The role of a Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program coach is to provide training and culminating activities for athletes with significant intellectual disability. In addition to their Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program training, these athletes probably also receive services from a variety of professionals. These multidisciplinary professional teams can include special educators, adapted physical educators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists and speech pathologists/therapists. Members of an athlete's multidisciplinary team should be consulted prior to and throughout the development of the athlete's training program to ensure the athletes' safe participation and to recommend opportunities for reinforcement in all aspects of an athlete's life. For example, this team of professionals may have insight into favored activities or areas of recent progress. Likewise, they will know of any positions or movements the athlete should avoid. Therefore, the athlete's training program should be designed so that it complements and doesn't interfere with the athlete's overall therapeutic program.
