Coaching disabled Athletes

By Nurbolat Kuandyk U3066466

Sport Coaching Pedagogy

ContentsDefinition of disabilityPrevalenceBackground to SubjectImportance to StudyCoaching Disabled Athletes

DefinitionWhat is disability?Disability is defined as a physical, mental, or

psychological condition that limits a person’s activities.

People can either be born with a disability or they can acquire it

Examples of DisabilitiesVision impairmentSensory impairment Physical impairmentHearing impairmentOlfactory/gustatory impairment

Prevalence According to the GSS (General

Social Surveys), in 2006, nearly 40% (6.1 million) of Australians aged 18 years and over had a disability or long-term health problem.

Physical limitations were the most common form of disability (66% or 4 million), followed by sight, hearing or speech (35% or 2.1 million). Just over half of people with a disability (3.1 million) did not specify the type of disability.

Prevalence

Participation in sport, by disability status and sex- 2002 and 2006 in Australia.

Source: ABS data available on request, General Social Survey, 2002 and 2006.

Background to subjectPeople with disability should be included in

sportsPeople with disability should not be

discriminatedPeople with disabilities are athletes too that

have needs, drives and goals. Coaching them as well as any other athlete is

a crucial part for their development.

Background to SubjectThere many organisations and associations in

the world that provide facilities and support to disabled athletes.

There are also many sporting events for disabled athletes to participate in such as Paralympics Games being the biggest.

There are different sports for disabled athlete that they can play or compete in.

Background to SubjectExamples of sports:Wheelchair BasketballWheelchair Rugby

Importance to studyAn example of discrimination towards disabled people:

“Women with disabilities face double discrimination--discrimination based on gender and discrimination based disability. Women of colour who are disabled face yet a third type of discrimination...The limited available statistics suggest that economically, socially, and psychologically, women with disabilities fare considerably worse than either women who are nondisabled or men who are disabled”. (Women and Disability Awareness Project, 1989).

Importance to StudySeigenthaler (1997) identified the benefits of

leisure as:

Enhanced well beingDecreased stress levelsImproved quality of lifeImproving social aspects

Schleien, Ray & Green (1997) team sports benefit both disabled and abled athletes.

Importance to StudySo, including and coaching disabled athletes

is a great way to involve them in social and physical activities.

Barriers for participation in SportsPacirorek and Jones (1989) identified 4

barriers:EquipmentPhysical accessibilityProgram modificationsAttitudes towards people with disabilities

Disability Sports Coachprovide high quality sporting opportunities for

people with disabilities throughout the UK. provide coaching, training, events, and community

clubs to mainstream schools, special schools, clubs, charities & other professional organisations.

supported and delivered to over 60,000 people with a variety of disabilities.

worked with over 130 different organisations including, Sport England, NGB’s, Local Authorities and individual schools.

http://disabilitysportscoach.co.uk/

Coaching Disabled athletes

Having a good coach is crucial in development and improvement of any athlete.

Working with disabled athletes, improves coaching skills and benefit the coach.

As a coach it is important to treat your athletes equal whether disabled or not.

Coaching a disabled athleteIt is important to have a positive first

impressionIntroduce the athlete with a disability and

create conditions for successful integration For participants with intellectual disabilities,

coach should use developmentally appropriate activities

Coaching a disabled athleteFor the coach it is important to know the

disability or disabilities of the athlete they coach

Coach should focus on athletes abilityIt is important for the coach to adapt the

activities for disabled athleteCoach should establish good communication

with disabled athlete, get to know the athlete better.

Coaching a disabled athleteIt is important for the coach not to

discriminate their athletes

For example: Thinking that an intellectually disabled

athlete does not understandSit down when talking to a disabled athlete on a wheelchair

Coaching a disabled athleteCoach should have in mind about

transportation, accessibility and facilities they provide for the disabled athletes

ConclusionIt is important to understand that people with

disabilities should have equal opportunities and treatment as people without disabilities. In particular focusing in coaching and mentoring.

Coaches should help disabled athletes to enjoy the activities they engage in as this will help the athlete to carry the love of sport for the rest of their life.