Special Olympians in Timmins are looking for YOU to coach them in any number of team or individual sports.
Community coordinator Diane Wahlman says competitors in floor hockey, softball and soccer now range in age from 19 into their 50s. Younger Special Olympians are becoming interested, so the goal is to start a learn-to-play division that covers the fundamentals before they move up to the competitive teams.
“Unfortunately, we just don’t have volunteers to do that,” Wahlman points out. “The current volunteers we have are doing double duty. They run two or three sports. So their time is limited. It would be nice if we can get new volunteers.”
Wahlman says these athletes are pretty competitive in their various sports, with the goal of moving up to provincial competitions.
“They’re pretty excited when they hear that it’s a qualifier year. They really want to get to the provincials, and then from the provincials, they can get to the nationals.”
That’s what happened to the local soccer team, twice in the past few years.
More information on what it takes to be a coach is in the audio of our interview posted below, and on the Special Olympics Facebook page.
