Coaches 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. Mower County provides bocce, bowling and softball. We will be adding basketball beginning in January 2015.

 Coaching certifications

Level I certification can coach any sport.

Volunteer application requires first to download a volunteer application. Background checks are processed using the volunteer application. Please include date of birth, social security number and a signature.

For protective behavior and general orientation training, complete the online training and quiz. This training must be updated every three years.

The volunteer application and protective behavior and general orientation training is found at specialolympicsminnesota.org/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/become-a-coach/.

All coaches working with athletes at a practice or competition need to be Level I certified.

Level II certification is valid for three years. Each Level II certification is sport specific.

You must complete Level I certification and attend a training school with classroom and clinician sessions.

Coaches are Level II certified at the completion of the training school.

 Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast Fundraiser

This annual fundraiser is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday at The Austin Eagles Club.

Tickets are available at The Arc office, The Austin Eagles Club or from any member of The Arc Board of Directors.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children (6-12). Adults are $9 at the door and children $6 at the door. Children 5 and under are free

Take-Outs are available.

 Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed for The Special Olympics Minnesota Area 10 Bowling Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Echo Lanes in Austin. Please contact Emily Dierberger at emily.dierberger@somn.org or 612-604-1286 for more information.

 Halloween Dance

Get ready for the best party of the year, when we all get dressed up in wild costumes and dance the evening away to old favorites like “Monster Mash,” “Thriller,” and other spooky tunes! People of all ages and abilities are invited to this great Halloween dance featuring great music, costume contest, refreshments and prizes.

The dance will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Mower County Senior Center. Cost is $3 per person

Costume Contest Judges are James Wilcox, Laura Lee and Betsy Singer from KAAL TV.

 Jamey Helgeson is the Program Director at The Arc Mower County and can be reached at jamey@thearcmc.org or by calling 507-433-8994, Extension 102.