Special Olympics thanks all Special Olympics coaches on ICCE’s International Coaches Day

on ICCE World Coaches DaySpecial Olympics extends its deepest gratitude to all of our team coaches around the world. Today is the perfect opportunity to highlight the amazing work our coaches do every day.

Special Olympics coaches are highly committed individuals who make time during their busy lives to improve 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. Using their vast skills and knowledge, they create an environment where every athlete can belong, and where they can be challenged and supported to achieve their goals and reach their potential. However, they also recognise that sport offers more than just the opportunity to develop skills, fitness and physical health.

“At Special Olympics, we recognize the vital role our coaches play in supporting the Special Olympics mission,” said Fiona Murray, Special Olympics’ Senior Director of Coach Training and Sport Development. “Every day, in every program, they provide support and assistance to coaches. He chooses “They give their time, energy, expertise and passion to make their sport and their community more inclusive and welcoming. They see the potential in their athletes, and support and challenge them to an exemplary degree, to achieve goals they may never have thought possible. Special Olympics coaches are among the most powerful changemakers in our movement, and they are the cornerstone of our sports communities. We are so grateful for all they do and the impact they make in the lives of our athletes every day.”

They understand the powerful impact that sport can have on the social, emotional, and mental health of athletes. Special Olympics coaches craft sporting experiences that provide teammates with the opportunity to build social connections, learn to manage the emotional impact of success and failure, and 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 the sport to support their athletes and teams to build on their talents and abilities. They use tactics to foster team spirit and develop a collective strategy for how athletes can work together to achieve the best outcome in both training and competition. Special Olympics coaches continually devote personal time to educating themselves to provide the best possible environment for their athletes. This education is not only provided by Special Olympics, but also by sports experts in international and national federations and sports partners.

With the support of Gallagher, the Official Athletic Training and Coaching Partner of Special Olympics, the movement is better equipped to fulfill its mission of providing the highest level of coaching and athletic expertise to four million athletes in 227 local programs worldwide. Gallagher provides Special Olympics with access to world-class coaches around the world.

Special Olympics coaches truly believe in the potential of each and every one of their athletes – even when the athlete doesn’t see their own potential. Coaches are the biggest supporters and cheerleaders for all of their athletes, but they also challenge them to continually improve their athletic abilities and reach their athletic potential. Special Olympics athletes train and compete in environments where they know they will be challenged to be the best version of themselves.

Without coaches, Special Olympics would not be able to do the amazing work it does in sport and inclusion. Coaches are the backbone of any sporting organization; without them, we would have no sport. They take time out of their personal lives to continually challenge their athletes, promote inclusion, and improve themselves, and that’s why we say #ThanksCoach.