How to Conduct a Practice

To maximize time, it is vital that written plans and programs be developed. They are necessary to chart developments and to keep on target. In addition, they are necessary for the center or school in the unlikely event of an accident.

There are a variety of levels of instruction and assistance that can be provided to athletes to facilitate learning, skill development, and competition success. Each coach needs to address each athlete individually.

Organizing a Training Program

1. Assessment of athletes level of fitness and skills
   • Appropriate sport selection
   • Appropriate goals
   • Means of following progress of athlete and training program – record
   • Examples of assessment tests
2. Goal Setting
   • Readily attainable, short term, concrete, and individual
   • Athlete involvement in individual and team goal setting
   • Goals incorporated into a preliminary "Season Plan"
3. Planning a training session
   • Medical information on each athlete at every practice
   • Effective use of limited time; planning and prioritizing
   • Components: warm-up and stretching, skills instruction, competition experience, and cool down
   • Familiar and comfortable training routine

Conducting a Training Session

1. Warm-up and stretching
   • Specific rather than general
   • Use of safe stretching techniques
   • Difficulties with balance; appropriate physical assistance
   • Simple and able to duplicate at home and at competition
2. Skills instruction (plus game or event strategies)
   • Movement and repetition
   • Game or event related activities
   • Breaking down skills
   • Maintaining attention
   • Appropriate and immediate reinforcement
   • Consistent and descriptive key words
   • Appropriate levels of assistance for each athlete
     • Verbal
     • Visual (demonstration)
     • Physical prompt
     • Physical assistance
   • Asking questions, verifying learning
   • Rewarding desired behavior; reducing inappropriate behavior
3. Competitive experience
   • Role of competition in Special Olympics Texas
   • Importance of providing competition experiences during training
   • Providing immediate and specific feedback
   • Teaching the rules within a game or event situation
   • Importance of following the rules
4. Cool–down and stretching
   • Light stretching exercises of major muscle groups
   • Acknowledgment of efforts (recognizing everyone)