found here
  • For logos and other graphic resources please contact your Community Development Manager

Special Olympics MA Codes of Conduct

Special Olympics General Rules

Health Resources for Programs

Vision Resources

For programs that have athletes with vision issues visit the following sites  are dedicated to raising awareness of resources for individuals with vision impairment, legal blindness or deaf/blindness and intellectual disability.

LOCAL PROGRAM COMMUNICATION DASHBOARD (8/9/17

Protective Behavior Course here

General Orientation Course here

Click to see a copy of our most recent Families eNewsletter.