Introduction
Course Modules
Start Course
| Module 1 | Module 1 |
| Unit 1 | Introduction |
| Unit 2 | Special Olympics Mission and History |
| Unit 3 | Criteria for a successful unified sports program |
| Unit 4 | Course review |
| Unit 5 | Course test |
| Unit 6 | Sport: Unified Sports Coaching Course Evaluation Survey |
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Module Summary
Introduction
Unified Sports is an inclusive sports program of the Special Olympics. It brings athletes with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities together as teammates. They train, compete and socialize as equals. Athletes (teammates with an intellectual and developmental disability) and partners (teammates without an intellectual and developmental disability) play many sports from basketball to golf, bocce to football. Teammates on a Unified Sports team do what all athletes do. They improve their fitness. They sharpen their skills. They challenge competing teams. Above all, they have fun.
Course Overview
The goal of Unified Sports
Unified Sports transforms lives every day through the power and the joy of sport – allowing athletes, partners and coaches like yourselves to bring out the champions within themselves and others.
Coaching Unified Sports
Are you new to coaching? Are you new to working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Whatever your experience is, you will learn that coaching a Unified Sports team is unique. It is unlike any other experience you have had. The challenges will be similar to coaching any team. You will define roles for your teammates based on their abilities and personalities. You will strive to foster teamwork. However, the goals, motivations and even the meaning of winning are different.
Teammates will develop connections on and off the field of play. Those off the field are as important as on field teamwork. Your commitment will touch the lives of all of your team members and their community. Unified Sports teams have a valuable impact on society.
Success as a coach
The course will give you the tools to become a successful Unified Sports coach. You will have new opportunities to:
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enrich lives
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foster understanding
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make a real difference in your community or school
In this course you will learn how to:
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teach and promote meaningful involvement within your team
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achieve the six criteria for success
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recruit and assess athletes and partners
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form teams
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use training and competition to develop your team