Get Involved as a Coach or Unified Partner

Thanks for your interest in getting involved with Western Wings.  Your help is greatly appreciated and an essential component in the success of our team.

Coaches assist athletes at practices and competitions.  You will be supported by the Head Coach and Leadership Team.  It is not required that you be proficient in the sport.  You will gather and organize athletes and help them learn the basic skills of the sport.  Obviously, knowing something about the sport is a huge advantage.

Unified Partners actually play the sport along side the athlete and compete with them, as well.  For example, we have a solid Unified Basketball Team who practices together weekly and competes together against other unified teams.  In swimming we have unified relay teams.  In bocce we have unified pairs who practice and compete.

Scroll down to see the list of Wings Head Coaches and Coaching Resources.

All coaches and unified partners must be Level 1 Certified.  It is your responsibility to complete the paperwork after being notified of the need for renewal or new certification.  Failure to complete this paperwork makes you ineligible to coach or participate.  Renewal is required every three years and is for the safety and protection of our athletes.  This process is required by SOMN.

Level 1 Certification– for New and Returning Coaches and Unified Partners: 

  1. Complete the on-line application and training.  You should get a confirmation email when you complete your training.  Save this email in case it’s needed.
  2. Complete the background check (if over 18).  Information follows.  Your background check application is time sensitive.

Before you start your application:

Your Team/Delegation is: Western Wings

Check boxes to become a COACH and a UNIFIED PARTNER, please.

The Application and Training Process

Step 1: Complete the online Level 1 Certification  application and training: 

Level 1 training & volunteer application

Step 2: Complete the Background Check

If you are over 18 years of age, your application submission will trigger SOMN to initiate the background-check process.  You will receive an email from HireRight  noreply@hireright.com to complete your background check.  IMPORTANT: you’ll have 5 days to submit your information before the link expires. If the email has expired and you need a new submission you should contact WINGS to restart the process.  If you are not receiving the Hire Right email shortly after you submit your application check your SPAM folder.  Background check results usually take only 24-48 hours once you submit the information.  NOTE: use your own email address to set up your background check process.  (Some employers or group homes have a common email address used by multiple people.  Do not use this.)   You may or may not receive a notice from Hire Right that you have passed the background check.  We will notify you of any concerns.

Level 2 Certification

Level 2 certification is sport specific and gives the coach a deeper knowledge of Special Olympics rules and sport specific guidelines.  All sports are required to meet the SOMN ration for level 2 coaches at practice and at competitions.  We highly recommend this extra level of training in the sport you are coaching.

Alpine skiing & snowboarding – updated 2023
Basketball – updated 2023
Bocce – updated 2023
Bowling – updated 2023
Golf – updated 2023
Poly hockey – updated 2023
Powerlifting – updated 202
Softball – updated 2023
Swimming – updated 2023
Track & field – updated 2023

Coach Resources

Coach code of conduct (PDF)
Becoming a Coach Handbook (PDF)
Coach Certification Ratio Table (PDF)
Concussion awareness & safety policy (PDF)
Concussion letter and fact sheet (PDF)
Special Olympics North America: Athlete-centered coaching guide (PDF)
Special Olympics Inc. Sport Resources
Positive Coach Alliance Development Zone

Wings Head Coaches–2023

Basketball: Emily Hoene

Aquatics: Sharon D’Arco
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Poly Hockey:  Warren Vala and Pete LoPresti

Athletics/Track & Field: Denise Westenfield

Golf: Pat and Marv Hannon

Bocce: Lisa Vala

Softball: Paul D’Arco and  Michelle Anderson

Bowling: Paul D’Arco, John Desautels and Mark Hirschfeld

Alpine Racing: Sharon D’Arco, Ginger Guggenberger & Ali Sauer

SOfit Leaders: Jodi Hirsch and Ellen Pearson

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