Fall 2024 Special Olympics School Program Coaching

Bulletins:

  • What we’re learning this year — rally activities are fun and productive
    • Rally Progression Activities HERE
  • Coach training on Saturday, September 21, was well-attended (thank you!)
    • Training Session Outline HERE
    • Training Session Supporting Themes HERE
    • Informal Video of Session Highlights HERE
    • Instant Rally Progression Video as Promised (take a look!)  VIDEO HERE
    • See also videos listed at the bottom of this page to reinforce today’s training
  • Coach training on August 25 via Zoom
    • Highlights video of HERE
  • Fall clinic for SO tennis for most schools starts the week of September 23.

A little inspiration: The key to adaptive and Special Olympics group coaching success is to embrace the challenge of conducting inclusive group activities simultaneously among diverse athletes by making each session’s lesson objective/theme adaptive to athlete ability.  Successful coaching depends on recognizing Ability (with a capital A!), and applying creativity and progressions to challenge each athlete optimally.  For example, we can all be “working on our serves” by working on parts or the whole of the serve stroke as differently and creatively as our abilities demand and allow.  However differently each athlete’s journey, by sharing a common lesson/session goal, we can learn together, celebrating thematic accomplishment as a group!

Questions, Comments, Ideas: Contact jbtrew2016@gmail.com or wayne@publictennis.org

Fall 2024 Weekly Special Olympics School Program Days and Times

  • McCracken Middle School at Bluffton High School courts
    • Mondays, 10-11AM, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4
    • 33 athletes, 11 coaches, Lead: Wayne Lilley
  • HHI High School at HHI High School courts
    • Tuesdays, 11:45AM-12:45PM, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/2
    • 18 athletes, 12 coaches, Lead: Dean Layton
  • May River High School at May River High School courts
    • Tuesdays, 1-2PM, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29
    • 18 athletes, 13 coaches, Lead: Laura Wenban Pucko & JB Trew
  • HHI Middle School at HHI High School courts
    • Wednesdays, 1-2PM, 9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6 (10/9 is a holiday)
    • 9 athletes, 9 coaches, Lead: Beth & Bill Hommes
  • Bluffton High School at Bluffton High School courts
    • Thursdays, 1:30-2:30PM, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7 (10/10 is a holiday)
    • 27 athletes, 15 coaches, Lead: Tom Shaw
  • Beaufort, Whale Branch and Battery Creek High Schools at Battery Creek courts
    • Fridays, 12-1PM Beaufort and Whale Branch groups, 1-2PM Battery Creek group
    • 9/27, 10/4, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8 (10/11 is holiday)
    • 14 Beaufort, 27 Battery Creek, 9 Whale Branch athletes
    • 10 coaches, Lead: Paddy O’Donnell
  • Hardeeville K-12 at Hardeeville School courts
    • Fridays, 1-2PM, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1 (Jasper County district calendar)
    • 17 athletes, 10 coaches, Coordinator and Lead: Jane Olthuis, Wayne Lilley

Lesson Plans

  • Week #1 (updated) Lesson Plan HERE
    • Related Rally Progression Activities Outline HERE
  • Week #2 (updated) Lesson Plan HERE
    • Adaptively/Inclusively Teaching Serving HERE
  • Week #3 Lesson Plan HERE
  • Week #4 Lesson Plan HERE
  • Week #5 Lesson Plan HERE
  • Week #6 (Team Challenge Competition and Celebration)

Generally Useful Basic Coaching Skills Documents and Videos

Redefining Success, Serve Example

New Volunteer Coaches! If you’re not on a coaching team and you’re interested in one of these programs, please text your name and your interest to 843-310-6080, and we will be in touch!

Questions? Email us: jbtrew2016@gmail.com (Coordinator for Schools Program) or wayne@publictennis.org (Public Tennis Executive Director)