The SO MENA MATP Coach occasion was performed 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 individuals from Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Morocco, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. In whole, 30 coaches had been skilled—20 from SO Kuwait and 10 from different MENA packages—together with the participation of 40 MATP athletes.
Targets and Coaching Focus
The first goal of this occasion was to equip coaches with important abilities and assets to successfully prepare athletes inside the MATP framework. The coaching emphasised the creation of tailor-made teaching plans that have in mind the person talents and desires of every athlete. One other key side of the coaching was to empower the coaches to not solely prepare athletes but additionally different coaches. This strategy, often called the Prepare-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 through 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 purpose to reinforce the influence of the MATP.
Key Highlights and Firsts
The occasion marked a number of important milestones:
- Athlete Empowerment: 4 athletes had been skilled as assistant coaches, representing a key step towards better athlete empowerment. These athlete leaders performed an vital function within the coaching, demonstrating the potential for athletes to tackle management and training roles inside the program.
- Household Involvement: In a groundbreaking transfer, three relations had been skilled as assistant coaches, underscoring the significance of household engagement in athlete growth. 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 had been performed. These screenings targeted on “Opening Eyes” (imaginative and prescient) and “Wholesome Listening to” (listening to) disciplines and had been performed on the similar venue because the coaching, making it handy and accessible for all individuals.
- Finest Practices and Data Sharing: Coaches had been inspired to share finest practices, challenges, and modern methods from their respective packages. This alternate facilitated information switch and strengthened the general MATP implementation in every nation.
Private Tales and Influence
Fatma: A outstanding 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 problem 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: Identified for his strong-willed “my means or no means” angle, Abdallah initially discovered it troublesome to comply with teaching directions. Nevertheless, via the endurance and persistence of his coaches, he step by step started to comply with steering, 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 really outstanding, and its success was evident from the beginning. The group and hospitality had been very good, making us really feel like one group, united by a shared objective: guaranteeing sports activities are accessible and adaptable for each skill.
The mix of theoretical and sensible classes was invaluable. We realized how you 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 coming 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 willpower to assist her into the water. I felt a profound sense of accountability and I whispered to her, “We are able to 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, comfortable, and completed.”
This workshop will stay one in all my sweetest recollections, and now, the laborious work really begins to implement what we had been skilled on.”
Maryam Thyab, athlete chief, former SSGM and assistant coach, SO Kuwait
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to be skilled 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 via 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 useful, offering invaluable information concerning the MATP program and efficient strategies for implementation utilizing simplified approaches and any out there assets. Each, the theoretical and sensible points of the coaching, have considerably enhanced my abilities, which is able to play a key function within the implementation of the MATP in Oman.
Moreover, the coaching had a profound influence on me personally, I used to be moved by the rapid influence, enthusiasm and pleasure of MATP athletes and their households as they engaged in varied actions and talent stations. Seeing the happiness and pleasure of oldsters, whether or not via their direct involvement or observing their youngsters’s inclusion and interplay with the bigger group, highlighted the highly effective outcomes of the MATP.”
Rana Al Aradi, Coach, SO Bahrain
“One of the crucial outstanding workshops I’ve ever attended, because it included each theoretical and sensible parts. This allowed me to work with coaches from totally different international locations and alternate experiences. We additionally witnessed how the MATP performs an important function in growing 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.
One of the crucial stunning and joyful moments was when Fatma entered the water, the happiness on her face was really 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 invaluable and informative expertise. The coaching supplied a superb alternative to achieve information and insights from each the unbelievable instructors and fellow coaches with SO MENA area. The mixture of lectures and sensible hands-on classes created an efficient studying setting, equipping us with the mandatory instruments and confidence to implement the acquired information on our respective roles.”
Subsequent Steps
To attain 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 embody warm-up/cool-down routines, swimming actions, and on-ground talent stations. Following this, a digital session shall be held in late November to have fun the licensed coaches and permit them to share their experiences. Moreover, the licensed coaches shall be anticipated to coach at the least 10 extra coaches inside their respective areas as a part of the Prepare-the-Coach (TTT) initiative, guaranteeing continued development and sustainability for MATP.
Conclusion
The SO MENA MATP Coach Coaching occasion in Kuwait was a big milestone within the growth and enlargement of the MATP throughout the MENA area. It not solely outfitted coaches with the mandatory abilities to help MATP athletes but additionally empowered athletes and households to tackle extra energetic roles. By way of information sharing, household involvement, and athlete management, this system continues to foster inclusion, confidence, and development for athletes with mental disabilities.
