Special Olympics (SO) supports athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) through programming in sports, health, and community building. SO coaches have an essential role in facilitating a positive learning environment for their athletes; however, being an SO coach can be challenging as they adapt their coaching to meet the specific needs of the athletes. While there has been an increase in research about coach training and practices, there continues to be limited research on the specific context of coaching in disability sport. The current study examined SO coaches’ perspectives and experiences related to their role, their support of SO athletes in SO activities, and in their broader communities. We conducted interviews with seventeen SO coaches and identified three themes and seven subthemes about their experiences. Overall, coaches found their role rewarding; however, they also identified many challenges. The current paper offers recommendations for SO, and the broader sport community on supporting coaches in disability sport.
Andreasen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.