Coaching Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities: Lessons from Special

Olympics World Games

Dowling, S., McConkey, R., Menke, S. Hassan, D.Special Olympics RRCC for Europe-Eurasia

Aims of Study What are athletes’ and coaches’ experiences of preparing for and

taking part in the SO World Games? Novel study – coaches were vital to process yet little known about the variability of

their role. A growing realisation that athletes had ‘outgrown’ the core ethos of

SO. They were increasingly focussed on winning but coaches were still wedded to key principles of participation.

Challenge for coaches was preparing athletes according to the ethos of SO or in line

with what motivated them – winning. Never considered heretofore.

Is it possible to move to a broadly agreed ‘model of coaching’ ahead of the World Games?

Such inconsistency in message, philosophy and approach that a review of the role and status of coaches is required.

Methodology – Longitudinal

Longitudinal Study – data collected at 4 time points over an 18 month period, 15 months leading up to Games and then 3 months post-Games

Four countries – Greece (hosts), India (largest), Costa Rica (highly ranked) and South Africa

8 Sports – football to table-tennis

Mixed methods – interviewsand questionnaires;21 coachesand 56 athletes

What athletes told us – disconnect between coaches and athletes.

Difference in emphasis

`I would like to improve more [in sport] to make my country proud and make my centre proud because we are the chosen people to represent our country. I want to win football - our tournament’ (Athlete Football)

‘SO [in our country] was established with the objective of bringing marginalized children to the mainstream. Our priority is overall personal development, and sport is the means to achieve this end. It is a therapy for general wellbeing. To ensure good sporting performance we need to work on endurance, strength and assorted factors. Yet, it is secondary to the task of improving their social and communicating skills’. (Coach Athletics)

Key Themes that Emerged from Data for Coaches

Deploying an holistic approach to coaching1.Adapted Pedagogical approach to training2.Coaching beyond competition3.Supporting athlete-coach relationship

Building athlete identity and development through sport1.Developing athlete identity through sport2.Sport as a vehicle for athlete and self-development

Capturing the big World Games Experience1.Positive experiences and motivation in participation2.Opportunities afforded through competition

Deploying an holistic approach to coaching

Adapted Pedagogical approach to trainingAim is the personal and social development of athletes through sport; combining both an holistic and individual approach – individual coaching key

Coaching beyond competitionPriority is overall personal developmentSport, in the mind’s of coaches, is secondaryMust demonstrate ‘lateral’ thought and appreciate movement and restrictions upon it.

Supporting athlete-coach relationshipCoaches adopt the role of carer, role model, leader, friend and confidant – fosters a healthy relationship

Building athlete identity and development through sport

Developing athlete identity through sport

Athletes with disabilities have traditionally been subject to disenfranchisement and exclusion from society.Emphasis has been on limitations – hence the pathway to becoming an ‘athlete’ is more fraught.Athletes recognized the development of their ‘able’ self

Sport as a vehicle for athlete and self-development

Coaches conceptualised sport as a vehicle for preparation of athletes across a range of domains inc. social skills and personal development.For athletes, though, their focus was on the sport – reflected in the self-created goals of athletes – of the 56 athletes surveyed, the majority focused on winning.

Capturing the big World Games Experience

Positive experiences and motivation in participationRelationships formed between athletes, competitors and coaches was a key motivating factor for those dedicating themselves to sport.Athletes also spoke of ‘making others proud of them’ and the overarching desire to ‘achieve’

Opportunities afforded through competitionSporting links and skill developmentExperience new cultures, independence and personal enhancement

World Games: Celebrating Sport

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