Evaluation of the Special Olympics Canada Coaching young Athletes Training: Part B How's it Going? A Study of Active Start and FUNdamentals Program Implementation

Authors

  • Viviene A. Temple University of Victoria
  • Stephanie C. Field Memorial University

Keywords:

children, intellectual disability, sport, challenging behavior, ASD, Autism

Abstract

Training staff and volunteers is an important aspect of successful program implementation. This paper follows Part A of an evaluation of the Special Olympics Canada (SOC) Coaching Young Athletes Training course. Consistent with Kirkpatrick’s four-level model of training evaluation, Part A evaluated program leaders’ reactions to (level 1) and immediate learning from (level 2) the training. This Part B paper covers “on the job” behavior (level 3). In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with youth program leaders (n = 11) from eight provinces. Overall, participants felt that more training related to working with children with autism and promoting positive athlete behavior was needed. The findings also lead us to suggest that program leaders need to develop a more fulsome understanding of how to foster skill mastery, including how to practice the same skill in many and varied ways.

Author Biographies

Viviene A. Temple, University of Victoria

Viviene A. Temple, PhD, is a professor in the School
of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. Her research and teaching focus on adapted physical activity. Viviene has been a Special Olympics Head Coach for many years, and she is a member of
the Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education Research Collaborative.

Stephanie C. Field, Memorial University

Stephanie C. Field, PhD, is an assistant professor in the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Her research focuses on the effect of children’s perceived and actual motor competence on participation, and she has coached Special Olympics Active Start and FUNdamentals programs.

References

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Special Olympics Canada. (2021a). Requirements for coaches. https://www.specialolympics.ca/get-involvedbecome-coach/requirements-coaches Special Olympics Canada. (2021b). Volunteer roles. https://www.specialolympics.ca/get-involved/volunteer-roles

Temple, V. A. & Field, S. C. (2023). Evaluation of the Special Olympics Canada Coaching Young Athletes Training: Part A. PALAESTRA, 37(2), 35–39.

Published

2023-09-18

Issue

Section

Feature Articles