June 2008

Coaches Clipboard E-Newsletter is a publication to keep Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) coaches and program leaders informed of events, changes and updates in the organization. If you wish to be removed from this email list, please just reply and type “remove” in the subject line.

Announcements

SOAZ Training Conference Registration!

The 2008 Training Conference Schedule and Registration has been sent as an attachment to this email. New in 2008 is electronic registration! You will find two versions, one in Microsoft Word that will allow you to complete and submit electronically via email and one in PDF format you can print off and mail or fax in. The Conference is the weekend of June 27th - 29th in Tempe. Please see attachments for further details!

Arizona has been selected as one of just a few states to host a Special Olympics North America training titled, “The Power of Partnerships”. This course will take place from 9am-3:30pm Saturday and focuses on strategies for local program leaders, coaches and staff to build relationships and partnerships within their communities to improve the local program and drive the Special Olympics movement at the grassroots level. You will not want to miss this opportunity!

Upcoming Events

*The 2008 State Competition Calendar is available to download under the “Sports” tab at www.soaz.org. This calendar includes competition dates, sports offered and other important dates such as registration and athlete medical due dates.

June:

27-29 SOAZ Training Conference in Tempe, AZ. Registration and full
Schedule will be posted to www.soaz.org by June 1st.

July:

26 Principles of Coaching training @ the Northwest Neighborhood Center
in Tucson from 9am-4pm. Please contact Brian Quinn to register
by 7/21.

August:

16 SOAZ Unified Triathlon Fundraiser in Scottsdale, AZ.
More info at: http://soaz.org/events/Triathlon.asp

Awards Luncheon

The Training Conference will feature an Awards Luncheon on Saturday, June 28th from noon-1pm at the Fiesta Inn Resort in Tempe. There will be a wide variety of awards offered this year. Please take the time to acknowledge and nominate those individuals in your delegation who have put that extra effort in this last year! Nomination forms are attached and available online at www.soaz.org.

Coach Recruitment

The SOAZ Training Conference is a great opportunity for a new or potential SOAZ coach to get training and network with coaches from around the state. If your program is specifically in need of coaches, please contact Brian at SOAZ. We can then target the media in your city/area to promote the Training Conference and coaching opportunities with your program.

Class A Volunteers

Beginning April 1st, 2008 all existing and future Class A Volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Application, General Orientation Training and Protective Behaviors Training. The trainings are available on the web by following this link: http://www.soaz.org/coaches/online_training.asp. They will also be offered at the SOAZ Training Conference.

Coaches Certification

The Coaches Certification Policy has gone into effect as of April 1st, 2008. Teams/delegations out of compliance with the policy will not be allowed to compete. For team sports, each team must have a certified non-playing (level 2) coach and for individual sports, each delegation must have a certified (level 2) coach. Important note: coaches do not need to be certified in each sport they coach unless it is a high risk sport such as Equestrian or Powerlifting. New coaches and delegations have one calendar year from the date of their Volunteer Application to comply with the policy.
Below outlines what is required for Level 2 Coaches Certification*:

1. Volunteer Application (updated every three years)
2. General Orientation Training
3. Current Protective Behaviors Training (updated every three years)
4. Attend Sport-Specific Training
5. Complete 10 hours practicum working with Special Olympics athletes
6. Submit Application for Sport Training Certification

*Level 2 Certification is valid for three years. The full Certification Policy can be obtained from the State Office upon request.

2008 Fall Games: Bocce

The facility for the 2008 State Bocce Competition has changed to the Rio Vista Softball Complex (same location as the Softball competition). This means the bocce courts will be handmade and played on grass. Please take this into consideration when training for the competition.

Medical & Consent Forms

For the safety of the athletes, SOAZ will continue to enforce the policy requiring a current, valid medical and consent form for all area and state competitions. To assist coaches, delegation reports will be published in July indicating the expiration dates for all athlete medical and consent forms. Please take time this summer to review your report and ensure the forms are current for the upcoming competition season. Friendly reminder: it is the responsibility of the certified head coach to have a copy of all current medical and consent forms on hand when participating at area and state competitions.

Floor Hockey Tournament!

Floor Hockey coaches, we need your help! The Phoenix Coyotes have offered to host a Special Olympics Floor Hockey Tournament at Jobing.com Arena! The courts would be set-up on the floor of the arena! The tournament must be during the Coyotes off season, which gives us up until about September 1st to have it. We are currently targeting late August for this event. Please contact Brian Quinn if you are interested in attending and if you have any preferences in dates, times, days (weekend/weekday), etc. We hope you can help us make this happen!

SOAZ Videos on YouTube!

Check out this link to a couple SOAZ videos online!
http://www.youtube.com/SpecialOlympicsAZ

Discount D-Backs Tickets!

The Arizona Diamondbacks have offered half-price tickets at select games for all Special Olympics coaches, athletes, families and friends! Just visit this website: www.dbacks.com/groups and use:
Password: soaz
User Name: beafan
(all type in lower case)
*online ticket orders will be available starting Tuesday, May 13th.

The half-price tickets are available on the following dates:
Saturday, May 31st
Tuesday, June 17th
Tuesday, July 1st
Saturday, August 23rd

World Winter Games Officials

Special Olympics is requesting nominations for volunteer competition officials for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. Application forms for each sport can be obtained upon request from the SOAZ State Office. All applications must be received by SOAZ no later than June 16th.

SOAZ Triathlon

Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) and the Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run is proud to team up with Red Rock Company and DC Ranch Village Health Club and Spa for the first unified triathlon in the state of Arizona!

With two courses to choose from, beginner and experienced Triathletes will have the opportunity to compete. Visit http://www.soaz.org for more information.

Saturday, August 16, 2008
6:30am
(registration begins at 5:30am)

DC Ranch Village Health Club & Spa
18501 N. Thomson Peak Pkwy
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Traditional Sprint Triathlon Unified Triathlon
(modified course)
Each individual will complete the entire event on their own.
• 300M Swim
• 20K Bike Ride
• 5K Run

Minimum of $75 in pledges to compete. Unified teams will consist of 1 SOAZ athlete and 2 unified partners or 2 SOAZ athletes and 1 unified partner.
You can create your own team or sign up as an individual and you will be teamed up with a SOAZ athlete to complete the course.
• 50M Swim
• 2.5 Mile Bike Ride
• ½ Mile Run
Suggested fundraising goal of $75 for each participant.

2011 World Games Delegates

Special Olympics is seeking qualified individuals to serve as volunteer Technical Delegates for a variety of sports at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, June 24 – July 3, 2011. For more info click here.

Coaches Resource Council

Want to help impact the lives of over 9,100 Special Olympics Arizona athletes? Be a part of the Coaches Resource Council! Meet with SOAZ staff, coaches, volunteers and athletes on a quarterly basis to provide your input, energy and ideas for Special Olympics training programs. The council will focus on a number of projects such as the annual Coaches Conference, the Athletes as Coaches Leadership Program, coach recruitment initiatives and developing community partnerships which enhance the SOAZ coach and athlete experience. Members outside the Phoenix area are welcome to conference call into meetings. This is a great way to lend your extra support and energy to Special Olympics! Please send your interest to Brian Quinn at brianq@soaz.org for more info.

Contact

Please contact the SOAZ Training Coordinator regarding Coaches Clipboard or any coaches training-related questions, unless a different contact is noted above for a specific item. Thank you for all you do for Special Olympics athletes!

The Better the Coach….The Better the Experience for the Athletes!

Brian Quinn
Training Coordinator
Special Olympics Arizona
1850 N. Central Suite 900
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
BrianQ@soaz.org
602-230-1200 state office
602-230-9135 direct line
602-230-1110 fax