Training Schools for Coaches

If you have been looking for an opportunity to coach Special Olympics Athletes, start the process by becoming a certified coach. A Training School includes rules updates, organizing an eight week training plan, and best practices in coaching Special Olympics Athletes. Sport Skills Program materials are provided to each participant. Coaches will need to complete at least ten (10) additional hours of training with the athletes in order to be certified.

Description of Courses at SOPA Training Schools:

• General Orientation – Click here for Online Training. This is a general introduction to Special Olympics and any new volunteer or coach should take this training prior to working with athletes.
• Protective Behaviors – Online Training that must now be completed every three years.  Available by clicking here, this training must be completed by all new and existing Class A volunteers (16 years of age and older) prior to working with Special Olympics athletes. 
• New Coach (skills) - Specific to your Sport Training Schools. Sports Training Application  *Please note: There is no online training available for new coaches.
• Coaching Special Olympics Athletes - this course is an overview of four components: athlete, coach, training and competition.  If you are a new coach with sport experience you are encouraged to take this course instead of a basic Skills Course.  Pre-approval is required. Track 2 Application  
• Continuing Education Training - this training is for certified coaches.  Coaches must receive continuing education training every 3 years to maintain their certification.  Without this training coach certification expires which means the coach would need to take the new coach course over again.  For a complete list of courses which will meet the Continuing Education requirement of the SOPA Coach Education Program, please click here.    

Multi-Sport Training Schools

UPCOMING TRAINING SCHOOLS: 

 1.  Sunday, May 20, 2012 Bowling Skills Training School (Berks County)

•  Location:  Hiester’s Lanes, 801 Hiesters Lane, Reading, PA19605
•  Time:       11:00 am – 3:00 pm
•  Registration Fee:  $10.00
•  Clinicians:  Joe Wass and Harry O’Brien
•  To Register: Email Jennifer Tresp at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Help Wanted:  The success of a training school is measured by the quality of instruction.  If you are very knowledgeable about your sport including successful experiences as a coach, teacher and presenter please consider volunteering to be a Special Olympics Sport Clinician.  Click here for Clinician Application

Any questions, call 1-800-235-9058, ext. 245.

Join the team of Special Olympics Heroes!

Special Olympics Pennsylvania Coach Training School Schedule

Special Olympics Pennsylvania is committed to conducting 2 multi-sport Coach Training Schools in each section of the state (Eastern, Western, Central) for Summer and Fall Sports and 1 multi-sport Coach Training School in each section of the state for Winter Sports.  Current Coach Training School dates and locations are listed above.

With approval, local programs may conduct their own Coach Training Schools.  Programs wishing to conduct a Coach Training School must submit a Training School Registration Form. 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania reserves the right to cancel any scheduled Coach Training School with fewer than 5 people registered to attend.

If you are interested in having a SOPA sponsored Coach Training School in your area, please contact Shane Kiesner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jennifer Tresp at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to view our Certified Coaches Report - January to May 2012.

Online Training

Certified Coaches may take online courses to maintain their certification in their respective sports. There is a charge for some of these courses. Special Olympics does not receive any portion of those charges. Continuing education credit is approved for all sports by successfully completing the following online courses from:

• Positive Coaching Alliance’s (www.positivecoach.org) online Double Goal Coach or Second-Goal Parents course. 
• The American Sports Education Program (www.asep.com) Coaching Principles, Sports First Aid, Officiating Principles, Technical and Tactical Skills Coaching Courses for Basketball, Softball, or Tennis or the Coaching Youth Basketball, Softball, Volleyball or Tennis courses.
• The National Federation of State High School Associations (www.nfhslearn.com) Fundamentals of Coaching Basketball, Soccer, Softball or Volleyball, Fundamentals of Coaching, First Aid for Coaches, Teaching and Modeling Behavior, Teaching Sports Skills, Engaging Effectively with Parents or Concussion in Sports – What You Need to Know courses.
• West Virginia University – Special Olympics Principles of Coaching (http://elearn.wvu.edu/continuing/Career_Training/principlesCoaching.php)

For a complete list of courses which will meet the Continuing Education requirement of the SOPA Coach Education Program, please click here.  

American Sport Education Program (ASEP)

1. Coach needs to complete 10 hour practicum with athletes and submit a SOPA Sport Training Application along with the ASEP's certificate of completion to the Aliquippa Office or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
2. Estimated time to complete this training is six hours.  In order to receive a certificate, you must receive a passing grade on the quiz.  You may take the quiz more then once if needed. 
3. The cost is $19.95 per sport to be paid online via a credit card.   You will receive a book and coaching video.  The sport selections are tennis, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.  Once you log in, you will be given six months to complete the course.
4. To Get Started click on the course below and then follow these steps

• scroll down the page to see descriptions of each sport
• click on a sport specific online course
• click on Add to Cart to complete the log in information for a new user. 
• For your information the partnership organization is Special Olympics North America. ASEP Online Training Course