All-Star Looking For Some Info On Starting A Special Needs Team...

[dance2874]

Our gym is in the beginning stages of starting a special needs team. I am going to attempt to help as I have some experience in that area, having a special needs child myself. Can anyone point me in the direction of the basic info we will need to get started? I guess our main questions are if there are age restrictions, and if the coaches need any special certification. I know I have seen this discussed here somewhere but a search didnt really bring up many results.

THANKS!

 

[njallday]

i want to say there was a guide written on this... perhaps @ACEDAD

good luck always my favorite teams!

 

[ACEDAD]

Our gym is in the beginning stages of starting a special needs team. I am going to attempt to help as I have some experience in that area, having a special needs child myself. Can anyone point me in the direction of the basic info we will need to get started? I guess our main questions are if there are age restrictions, and if the coaches need any special certification. I know I have seen this discussed here somewhere but a search didnt really bring up many results.

THANKS!

I'll be glad to help. I've worked with dozens of gyms in starting teams. Send me an email to [email protected] and I'll get you lots of info.


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[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

What I DO know is that there is no age limit for the SN division and I am fairly certain they are limited to L2 with no baskets allowed. I'm sure ACEDAD knows better than I do, though!

 

[dance2874]

Thanks SO much! Ill email you now @ACEDAD

 

[cheermomforever]

We had our first SN team this year and I have to say it was the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. We had 4 amazing athletes and hope to have more next year. We treated it like a yth 1 team of beginners as we started it with ages 8 and up. Next year we r going younger. We were all crying at the first comp! My daughter coaches it along with all the volunteers from our other teams! Can't wait for next year . Have fun and good luck!


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[ACEDAD]

We had our first SN team this year and I have to say it was the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. We had 4 amazing athletes and hope to have more next year. We treated it like a yth 1 team of beginners as we started it with ages 8 and up. Next year we r going younger. We were all crying at the first comp! My daughter coaches it along with all the volunteers from our other teams! Can't wait for next year . Have fun and good luck!


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I would encourage you to be very careful about going younger than 8. In 10 years of coaching special needs athletes, I only found 1 or 2 athletes younger than 8 that could really benefit. Most just don't have the attention span that's needed.

Special Olympics uses an age 8 cutoff and I would encourage you to keep it as well.


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[CheerBank]

We had our first SN team this year and I have to say it was the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. We had 4 amazing athletes and hope to have more next year. We treated it like a yth 1 team of beginners as we started it with ages 8 and up. Next year we r going younger. We were all crying at the first comp! My daughter coaches it along with all the volunteers from our other teams! Can't wait for next year . Have fun and good luck!


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Cp has worked with the SN team at her gym for the past two seasons. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences for her and I love watching her team and all the SN teams at competitions.