The SO MENA MATP Coach occasion was carried out in Kuwait from September 6 – 10, 2024. The occasion introduced collectively 9 Particular Olympics applications from throughout the Center East/North Africa (MENA) area, together with individuals 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 applications—together with the participation of 40 MATP athletes.
Goals and Coaching Focus
The first goal of this occasion was to equip coaches with important expertise and assets to successfully practice athletes throughout the MATP framework. The coaching emphasised the creation of tailor-made teaching plans that keep in mind the person talents and wishes of every athlete. One other key side of the coaching was to empower the coaches to not solely practice athletes but additionally different coaches. This strategy, generally known as the Practice-the-Coach (TTT) mannequin, ensures the sustainability and enlargement 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 capable of introduce a number of new initiatives that intention to reinforce the affect 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 essential function 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 improvement. This additionally strengthened the function 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 targeted on “Opening Eyes” (imaginative and prescient) and “Wholesome Listening to” (listening to) disciplines and have been carried out on the similar venue because the coaching, making it handy and accessible for all individuals.
- Finest Practices and Information Sharing: Coaches have been inspired to share greatest practices, challenges, and revolutionary methods from their respective applications. This alternate facilitated data switch and strengthened the general MATP implementation in every nation.
Private Tales and Impression
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 concern was found, and she or he 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: Recognized for his strong-willed “my method or no method” perspective, Abdallah initially discovered it tough to observe teaching directions. Nonetheless, by means of the persistence and persistence of his coaches, he steadily started to observe steerage, highlighting how sports activities can play a key function 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 group, united by a shared purpose: making certain sports activities are accessible and adaptable for each capability.
The mix of theoretical and sensible periods was invaluable. We discovered how one can assess athletes, arrange stations, put together for sports activities actions, and collaborate successfully as a group.
One second that deeply impacted me was helping Fatma, who was in a wheelchair and getting into the water for the primary time. Everybody watched with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, because it was the primary time any of us had seen Fatma go swimming, and she or he 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 secure, blissful, and achieved.”
This workshop will stay one in every of 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 totally 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, varied 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 assets. Each, the theoretical and sensible features of the coaching, have considerably enhanced my expertise, which is able to play a key function within the implementation of the MATP in Oman.
Moreover, the coaching had a profound affect on me personally, I used to be moved by the instant affect, enthusiasm and pleasure of MATP athletes and their households as they engaged in varied 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
“Some of the exceptional workshops I’ve ever attended, because it included each theoretical and sensible elements. This allowed me to work with coaches from totally different nations and alternate experiences. We additionally witnessed how the MATP performs a vital function 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.
Some of the stunning 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 lately attended the MATP coach coaching held in Kuwait and located it to be a extremely useful and informative expertise. The coaching offered a superb alternative to realize 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 setting, equipping us with the required 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 capability ranges and embrace warm-up/cool-down routines, swimming actions, and on-ground ability stations. Following this, a digital session might be held in late November to have a good time the licensed coaches and permit them to share their experiences. Moreover, the licensed coaches might be anticipated to coach no 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 big milestone within the improvement and enlargement of the MATP throughout the MENA area. It not solely geared up coaches with the required expertise to help MATP athletes but additionally empowered athletes and households to tackle extra energetic roles. By means of data sharing, household involvement, and athlete management, this system continues to foster inclusion, confidence, and development for athletes with mental disabilities.
