Special Olympics Australia
Sporting Schools is an Australian Government initiative designed to help schools to increase children's participation in sport, and to connect them with community sporting opportunities.
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Special Olympics Australia
As society in Australia becomes more inclusive, so will our schools, workplaces and sporting clubs.
The Special Olympics Australia Activity Cards and online coaching course are designed to help teachers, mentors and coaches improve the delivery of sport and physical activity for students with an intellectual disability.
These resources are part of a broader online learning hub offered by Special Olympics Australia to help you grow and enhance your skills and ability to interact with students with intellectual disabilities, and provide them with greater sporting opportunities.
Activity Cards
Special Olympics Australia have based their Activity Cards on the Playing for Life philosophy which adopts a ‘game sense’ approach to coaching. This allows students to learn and develop skills through games rather than drills.
There are five different types of games and each activity can be modified to suit the available playing area and equipment. Some key features of game sense coaching include:
- skill execution and decision making within the context of the sport
- small sided games and activities
- modified rules, area and equipment
- questioning to challenge students to reflect and think about their involvement
- focus on fun, inclusion, safety and high levels of involvement.
Special Olympics Australia Activity Cards include the following features:
Skill Focus | A list of the key skills developed by playing the game. |
Coach Instructions | A brief script to help you start the activity. |
Questions | Sample questions for you to ask participants during activity. |
Game Complexity | Options to play the game at different skill levels. |
Alternate Sports and Skills | Skills that can be developed by making modifications to rules, equipment or environment. |
Skill Development Link | Helping you plan sessions and programs by using multiple activity cards with a corresponding skill focus. |
Safety tips | Tips to ensure participant safety. |
Modifications using TREE | Adapt games by modifying your Teaching style, Rules, Equipment or Environment. |
The Coaches Guide provides further information on how to best use the activity cards including tips on how to deliver sport and physical activity to students of all abilities.
Register with Special Olympics Australia to access activity cards and coaching guide on the Special Olympics Learn website, opens in a new tab.
Online Coach Course
Also available as part of Special Olympics Australia’s online learning hub, the Special Olympics Australia online coaching course 'Improving sport for people with an intellectual disability'.
Developed using current research and methodology from world leading sporting bodies, this course will support coaches, teachers, parents, athletes, volunteers and administrators in school communities and local sporting clubs to assist students with an intellectual disability to get active and involved in sport.
This course will cover important theoretical concepts and challenge you to apply what you learn directly into your coaching environment. The course also provides a unique insight into the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities.
The coaching course is free. Sign up, opens in a new tab for access to Special Olympics Australia’s Activity Cards and online coaching course.
To find out more email: coaching@specialolympics.com.au
Have any questions about Sporting Schools?
Email:support@sportingschools.gov.au
Phone: 1300 785 707