Ottawa District Community
Region 7
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"
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What is a Coach? Back to the top
As a Special Olympics coach, you bring enthusiasm, commitment and a positive attitude to each practice, event and competition, enriching the lives of the athletes you meet. In return, you develop relationships with athletes who inspire you with their dedication, perseverance and courage. Coaches represent many different roles to many different people. Coaches are viewed as teachers, mentors, role models, and as leaders in the community in which they become involved. Coaches who contribute to the community, have an enormous effect on the development of our youth, and participate in a great learning experience.
Job Descriptions Back to the top
Purpose
To develop and implement sports skill training and competition opportunities for athletes who have an intellectual disability.
Qualifications
- Knowledge of specific sport discipline
- Organized, independent and self-motivated
- Strong leadership skills
- National Coaching Certification Level I CSO within first calendar year of involvement and sports specific would be an asset.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Work in conjunction with Sport Club Manager and Volunteer Coordinator to recruit and train volunteers for the sport program.
- Attend Pre-Season Coach's Meetings as scheduled within the Region.
- Make sure practices consist of a) warm up, b) motor skills teaching, c) sports skills teaching, and d) cool down period.
- Work as a team with assistant coaches and discuss situations as they arise.
- Ensure proper health and safety measures are followed.
- Ensure all athletes and volunteers are registered with Special Olympics Ontario by appropriate deadline dates.
- Submit any program fees to the Treasurer.
- Work in conjunction with the Treasurer and Fundraiser to ensure you have sufficient funds to meet travel expenses.
- Ensure all athletes and coaches adhere to Special Olympics Ontario "Code of Conduct" when travelling to competitions.
Time Requirement and Duration of Position
Two-three hours per week and for the duration of the sport specific season.
Accountability
To work in cooperation with the Community Executive Committee, other volunteers, and Area Coordinator to ensure sport club follows SOO policies and expectations.
Junior Coach (under the age of 16) – Job Description
- Must be registered with the Ottawa Special Olympics program.
- Assist coaches and athletes in developing sport skills.
- Assist coaches with training and teaching techniques for all athletes.
- Report emergencies to the head coach or team manager.
- Assist the Head Coach with the warm up, motor skill development, sport skills and cool down.
- Be a good role model by exhibiting good sportsmanship.
- Work towards obtaining such qualities as patience, conscientiousness, flexibility, discipline and organization.
Assistant Coach – Job Description
- Must be trained or certified in accordance with the Ottawa Special Olympics volunteer qualification guidelines and code of conduct.
- Have or intend to have SOC Community Sport or Competition Sport.
- Must be registered with the Ottawa Special Olympics program.
- Assist athletes in developing sport skills.
- Evaluate mental and physical skills level of the athlete(s).
- Adapt training and teaching techniques for all athletes.
- Have a basic First Aid knowledge.
- Report emergencies to the head coach or team manager.
- Attend available coaching clinics in your sport / National Coaching Certification Program courses.
- Assist the Head Coach with the warm up, motor skill development, sport skills and cool down.
- Be a good role model by exhibiting good sportsmanship.
- Work towards obtaining such qualities as patience, conscientiousness, flexibility, discipline and organization.
- Implement lesson plans developed by the head coach.
- Supervise athletes during practices and assist with equipment set-up and organization of the practice site.
Sport Club Manager – Job Description
Purpose
To coordinate, document and maintain athlete and volunteer records pertaining to the administration of the sport club.
Qualifications
- Thoroughness in record keeping and documentation.
- Strong administrative and communication skills.
- Enjoyment working with athletes with an intellectual disability.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Liaise with Community Volunteer Coordinator to request more volunteers when required.
- Liaise with Athlete Registrar to ensure all athletes participating in the program are properly registered.
- Orient new volunteers to the practice facility.
- Record athlete and volunteer attendance.
- Arrange for transporting club members to competitions.
- Collect and record competition registration fees.
- Manage the club's finances and communicate with the Community Treasurer as required.
- Submit annual facility permit application information.
- Assist with informing athletes of practice cancellations (ie. due to weather)
Time Requirements
1-2 hours per week at home completing record keeping and follow up. 2 hours per week at the sports club practice.
Duration of position
Throughout the duration of the sports season
Accountability
This position is responsible to the sport club members and accountable to the Head Coach.
Training and Orientation
The Sport Club Manager will be provided with a Sport Club manual to maintain records and keep documents filed. The Head Coach will orient the manager to the specific needs of the club. The Athlete Registrar, Volunteer Coordinator, and Area Coordinator are additional Special Olympics resource people.
Training Courses offered in Ottawa Back to the top
- NCCP(Coaching Theory and Special Olympics technical courses)
- Sport First Aid
- Sport Wrapping and Taping Course
National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) - Algonquin College
Algonquin is holding NCCP courses (Introduction to Competition A, Introduction to Competition B, National Coaching - Level 3) from January through April throughout the year. Schedules and information can be found at Algonquin College's website.
What Is Sport First Aid?
A 16-hour, practical, hands-on workshop aimed at educating community sport coaches and volunteers in
the prevention, recognition, treatment and response to injuries in sport.
Participants will receive Red Cross First Aid and CPR certification with an emphasis on sports injuries.
Topics covered in the course include:
- planning for sport safety
- preventing injury through proper training
- preparing to help injured athletes
- your safety plan
- head and spine injuries
- injuries to soft tissue and bone
First Aid and Level A (Heartsaver) CPR - St. John Ambulance
Sport Wrapping and Taping Course
What is Wrapping and Taping ?
In this 8-hour, hands-on workshop, participants will learn the theory of sport injury prevention and
how to care for common sport injuries with the proper use of taping and wrapping techniques. Taught
by a Certified Athletic Therapist, this course is ideal for the beginner.
Contact: Tara O'Reilly (613)580-2424 x41715 or email
To register on-line, please visit www.ottawa.ca
Course Cost Back to the top
Ottawa Special Olympics believes that coach education and professional development are essential to provide quality sport programs. Therefore, we are committed to offering such opportunities to reimburse 50% of the registration fee for coaching related courses for registered volunteers who are actively coaching within Ottawa Special Olympics programs. This fee will be reimbursed after successful completion of a course with proof of completion. Before attending the course, please discuss this with your Head Coach or our Sport Technical Coordinator at or call 613-860-6184 and leave a message.
National Coaching Certification Program Back to the top
Ottawa Special Olympics recommends that all coaches become certified in the new National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). The new NCCP is specifically designed to train coaches to be able to meet the needs of the specific participants/athletes they are working with. Coaches will learn to plan safe and effective practices, design meaningful season plans, teach appropriate sport skills to athletes and many other important aspects of coaching.
The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) was launched in the early 1970’s. Since that time thousands of Special Olympics coaches have benefited from the program both by attending courses/workshops and by sharing experiences with others. The real beneficiaries are the thousands of Special Olympics athletes of varying abilities who have been provided with a positive sport experience by coaches in the NCCP.
The NCCP prepares coaches to:
- better meet the needs of all athletes in sport
- provide a positive sport experience to athletes
- provide opportunities for athletes to achieve their full potential in and through sport
The key developments that have been made to the NCCP include:
- Introduction to Competition A (previously referred to as National Coaching Level I): Ethical Coaching, Planning a Practice and Nutritional Advice
- Introduction to Competition B (previously referred to as National Coaching Level II): The modules covered in this course include: Developing a Basic Sport Program, Teaching and Learning, and Mental Preparation.
Forms Back to the top