With the ever increasing popularity of participation in youth sports by
both disabled and able-bodied children, we now need to look at the person who will be
guiding our children, the coach. Many believe that being a coach is an easy job and can be
done without much thought. This may be true for many individuals, but I contest that
notion!! I feel as though being a coach is much more than just telling the child where to
stand. It entails a realm that is intense and involved. Coaches are an important key to the success of the disabled child
athlete. I believe that one of the most important aspects of coaching disabled athletes is
to know the athletes and precisely which mode assists in their learning [by visual,
auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, multi-sensory or any combination of these]. Each athlete
will have an individual mode of learning and it is the coach who needs to find this out.
Once the mode of learning has been established the coach then must
decide which teaching method would be most suitable for that athlete. These include, but
are not limited to whole method: teaching the skill all at one time, part-whole method:
breaking down the skill into parts, and progressive-part method: one skill taught, another
skill taught, put them together, then the next skill is added-practiced in combination.
After the mode and method of teaching has been decided, the coach must
now determine how to apply principles of motor learning. Motor learning is how the
individuals will obtain the motor skills. This includes the combination of the psychology
of learning and the neuro-physical domain. This area is very similar to that of teaching
and includes the areas of: content knowledge, content presentation, feedback, recognition
of various skill levels, goal setting, transfer of previous knowledge and practice time
[this list is not exclusive and can be added to].
Coaching children with disabilities is no different than coaching
able-bodied children. The children need to be treated as individuals and the coaches need
to know the child's limit and their capabilities. The coaches then need to emphasize these
qualities so that the child will obtain, and possibly exceed, the goals set for them.
There is a lot of information that is available for those persons who
are looking to coach disabled athletes. I would suggest checking this information before
you begin to coach so that you will be fully informed. The person who has the knowledge is
much more powerful than the person who does not!!
Coaching Youth Sports