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Welcome to Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program Click the / sign to expand / collapse a section. Table of Contents A. Motor Activity Training Program   I. Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program: An Overview  Introduction  Which Athletes are best served by MATP?  Objectives of MATP  Purpose of MATP  Benefits to Athletes  Sport Activity Selection  Ways to Reach Athletes  Community Involvement II. Personnel  Coaching Staff  Responsibilities of Motor Activity Training Program Head Coach  Assistant Motor Activity Training Program Coaches  Peer Coaches  Peer Coach Checklist  Responsibilities of Head Coach to Peer Coaches  Educational and Therapeutic Personnel III. Evaluation of Athletes  Determining Placement of Athletes  The Motor Activity Training Program Athlete Qualification Form  The Athlete Social Adaptability Questionnaire  The Athlete Information Form  The Motor Skills Assessment Form  The Medical/Health Background Form IV. Motor Activity Training Program Training  MATP Training Goals: Consistency and Adaptation  Goals and Objectives of Training Programs  Principles to Keep in Mind  Length of Training Sessions  Sample Lesson Plan for small groups working together  Location of Training Sessions  Training Techniques  Levels of Assistance  Positive Reinforcement  Athlete Sport Skill Progression  Proper Clothing  Motor Activity Training Program Structure  Length of Motor Activity Training Program Training Programs  Equipment Needed for Motor Activity Training Programs  Training Log  Challenge Days  Awards & Recognition  Event Management V. Motor Activity Training Program Activities  Levels of Assistance    Warm-Ups    Strength and Conditioning Activities    Sensory Motor Awareness Activities    Motor Activities    Water Adjustment Activities   Motor Skill Training Activities by Sport      Aquatics    Float    Pool Walking    Beginning Assisted Swim      Athletics    Walking    Two-Foot Jump    Manual Wheelchair Propel    Motorized Wheelchair Activity      Badminton    Badminton Strike      Basketball    Basketball Push      Bowling    Target Bowling      Floor Hockey    Puck Shot    Puck Push      Football    Football Push    Football Kick      Golf    Putting      Roller Skating    Stand and March      Softball    Softball Fielding Activity    Softball Throw    Softball Strike      Table Tennis    Table Tennis Strike      Tennis    Tennis Strike      Volleyball    Volleyball Throw    Overhead/Underhand Serve VI. Appendices    Appendix A – Glossary    Appendix B – References    Appendix C – Health and Safety Concerns    Movements That Interfere with Athlete Performance    Muscle Tone    Palmar Grasp    Startle Reflex    Response to Gravity    Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)    Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)    Positive Support Reflex    Propping Reactions        Health Issues    Pressure Sores    Medications    Hydration    Seizures    Involuntary Movements            Mobility Devices    Transferring an Athlete    Transferring from Wheelchair to Floor    One Person Transfer from Floor    Two Person Transfer from Wheelchair    Two Person Transfer into the Pool    Two Person Transfer out of the Pool            Appendix D – Sample Coaches Training Agenda     B. General Information     Principles of Coaching   Coaching Special Olympics Athletes   The Coaching Team   Preparing the Athlete for Competition   Nutrition, Safety and Fitness   Sport Safety and Risk Management   Basics of Special Olympics Download the entire MATP Coaching Guide as a Microsoft Word Document or PDF file — Click on the appropriate icon below         Acknowledgements Special Olympics wishes to thank the professionals, volunteers, coaches and athletes who helped in the production of the MATP Coaching Guide. They have helped fulfill the mission of Special Olympics: to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.   Special Olympics welcomes your ideas and comments for future revisions of this guide. We apologize if, for any reason, an acknowledgement has been inadvertently omitted.   Contributing Authors   Dr. Martin Block, University of Virginia Dr. Billye Chatum, University of Michigan Pablo Delano, Special Olympics Chili Suzanna Dillon, Special Olympics Missouri Lydia Flynn, James E. Duckworth School, Beltsville, MD Cynthia Gill, Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago Georgia Harvala, Special Olympics Greece Kathy Irving, Special Olympics Iowa Dr. Patricia Krebs, Special Olympics Maryland Dave Lenox, Special Olympics, Inc. Angela Lukas, Special Olympics Gibraltar Ryan Murphy, Special Olympics, Inc. Sheila O'Callaghan, Chicago Public Schools Dr. Eleni Rossides, Special Olympics Cyprus Margaret Strzalkowska, Special Olympics Poland   Special Thanks To the Following for All of Your Help and Support   Special Olympics Maryland Starring Athletes from James E. Duckworth School, Beltsville, MD Staff from James E. Duckworth School, Beltsville, MD      Trinell Bowman      Jay Bass      Eric Luxner Prince George's County Public Schools Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Special Olympics Latin America Special Olympics North America