Coach Certification

The Coaches Certification Program is designed to train volunteers who wish to develop their coaching skills and become certified Special Olympics Texas coaches.  Coaches certification is recommended for anyone who plans to coach Special Olympics Texas athletes. 

Coaches who enter their teams in meets, tournaments or games at the area, regional or chapter level will have their certification status verified.  Any team entered without a certified head coach will not be allowed to participate.  The burden of proof will be on the individual, not the area or chapter office, if a coach's status is questioned.  The head of delegation and head coach listed on the Delegation Entry Form must attend the competition with the team.  The head of delegation and/or head coach may be required to present a valid form of identification during registration, which may include the SOTX coach card.

Steps to Becoming A Certified Coach
1. Complete the General Orientation Training online or in person.  Click here to complete General Orientation online now.

2. Complete the Protective Behaviors Training online or in person.  Click here to complete Protective Behaviors online now.
3. Attend a sport specific coaches training offered through Special Olympics Texas.

4. Work a minimum of 10 hours with a SOTX athlete or team in the sport and capture the hours on the Practicum Form.

5. Submit a copy of one's Practicum Form to the area office prior to the competition.

6. Be a registered Class A volunteer with SOTX.  (An applicant is only considered a registered Class A volunteer after submitting a Class A Volunteer Application, completing General Orientation and Protective Behaviors, and passing a criminal background check, not prior to those events.)

Maintaining Your Coaches Certification
1. Annually, attend an area conference or recertify online (mandatory).  This opportunity is offered from early January through the end of February.  It is during the area conference or online recertification that coaches learn about rule changes, policies and procedures, new sports, the calendar of events, etc.  Coaches who choose to attend the area conference instead of recertifying online should attend the conference in their area (or they may attend a conference in another area with the approval of the appropriate area director).

2. Remain active in the Special Olympics program in the specific sport(s) selected.  An absence of more than 12 months will result in a lapse of certification and require the coach to attend another training school.  Examples of remaining active in the sport include, but are not limited to, practicing with a team in the sport; conducting clinics in the sport; attending TAPHERD conferences or other organizations where sports are a main focus; participating in sports competitions; or serving as a training clinic sports clinician.

3. Attend all required coaches meetings for the sport in which they are active.

4. Every three years, the coach must attend Protective Behaviors training and submit a new Class A Volunteer Application.