Resources for Coaches & Local Programs

The goal of the Special Olympics Massachusetts coaches education system is to provide all our coaches with the tools needed to properly coach the athletes on their team in their sport of choice, as well as to continually challenge both the coach and the athlete to always improve on their performance and grow as an athlete and coach.

Special Olympics Massachusetts, in accordance with Special Olympics North America guidelines, has developed the following criteria in order to become a Special Olympics MA coach.  All coaches are required to renew their status every three years.

Level One – Required for all Coaches

• Complete the Class A Volunteer From
• Complete the Protective Behaviors Online Course
• Complete the Concussion Awareness Training thru the NFHS
  • you will need to list “Special Olympics MA” as your Organization name under your account for SOMA to internally track results,
  • the Concussion Awareness Training thru the CDC (this one is more user friendly, but you will need to email SOMA a copy of your completion certificate as we do not internally track results)
• Complete the SOMA General Orientation

Highly recommended for all First Aid & Safety

• Through NFHS, in person SOMA training, Red Cross, or through locally certified organization

Level Two – Core Coaching Knowledge

• All Level One requirements
• Complete the Unified Sports Course
  • Required of all coaches that coach a Unified sport
  • Please note you must list Special Olympics MA as your Organization name under your account

• Complete a Sport Specific certification
  • Attend Special Olympics MA coaches college
  • Attend another chapters sport training coaches clinic
  • Certificate through a recognized organization
    • Governing body
    • National Federation of State High School Associations

• Coaching the Special Olympics Athlete
  • Online via Human Kinetics
  • Through Special Olympics MA coach college offered course
  • Licensed professional in field of special education or similar field

Level is required for all coaches attend a USA Games

Level Three – Advanced Coaching Knowledge

• All level two requirements
• Principles of Coaching

Required for all World Games Coaches

Coaches can re certify and update their certification in their sport by taking one of the following online tests.

Tests are being updated and new tests will be posted soon.

The following resources are available through Special Olympics Incorporated or through partnerships created by Special Olympics North America

• Special Olympics Resources
  • Special Olympics Article One
  • Sport Rules
  • Sport Coaching Guides
  • Coaching Special Olympics athletes
  • Coaches playbook: Introduction  to Autism and Instructional  
• Special Olympics Learn
  • Online line education system
  • Personal account is needed
  • online classes include
    • S.O. Level I & II & World Games coaching,
    • COVID -19
    • Unified Sports
    • Young athletes
    • More courses to be added included, Sport courses, fitness
• National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)
  • Nutrition (free)
  • Sport coaching techniques (free)
  • Concussion awareness (free)
  • Positive Sport Parenting(free)
  • Sportsmanship (free)
  • Fundamentals of Coaching (cost varies by state)
  • First Aid, Health & Safety for Coaches (cost varies by state)
  • Planning a track meet (free)
• Positive Coaching Alliance
• Coachtube
  • online instructional coaching videos.

The following resources have been provided by Special Olympics Incorporated  on the S.O. resource page and are a must read for all Unified Sports coaches and partners

• Unified Sports coach certification course (Required for all Unified Sports Coaches)
• Assessing your players and forming your Unified Sports team
• Unified Sports coach guidelines
• Unified Sports principles of meaningful involvement
• Unified Sports tutorial videos
• Explanations of different Unified Sports models & guidelines
  • Recreation
  • Player Development
  • Competitive

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

• Track & Field (Athletics) rules modifications
• Flag Football Rules
• Flag Football Rules – Video Tutorial
• Soccer – Rules Modifications and Highlights (updated October 2017)
• Differences between Unified Sports Competitive and Unified Sports Player Development. Watch the SOMA Video to show the differences
• Summary of suggestions for coach educations

• If there is an injury at practice, fill out the SOMA Incident Report and return to the Business Operations Department – Ops@SpecialOlympicsMA.org
• The Center of Disease Control (CDC) has a Seizure Guide for treating, reacting and dealing with someone who is having a seizure

Uniform Guidelines

• Refer to our team uniform guidelines to see how the logo should be implemented
• Logos for uniforms can be downloaded from this zip file.
• For more on uniform and apparel guidelines visit our branding resources page.

Brand and Media Resources

• Customizable templates for flyers, business cards, press releases and more can be found on our branding resources page.

Financial Management Guidelines

• 2020 Financial Management for Local Programs

Forms and Registration Webinar

• SOMA recently recorded a Webinar explaining how to fill out forms (medical, class A form, sport registrations, etc.) and how SOMA’s insurance ties in to everything

Divisioning Webinar

• SOMA recorded a Webinar explaining how divisioning works for team and individual sports

Special Olympics MA Codes of Conduct

• Athlete Code of Conduct
• Coach Code of Conduct
• Family Code of Conduct

Special Olympics General Rules

• SOMA Summary of General Rules
• Complete Special Olympics Inc. General Rules
• Waiver Policy for Advancement to Season Ending Tournaments