Athlete Leadership Programs
The mission of Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs is to empower athletes to develop leadership skills and utilize their voices to assume meaningful leadership roles, influence change in the Special Olympics movement, and educate communities around the world that results in positive life changes.
Athlete Leadership at Special Olympics Massachusetts provides training and support for athletes who desire to expand their participation in Special Olympics, both on and off the competition field. Through Athlete Leadership, individuals receive instruction and have opportunities to hold positions of influence within the community. In these roles, athletes are given tools to share their experiences, document stories in the community, and encourage others to be their best selves. Athlete Leaders will help spread the mission of inclusion through the voice and perspective of a Special Olympics athlete.
In 2023 we launched three new athlete leadership programs:
OVERVIEW
This opportunity will focus on two key initiatives for revenue generation for Special Olympics Massachusetts: Fundraising and Corporate Engagement. We want to help enable athletes to be able to tell their stories in the community by building inclusive relations in the community. Training will be in early 2023, where athletes will learn skills such as public speaking and storytelling, as well as learn more about SOMA’s fundraising events and initiatives.
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be self-motivated and have an interest in fundraising initiatives for Special Olympics Massachusetts
- Must have a mentor that checks in with them
- Must be able to attend fundraising events or corporate partner events when asked upon (in-person and virtual)
- Must be able to find their own transportation to events or corporate engagement opportunities
EXPECTATIONS
- Attend and participate in all training sessions associated with becoming an Athlete Ambassador for fundraising initiatives
- Represent SOMA and elevate the experience for corporate partners during engagements by visiting businesses (lunch and learns, promotional/fundraising campaigns for SOMA), telling their stories and sharing inclusive experiences with employees.
- Become a team captain or champion for certain fundraising initiatives in their community by recruiting and rallying people to participate in fundraising events (I.e. Polar Plunge)
* Mentoring an athlete leader – lending your time and talents to a most-important element of the Special Olympics vision – ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities are seen as respected and capable members of their community. Must be someone who will push the athlete to complete tasks, check-in with their thoughts and help guide them. Mentor can be parent, sibling, coach, teacher, etc.
Additional athlete leadership opportunities
Athletes on the Board of Directors
Two Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes serve on our Board of Directors at all times.
Athletes as Coaches
Through the Special Olympics Massachusetts Coaches Education Program, athletes can receive training to serve as certified coaches for Special Olympics Massachusetts sports teams throughout the year.
Athletes as Volunteers
Athletes join the volunteer forces of Special Olympics Massachusetts by helping out with sporting events, fundraising events and other activities throughout the year. Many of our athletes put together teams to participate in fundraising events.