Opportunities for Athletes test

This section explores leadership and mentorship opportunities for Special Olympics athletes, in and through sport.

Athlete Empowerment

Special Olympics Ontario is committed to ensuring that athletes participate in all key areas of the organization through athlete empowerment initiatives. This commitment hopes to ensure that athletes are given the opportunity to participate in the Special Olympics movement beyond sports training and competition.

Through athlete empowerment, Special Olympics Ontario hopes to help athletes experience greater control over their lives, put their thoughts into action, be personally responsible and have some input in their local communities. It is SOO’s goal to include the participation of as many people with intellectual disabilities in running and spreading awareness for SOO programs as possible.

Special Olympics Ontario utilizes Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs)
to encourage and facilitate athlete empowerment.

Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs)

Special Olympics Ontario provides Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs), which equip athletes with the tools to undertake positions of leadership within their community and the broader Special Olympics movement. These workshops enable athletes to explore opportunities beyond sports training and competition. Leadership roles can include public speaking, acting as an athlete health advocate, being a team captain as well as preparing athletes for positions as Board and Committee Members. These roles give athletes a voice in shaping the Special Olympics movement, and a chance to spread the word about the transformations Special Olympics can bring to individuals and families.

ALPs workshops are organized in communities throughout the province. To learn more about an ALPs workshop in your community, contact your Community Council, District Developer or the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial office.

Athlete Leadership Opportunities

Opportunities for Athlete Leaders who have participated in Athlete Leadership Program workshops include a multitude of roles, including, but not limited to acting as an Athlete Speaker, Community Athlete Representative, Peer Mentor or as member of the Athlete Leadership Council.

What qualifies an athlete to become an Athlete Leader?

• Attend or take part in an ALPs workshop when it is provided
  
• Understand and adhere to “Athletes Rights and Responsibilities”
  
• Assist other athletes, coaches or council members when asked and able to
  
• Ensure your activities and conduct positively reflect your participation in Special Olympics
  
• Be in good standing with your Community and Special Olympics Ontario
  

Athlete Speakers

The Athlete Leadership Programs’ speaker training is designed to prepare and train Special Olympics Ontario athletes with the tools necessary to prepare captivating and enlightening speeches using their own words and experiences. Athlete Leaders who have completed ALPs training and are interested in participating in local and provincial speaking engagements are encouraged to work with their Community Council to determine suitable speaking opportunities.

Community Athlete Representatives – Learn More

Athletes as Volunteers

After years of participating in the same sports, many athletes report that they are looking for new challenges and activities within the Special Olympics Ontario organization. Athletes who feel that they have a grasp of the fundamentals of a sport and believe that they might be able to mentor other athletes in that sport might be candidates for the Peer Mentorship Program, which combines sport knowledge with athlete leadership. For additional information on the Peer Mentorship Program, please contact your Community Council or District Developer.

The Athlete Leadership Council

The Athlete Leadership Council is comprised of a group of Special Olympics Ontario Athlete Leaders. The Council focuses on promoting athlete leadership programming and ensures that athletes from different communities have an opportunity to discuss their experiences and community-specific matters. To learn more about the Athlete Leadership Council please contact your Community Council or District Developer.

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Athletes as Volunteers

After years of participating in the same sports, many athletes report that they are looking for new challenges and activities within the Special Olympics Ontario organization. Athletes who feel that they have a grasp of the fundamentals of a sport and believe that they might be able to teach that sport to other athletes might be candidates for the Peer Mentorship Program.

The Peer Mentorship Program provides Special Olympics athletes with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take on a mentorship role within a Special Olympics sport program. This course is for athletes who have expertise in a sport they have trained in and wish to volunteer with a program by mentoring their fellow athletes in a specific sport.

The Peer Mentorship Program

Eligibility

Athletes are eligible to act as a Peer Mentor in the Peer Mentorship Program if they:

• Attend a Peer Mentorship Program workshop
  
• Have been registered as a Special Olympics athlete for at least 5 years in the sport in which they wish to support and are currently registered with Special Olympics Ontario
  
• Have been endorsed by their chapter and the coaches in the sport they desire to mentor
  
• Are 18 years of age or older
  
• Have successfully completed a Special Olympics Ontario Volunteer Application form
  
• Have undergone and submitted a Police Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Search to Special Olympics Ontario
  
• Have a working knowledge of the sport they would like to be a peer mentor for
  
• Are comfortable in a leadership role
  
• Will be mentoring in a sport they are not currently involved in as an athlete
  
• Respect the Code of Conduct and all Policies and Procedures of the Organization
  

Expectations

Peer mentors are expected to:

• Abide by the policies set by Special Olympics Ontario
  
• Adhere to the plans set out for them by the Head Coach and Assistant Coach
  
• Assist a variety of areas of the program including warm ups, drill instruction, equipment set up, demonstrations, training and cool down as needed
  
• Assisting with the management of equipment for training sessions and competitions as needed
  
• Be under the supervision and guidance of a coach at all times and are not to be left alone in a supervisory position
  

To learn more about becoming a Peer Mentor please connect with your Community Council, District Developer or the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Office.

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The Athlete Leadership Council

The Athlete Leadership Council was created to give athletes an opportunity to collaborate with their peers throughout the province on how utilize their roles as athlete leaders. Athlete leaders can improve programs through promoting Special Olympics, being role models in their communities and improving the overall quality of Special Olympics in Ontario.

Purpose: The Athlete Leadership Council (ALC) is a group of Special Olympics athlete leaders whose goal is to:

• Provide athlete representation at the Provincial Level;
  
• Present ideas, concerns and feedback on behalf of Community athletes;
  
• Present ideas to the Special Olympics Ontario’s Program Department through the Athlete Leadership Coordinator;
  
• Promote Athlete Leadership programming within Special Olympics Ontario and provide an athlete voice throughout the province;
  
• Distribute athlete-specific information to Community athletes.
  

This council is to serve as a forum for athletes to discuss various Special Olympics-related topics with each other. The ALC members have the opportunity to liaise with the Special Olympics Ontario Athlete Leadership Coordinator, giving them an opportunity to provide feedback on what is happening in their communities, voice their opinions about important issues, and gain leadership training and experience through their leadership.

Qualifications and Requirements:

The ALC allows for two representative from each District in Ontario. This representative must be 18 years or older, currently registered in Special Olympics and is required to have a minimum of 4 years of experience as a Special Olympics Athlete. Candidates must be in good standing with their Community and Special Olympics Ontario. Candidates must be open and respectful towards the ideas, opinions and perspectives of other athletes.

Athletes appointed to the Athlete Leadership Council are required to have taken part in the Athlete Leadership Program (ALPs) prior to applying for a position. Candidates must be experienced athlete leaders who have developed the ability to participate independently in meetings and on conference calls. All members must have access to email. Some travel may be required.

Selection: Each athlete member of the ALC is to have proven leadership experience. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Holding the position of Community Athlete Representative
  
• Public Speaking
  
• Interviews
  
• Local Public Appearances
  
• Peer Mentorship
  
• Alternative leadership experience outside of Special Olympics Ontario
  

The members selected to this group will be nominated by their local Community Council.

Mentors: While every ALC member is expected to participate in meetings independently, communities can choose to appoint a mentor to provide support to their athlete representative. The role of the mentor is to offer assistance and encouragement in logistical planning such as meeting notes, travel details, conference call information etc. ALC members are not required to have a mentor if they and their Community do not feel it is necessary.

Meetings: Throughout the course of a year there will be four (4) meetings, with one in person (funding dependent). All other meetings will be conducted via conference call on a pre-determined day.

Term: Each term will last for two (2) years. For the first members of the ALC, terms will be staggered with half the members serving a one (1) year term and the remaining members serving a two (2) year term to create continuity. Should athletes wish to be nominated for a second term, their Community can do so. No athlete can spend more than 2 consecutive terms on the council, and must take at least three years off before being nominated again.

Group Composition: The Athlete Leadership Coordinator, a SOO staff representative, will chair the ALC. Each meeting, the Council will vote to select one member to be the “secretary” for that meeting. It will be the secretary’s responsibility to take notes throughout the meeting and send their completed notes to the Athlete Leadership Coordinator within one week. The Athlete Leadership Coordinator will distribute the meeting notes to all members of the ALC.

Accountability: The ALC reports to the Special Olympics Ontario Health and Leadership team as part of the Program Department of Special Olympics Ontario.

For information on how to get involved, please contact your local Community Council.