The SO MENA MATP Coach occasion was carried out in Kuwait from September 6 – 10, 2024. The occasion introduced collectively 9 Particular Olympics packages from throughout the Center East/North Africa (MENA) area, together with contributors from Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Morocco, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. In complete, 30 coaches have been educated—20 from SO Kuwait and 10 from different MENA packages—together with the participation of 40 MATP athletes.
Goals and Coaching Focus
The first goal of this occasion was to equip coaches with important abilities and sources to successfully practice athletes throughout the MATP framework. The coaching emphasised the creation of tailor-made teaching plans that take into consideration the person talents and desires of every athlete. One other key facet of the coaching was to empower the coaches to not solely practice athletes but in addition different coaches. This method, often known as the Practice-the-Coach (TTT) mannequin, ensures the sustainability and growth of MATP throughout the area.
The coaching was led by Dr. Eleni Rossides, who participated remotely by way of Zoom, and Niamh Morton, Senior Supervisor of MATP for Particular Olympics Worldwide (SOI). With help from Lions Golf equipment Worldwide Basis (LCIF), the occasion was in a position to introduce a number of new initiatives that purpose to reinforce the impression of the MATP.
Key Highlights and Firsts
The occasion marked a number of vital milestones:
- Athlete Empowerment: 4 athletes have been educated as assistant coaches, representing a key step towards better athlete empowerment. These athlete leaders performed an vital position within the coaching, demonstrating the potential for athletes to tackle management and training roles throughout the program.
- Household Involvement: In a groundbreaking transfer, three relations have been educated as assistant coaches, underscoring the significance of household engagement in athlete growth. This additionally strengthened the position of relations in fostering the expansion and success of athletes with mental disabilities.
- Well being Screening Initiatives: For the primary time, well being screenings particularly tailor-made for the MATP athlete inhabitants have been carried out. These screenings centered on “Opening Eyes” (imaginative and prescient) and “Wholesome Listening to” (listening to) disciplines and have been carried out on the identical venue because the coaching, making it handy and accessible for all contributors.
- Finest Practices and Data Sharing: Coaches have been inspired to share greatest practices, challenges, and progressive methods from their respective packages. This change facilitated data switch and strengthened the general MATP implementation in every nation.
Private Tales and Influence
Fatma: A exceptional MATP athlete, Fatma had by no means skilled swimming and even visited a swimming pool earlier than the occasion. Throughout her first Wholesome Athletes screening, a imaginative and prescient difficulty was found, and he or she was referred to a specialised clinic. Regardless of this, Fatma’s enthusiasm by no means faltered. She approached her first swimming session with pleasure and confidence, inspiring everybody round her. Her expertise demonstrated how sports activities can open new doorways and create alternatives for private development, even within the face of challenges.
Abdallah: Identified for his strong-willed “my means or no means” angle, Abdallah initially discovered it troublesome to comply with teaching directions. Nonetheless, by means of the endurance and persistence of his coaches, he regularly started to comply with steering, highlighting how sports activities can play a key position in selling constructive behaviors and self-discipline.
Testimonials from Coaches
Joelle El Kouba, Coach, SO Lebanon
“My expertise on the workshop was actually exceptional, and its success was evident from the beginning. The group and hospitality have been excellent, making us really feel like one workforce, united by a shared purpose: making certain sports activities are accessible and adaptable for each skill.
The mix of theoretical and sensible periods was invaluable. We realized the right way to assess athletes, arrange stations, put together for sports activities actions, and collaborate successfully as a workforce.
One second that deeply impacted me was aiding Fatma, who was in a wheelchair and getting into the water for the primary time. Everybody watched with a mixture of anxiousness and anticipation, because it was the primary time any of us had seen Fatma go swimming, and he or she had by no means been to a pool earlier than. Regardless of the nerves, the look in Fatma’s eyes and the belief she positioned in me gave me the energy and dedication to assist her into the water. I felt a profound sense of accountability and I whispered to her, “We will do it.”
As we accomplished the water workouts, Fatma’s face lit up with a smile, and her eyes sparkled with pleasure. In that second, her expression spoke volumes with out phrases “she felt protected, completely happy, and completed.”
This workshop will stay one among my sweetest reminiscences, and now, the onerous work actually begins to implement what we have been educated on.”
Maryam Thyab, athlete chief, former SSGM and assistant coach, SO Kuwait
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to be educated as an assistant Coach for MATP. I absolutely embrace this accountability, and I’m dedicated to working diligently to help coaches in coaching MATP athletes. Moreover, I’ll actively advocate by means of media, numerous platforms, and associations for the equal rights of MATP athletes to be included in our communities, alongside their households, and to have entry to high-quality sports activities and well being alternatives.”
Waleed Al Wardi, Coach, SO Oman
“The Regional MATP coach coaching in Kuwait has been immensely helpful, offering invaluable data in regards to the MATP program and efficient strategies for implementation utilizing simplified approaches and any obtainable sources. Each, the theoretical and sensible points of the coaching, have considerably enhanced my abilities, which can play a key position within the implementation of the MATP in Oman.
Moreover, the coaching had a profound impression on me personally, I used to be moved by the rapid impression, enthusiasm and pleasure of MATP athletes and their households as they engaged in numerous actions and ability stations. Seeing the happiness and satisfaction of fogeys, whether or not by means of their direct involvement or observing their youngsters’s inclusion and interplay with the bigger neighborhood, highlighted the highly effective outcomes of the MATP.”
Rana Al Aradi, Coach, SO Bahrain
“Probably the most exceptional workshops I’ve ever attended, because it included each theoretical and sensible parts. This allowed me to work with coaches from totally different nations and change experiences. We additionally witnessed how the MATP performs an important position in creating talents, boosting self-confidence, fostering social interplay among the many MATP athletes, coaches, and everybody concerned. It additionally emphasizes having enjoyable and celebrating all talents.
Probably the most lovely and joyful moments was when Fatma entered the water, the happiness on her face was actually heartwarming. I used to be additionally impressed by the athlete leaders’ speeches and their energetic involvement within the workshop, the place they successfully assisted each coaches and MATP athletes.”
Bonnie Tuttle, Coach, CrossFit coach and a proud mom of 4, oldest has autism – Particular Olympics UAE
“I just lately attended the MATP coach coaching held in Kuwait and located it to be a extremely precious and informative expertise. The coaching offered a superb alternative to achieve data and insights from each the unbelievable instructors and fellow coaches with SO MENA area. The mix of lectures and sensible hands-on periods created an efficient studying atmosphere, equipping us with the mandatory instruments and confidence to implement the acquired data on our respective roles.”
Subsequent Steps
To realize full certification, coaches are required to submit three movies by 10 November 2024, demonstrating their utility of the coaching. The movies should function three athletes with totally different skill ranges and embrace warm-up/cool-down routines, swimming actions, and on-ground ability stations. Following this, a digital session can be held in late November to have a good time the licensed coaches and permit them to share their experiences. Moreover, the licensed coaches can be anticipated to coach not less than 10 extra coaches inside their respective areas as a part of the Practice-the-Coach (TTT) initiative, making certain continued development and sustainability for MATP.
Conclusion
The SO MENA MATP Coach Coaching occasion in Kuwait was a major milestone within the growth and growth of the MATP throughout the MENA area. It not solely geared up coaches with the mandatory abilities to help MATP athletes but in addition empowered athletes and households to tackle extra energetic roles. By way of data sharing, household involvement, and athlete management, this system continues to foster inclusion, confidence, and development for athletes with mental disabilities.
