Coaches
- Assist athletes in learning sports skills and applying them in competitions.
- Encourage confidence and self-esteem through sport.
- Obtain necessary facilities and equipment for training.
- Make training and competition an educational, safe, and fun experience.
Coaches Education
Ongoing coaches education is the most significant factor in the improved training of athletes. The goals of Special Olympics’ Coaches Education program are:
- To provide every coach working in a sport with a basic knowledge of that sport (events, rules, basic skills and how to teach those skills).
- To provide all coaches with knowledge about Special Olympics, its history, philosophy and goals.
- To provide all coaches with knowledge about persons with intellectual disabilities and the current trends in this field.
- To provide coaches with information on sports injury, risk management and providing a safe environment.
- To provide a practical experience coaching Special Olympics athletes, in order to put into practice information provided by the Coaches Education Program.
- To provide coaches with general knowledge about the art and science of coaching sports.

Special Olympics provides our volunteer coaches with the basic principles, techniques and tools to effectively coach Special Olympics athletes. Coaches education is necessary and mandatory. Our athletes deserve the most knowledgeable coaches who are trained, who can access sport-specific coaching guides and rules, who provide the safest environment in which to train and compete and who receive ongoing education.
Get Started
Online Training
Please click on the links at the top of each column to access each training.
Who | Volunteer Form | General Orientation | Protective Behaviors | Concussion Training | Unified Sports |
Head of Delegation | x | x | x | x | |
Head Coach (traditional) | x | x | x | x | |
Head Coach (unified) | x | x | x | x | x |
Assistant Coach | x | x | x | x | |
Unified Partner (adult) | x | x | x | ||
Unified Partner (under 18) | x | ||||
Chaperone | x | x | x |
Please complete and submit your volunteer information form and completion certificates for your Protective Behaviors, Concussion, and Unified training (if applicable) to [email protected] to register as a volunteer.
General Orientation Training (please view the Youtube videos below to complete quiz)
- General Orientation Part 1
- General Orientation Part 2
- General Orientation Part 3
- General Orientation Part 4
Certified Coaches
To become a Certified Coach, you must complete all trainings and attend a coaches clinic. Coaches training are valid for 3 years. See the lists below to check your certifications.
Contact
For more information about coaching within the Special Olympics Hawaii program please contact:
Allison Dunkle
Office Coordinator
[email protected]