How to Become Certified
Coaches certification is recommended for anyone who plans to coach Special Olympics athletes. It is required for the head coach of a team wishing to enter area, regional or chapter competitions.
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 on the chapter or area office, if a coach's status is questioned.
The head of delegation and head coach listed on the Delegation Entry Form must attend the event 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.
How Do You Become Certified?
The Coaches Certification Program is designed to train volunteers who wish to develop their coaching skills and become certified Special Olympics coaches. Listed below are the steps one must take to become a certified coach with Special Olympics:
1) Complete the General Orientation Training either online or in person.
2) Complete the Protective Behaviors Training either online or in person.
3) Attend a sport specific coaches training offered through Special Olympics Texas.
4) Work a minimum of 10-hours with a Special Olympics 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 the General Orientation and Protective Behaviors Trainings, and passing the criminal background check, not prior to those events.)
How is Certification Maintained?
A coach must retain his/her certification by meeting all of the following criteria:
1) Annually, the coach must attend an area conference or recertify online. This opportunity is offered to coaches from early January through the end of February. It is during the area conference or online recertification that coaches will 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 an area conference in another area with the prior approval of the appropriate area director).
2) The coach must remain active in the Special Olympics program in the specific sport(s) selected (e.g., coach, official, sport committee member, etc.). 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 as a coach 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 the sports competitions; or serving as a training clinic sports clinician.
3) The coach must attend all required coaches meetings for the sport(s) in which they are active.
4) Every four years, the coach must attend a continuing education course approved by the area training director/manager.
