On International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) Global Coaches Day, Special Olympics is saying a loud and heartfelt #ThanksCoach to every one of our coaches around the world. Today is the perfect opportunity to highlight the fantastic work our coaches do every single day.
Special Olympics coaches are highly invested and committed individuals who take time during their busy lives to better the lives of Special Olympics athletes through sport.
Special Olympics is incredibly proud of the powerful impact our coaches make on the lives of the athletes they coach. Leveraging their extensive skills and knowledge, they build an environment where every athlete can belong, and where they can be both challenged and supported to achieve their goals and reach their potential. Yet, they also understand that sport drives more than just the opportunity to develop skills, fitness and physical health.
Fiona Murray, Special Olympics’ Senior Director of Coach Education and sport Development, shares, “At Special Olympics, we know the vital role our coaches play in supporting the mission of Special Olympics. Every day, in every programme, they choose to give their time, energy, expertise and passion to making their sport and their community more inclusive and welcoming. They see the potential of their athletes, supporting and challenging them in perfect measure, to achieve goals they might never have thought possible. Special Olympics coaches are amongst the more powerful changemakers in our movement, and they are the keystone in our sports communities. We are so grateful for everything they do and for the impact they make in the lives of our athletes every single day.”
They know the powerful impact sport can have on the social, emotional and mental well-being of athletes. Special Olympics coaches craft sports experiences which provide the opportunity for teammates to build social connections, to learn to manage the emotional impact of success and failure, and to develop the resilience and confidence that modern life demands. Special Olympics coaches are committed to developing stronger, more independent athletes and stronger, more independent people.
Special Olympics coaches are skilled and use their knowledge of sport to support their athletes and teams to build upon their talents and abilities. They use tactics to strengthen team comradery and develop a collective strategy for how athletes can work together to get the best outcome in both training and competition. Special Olympics coaches are continuously dedicating their personal time to educate themselves to provide the best possible environment for their athletes. This education is not only through Special Olympics, but also with sport-specific experts in international and national federations and sport partners.
With the support of Gallagher, the official partner of Special Olympics Sport and Coach programming, the movement is better equipped to fulfil its mission of delivering the highest quality of coach training and sport experience to four million athletes in 227 local programs across the globe. Gallagher makes it possible for Special Olympics to have top-tier coaches across the globe.
Special Olympics coaches truly believe in the potential of each one of their athletes – even when the athlete does not see their own potential. Coaches are the biggest supporters and cheerleaders of all their athletes, but also challenge them to continually improve and reach their sporting potential. Special Olympics athletes train and compete in environments where they know they will be challenged to be the best versions of themselves.
Without coaches, Special Olympics would not be able to do the remarkable work it does in the realm of sport and inclusion. Coaches are the backbone of any sporting organization; without them we would not have sport. They take time out of their personal life to continually challenge athletes, to promote inclusion, and to better themselves, and for this we say #ThanksCoach.
