Volunteer & Coach

GET INVOLVED – We need your help!

Volunteers are the backbone of our team and we need volunteers of all kinds including coaches, Unified Partners, supporters and leaders to help keep our large team going. No athletic expertise is required to help with our team. All volunteers working directly with athletes will become Level 1 Certified and this process is available on-line. Sport-specific training is provided by our State organization through Level 2 Training. The State requires us to provide a specific ratio of coaches to athletes during practices and competitions so that our athletes are  safely supervised and coached. We cannot run teams without the required number of Level 1 and 2 coaches.

Note: Athletes needing 1:1 supervision should be assisted by family or a PCA as we cannot guarantee that coaches will be available to provide 1:1 supervision.

All volunteers working with athletes must be Level 1 Certified prior to beginning coaching.

GET INVOLVED in Team G — OPTIONS

  • Volunteer as a Level 1 coach for a sport.
    Help guide a small group of athletes during practice for the season, under the direction of the Head Coach.
  • Volunteer as a Level 2 coach for a sport.
    Use your skills to provide sport specific training to athletes.
  • Unified Partners practice and compete in relay races, serve as partners in golf or as mentors in SOfit.
  • Serve as a Head Coach for a sport.
    The Head Coach is responsible for the organization and execution of practices and competitions for a given sport. Must be sport specific Level 2 certified.
  • Contribute to committee activities by helping with social, fundraising, registration or practice activities. Small commitments.
  • 1:1 PCAs must be Level 1 Certified.

SOMN maintains records of coaching status. We collect only email and phone information from you.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER COACH or UNIFIED PARTNER

Please follow the steps below to volunteer with Team G:

1. Complete the Volunteer Application Form!

Once you join you’ll receive our emails and registration notices.

2. Complete Coaching Application, on-line:

  • Complete the Volunteer Application online through the SOMN website link: Enter Team G, Area 11 as your Delegation

3. Complete the on-line training /Certification:

  • Complete the training through this link: Level 1 Certification Course and Quiz
  • Included topics are: General Orientation, Protective Behaviors and Concussion Training.
  • Finish the training and receive your certificate by email. Save a copy. Tell us of problems.

4. Complete the steps for Background Check (if age 18 years plus).

  • Your application will start this process and you’ll be contacted by General Information Services (GIS) by email
  • You have 5 days to respond.
  • Check your spam folder within a few days of applying

RENEWAL of PROTECTIVE BEHAVIORS

  • Complete Step 3 above!
  • Training is renewed every 3-5 years.

COACHING RESOURCES AND LEVEL 2 TRAINING

Additional Training & Resources
Coaches who are level 2 certified in multiple sports can get recertified for all of their sports at the same time. To do this, coaches must complete one recertification course and take a recertification quiz for each sport.

Please visit SOMN for L2 courses: http://specialolympicsminnesota.org/resources/coach-resources

Team G Head Coaches *

Head Coach Basketball: Brent Langhorne and Dan Hilson
Head Coach Swimming: Melissa Giernoth
Head Coach Athletics/Track & Field: Karen Ryan
Head Coach Tennis: Kris Paul
Head Coaches Golf: Anne Saffert and Jessica Broyles
Head Coach Bocce: Melissa Giernoth
Head Coach Flag Football: Ed Andrist and Brent Langhorne
Head Coach Bowling: Melanie Brudevold

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