1.3 Opportunities for Athletes test
This section explores leadership and mentorship opportunities for Special Olympics athletes, in and through sport.
1.3.1 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.
1.3.2 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.
1.3.3 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
Athlete Leaders have the opportunity to become active members of their local Community Council by applying to be a Community Athlete Representative. The role of the Athlete Representative is to provide a voice for athletes on Community Councils and to help ensure that athletes in the community are participating in community initiatives. For a more in depth description of this position please contact your Community Council or District Developer.
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.
1.3.5 COMMUNITY ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE JOB DESCRIPTION
Purpose
To provide a voice for athletes on Community Councils and to help ensure athletes in the community are participating in community initiatives.
Qualifications
- Desire to be a leader amongst Special Olympics athletes
- Basic understanding of Special Olympics
- Positive attitude
- Respected by other Special Olympics athletes and coaches
- Comfortable in group situations
- Committed and responsible
- Strong language and communication skills
- Completion of Athlete Leadership Program workshop when available
- Ability to get to events without Community Council or Special Olympics Ontario support
- Access to computer and e-mail strongly recommended
Duties and Responsibilities
- Attend Community Council meetings
- Complete Community Athlete Representative online training
- Work with the Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable) on ongoing initiatives
- Communicate with local athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
- Make sport club visits to local clubs
- Work with Community Public Relations Coordinator to set up speaking events around your community and to help athletes in your community become involved in these events
- Work with Community Fundraising Coordinator to make sure athletes participate in local fundraisers
- Work with Community Registrar and Volunteer Coordinator on recruitment campaigns
- Encourage and monitor Athlete Empowerment in your community
- Work with Community Council to find the next Athlete Representative and train them when your term is finished
- Review and be familiar with sections 1,6,7,8, and 18 of the information portal
- Maintain Special Olympics e-mail address that is provided to you if applicable
Time Requirement
- Up to 10 hours per month, e-mails, phone conferences, meetings, events and workshops
- 13 month term
Accountability
- Reports to Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable) and is accountable to all local athletes
* Please note that Athlete Representatives on a Community Council cannot be related to any other current Community Council members *
(INSERT APPLICATION FORM HERE)
Community Athlete Representative 13 Month Check List
MONTH 1
Things you will do:
□ Create introduction letter for community council/ clubs
□ Introduce yourself to your Community Council Members and Athlete Leadership Council Representative Members (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Introduce yourself to your Provincial Athlete Advisory District Representative
Things you may do:
□ Start introducing yourself to volunteers and athletes in your community
MONTH 2
□ Create your Special Olympics Ontario biography
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Create a list of clubs in your community that you will visit over your term
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine appropriate Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Create a list of schools/external clubs that you may visit over your term
MONTH 3
□ Start visiting sports clubs in your area, take along your biography and speak to the athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Start doing Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 4
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Work with PR coordinator on Public Speaking Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 5
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Connect with your Fundraising coordinator about how you or other athletes can get involved in fundraising in your community
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 6
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Report back to your District Developer on how things are going and what you have done
□ Work with your Fundraising Coordinator and participate in a fundraising event
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 7
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Connect with your athlete/volunteer coordinator to see how you and other athletes can help find new athletes and volunteers
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 8
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Work with your athlete/volunteer coordinator on recruitment events (athlete or volunteer information session)
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 9
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Work with your athlete/volunteer coordinator on recruitment events (athlete or volunteer information session)
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 10
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Start thinking about finding an athlete to replace you as the Athlete Leadership for your community. Visit local clubs and present on what it means to be an AA.
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Prepare an application form for athletes interested in being the AA
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 11
□ Visit sports clubs in your area, speak to athletes and volunteers
□ Get feedback from athletes about their interests, concerns and wishes for Special Olympics
□ Report your feedback to your Community Council and Athlete Leadership Council Representative (if applicable)
□ Send out AA application forms to local clubs. All forms must be returned to the community council by month end
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Read all applications and talk with the community coordinator about who would be a good AA
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 12
□ Review AA applications with community council and select a new Athlete Leadership for your community
□ Inform the new AA that they have been chosen and introduce them to the council
□ Send a Thank you note to your community council and say Thank you to the Community Council and your District Developer for working with you
□ Attend a Community Council Meeting
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate Public Speaking or Media Events
□ Work with applicable Community Council Members to determine/schedule appropriate school or external organization visits
MONTH 13
□ Shadow the new Athlete Representative, introduce them to the sports clubs and help them when they need it
□ Contact your District Developer and submit your completed checklist to them
1.3.6 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.
1.3.7 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.