Coaching Special Olympics and Para Athletes
From practice to the podium, with behavior science
Where can this student compete, and how do I get them ready?
Learn the map of adapted sport, how eligibility and classification work, and how to plan a full training season. Then coach it with prompting, reinforcement and data, from the first practice to competition day.
At a glance
What’s included
6
hours, self-paced
7
lessons with video and case study
2
sample season plans
1
season plan you build yourself
The problem
Many athletes with disabilities never get past the PE class.
Teachers and coaches often don’t know which competitions exist, who is eligible, or how to train an athlete with a disability for a full season. Athletes with great potential never get the chance.
01
No map
Special Olympics, Paralympic sport, Deaflympics: who fits where?
02
Classification
Eligibility rules and classification feel like a maze.
03
No season plan
Practices happen, but nobody plans the season toward a competition.
04
Meet-day problems
Noise, waiting and crowds undo weeks of training.
What you will learn
7 lessons, from the map to meet day
Each lesson has a short video, a deep dive, a real case study and a quiz.
The map of adapted sport
Special Olympics, Paralympic sport, Virtus, Deaflympics, Move United and school teams.
Eligibility and classification
The 10 Paralympic eligible impairments, classification and Special Olympics divisions, in plain words.
The school’s role
Equal access to school sport, and sport in the IEP and transition plan.
Planning a season
The BxM Season Plan template, with two sample plans.
Prompting and fading in practice
Teach sport skills step by step and step back toward independence.
Reinforcement from practice to competition
Keep motivation high when the rewards change on meet day.
Meet day and starting a team
Visual schedules for competition, and the steps to launch a Unified team.
What you take away
Tools you use the next day
BxM Season Plan template
Six parts, from athlete profile to weekly data.
Two sample season plans
8 weeks of Special Olympics athletics and 12 weeks of para swimming.
Meet-day visual schedule
Prepare the athlete for noise, waiting and the start signal.
Unified team launch checklist
From recruiting partners to the first game.
Who it is for
For the people who coach athletes with disabilities
Special Olympics and Unified coaches
who want a planned season and better tools.
PE and adapted PE teachers
who want to take students beyond the PE class.
Behavioral Sport students
who want to apply behavior science to adapted sport.
Parents and volunteers
who support athletes in training.
Want the full picture?
Part of the Adapted PE & Behavior Professional Development Certificate
This short course combines Module 11, “Adapted Sport Pathways”, and the coaching tools of Module 3 from the 68-hour certificate.
Questions
Good to know
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. You earn a BxM certificate of completion with 6 hours, to show your school, district or employer.
Does it count for continuing education?
The type of credit (for example BACB CEUs or teacher professional development hours) depends on the approvals BxM holds when the course opens. We will list it clearly before you enroll. Teacher PD hours are set by each state, so check your state’s rules.
Is it part of the full certificate?
Yes. It comes from Modules 11 and 3 of the 68-hour Adapted Physical Education & Behavior Professional Development Certificate. If you continue to the full certificate later, you will not repeat these lessons.
How do I enroll?
Reserve your spot below. We will email you the enrollment details and founding-member pricing.
Does it replace Special Olympics coach certification?
No. Special Olympics programs have their own coach training and requirements. This course complements them with season planning and behavior science.
Enrollment
Enroll or reserve your spot
Leave your details and we will send you the enrollment information and founding-member pricing.
Founding-member price
$59 Founding price · $79 after launch
One-time payment. Nothing is charged today: reserve now and pay when enrollment opens.