Coaches play an indispensable role in Special Olympics around the world. They provide the sports skills and spirit that define a true athlete; they’re role models and character builders. Coaches give Special Olympics athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage and capacity to grow and improve.

Each team is required to have level 1 and level 2 certified coaches. Please check with the head coach or head of delegation to see if you should become level 1 or level 2 certified. If you are not affiliated with a team, contact Jay Pedersen at jay.pedersen@somn.org or 612-604-1267.

Level 1 Certification:  All coaches working with athletes need to be Level I certified. Level 1 coaches can coach any sport. All coaches will need to complete the Volunteer Application and complete the online Level 1 training course.

Level 2 Certification: If you wish to become level 2 certified in a specific sport you must attend the training school for that sport.  Complete level 1 certification paperwork, Attend a sport-specific training school.  Coaches become level 2 certified at the end of a training school.

Level 2 Recertification:  Level 2 certification is good for three years. Coaches who are level 2 certified in multiple sports can get recertified for all of their sports at the same time. To do this, coaches must complete one recertification course, complete one recertification application, and take a recertification quiz for each sport.

Attend a Recertification Course, which could be First Aid, CPR, AED, Crisis Prevention, Principles of Coaching, a Fall or Spring coaches meeting, the Leadership Conference in September, an ASEP online course, lifeguard certification, continuing education course, or a different course that applies to working with Special Olympics athletes, complete the recertification application — the 10 hour practicum is no longer required for recertification and complete the Recertification Quiz on our Online Learning page.

Jamey Helgeson is the Program Director at The Arc of Mower County and can be reached at jamey@arcmowercounty.org.  You can also visit our website (www.arcmowercounty.org) and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.