Giving Soccer training to people with a mental disability

[Optimusje]

So school has given me the burden of one more of those awesome school projects. This time round me and 2 other guys have to give soccer training to people with a mental disability once a week. Now I'm quite capable at doing so if it weren't for the their disability which makes it very unclear as to what we can and what we can't do. Their previous trainer is letting us figure this stuff out by ourselves, but that'll take a while, so I'm here to ask for advice:
What would be good assignments for them?

They all have something different, some have downs syndrome whilst other have anger problems. I do not yet know all of their problems, and I really don't want to for the sake of it otherwise getting too complex and me tagging all these people in my head.

Also, they have very bad insight towards these things, and we can't make them do complicated tasks. However, we can not let them run arround and pass balls to eachother all the time as well. They need to have some variation in their trainings.

I hope you guys can help me out a bit, and thanks for that

 

[Mike B]

I'd rather do it on a case-by-case basis. Just thinking soccer could work may only apply to a few people. Possibly a variety of things to do, like arts as well?

 

[Optimusje]

Ehm, I'm sorry, maybe I'm not too clear. I'm giving training to a special disabled team from a nearby club. It's not that i'm taking a bunch of people and making them do this.

 

[AJers]

Tag your local special olympics group for some insight; lots of High School students volunteer to coach individuals with developmental disabilities different sports. Soccer is a time honored favorite, :) The Special Olympic Program ( http://www.specialolympics.org/ ) might be able to give you some ideas for routines and drills and talking to some peers about what techniques worked for them might help, as well.

Otherwise, just relax. At the end of the road, the people you are coaching are... people. Get to know them, their likes/dislikes/abilities. If you're going into it with an attitude of "I don't want to get to know them because it will make my job complex" then you're setting yourself up for failure. Every good coach that I've ever known gets to know their players, their strengths/weaknesses/abilities.

That doesn't mean that you need to sit down and read all their plans or interview them or their parents or their staff... it just means you need to exercise your social skills. Talk to them, observe them, and utilize any resources you have available. You might surprise yourself and end up liking it.

Anyways, good luck! (and have fun)

 

[Optimusje]

Thanks for the tips. I've actually allready had one training with them, sort of as an introduction, but we've gotta do it ourselves next. Anyways, I wasn't saying I didnt want to get to know them, I just don't want to specifically know what disorder they have for said reasons.

Also, any specific ideas for exercises to give? As that will be quite tricky to balance out properly (variation vs simplicity)

 

[AJers]

In certain cases, it may be beneficial for you to learn what disability or learning disorders a particular individual has (for example, if later in your trainings you find that you're not being effective with them); as it can offer you some general tips on how to approach them better. Even figuring out their learning style might help, but that would be for later on.

Um, stretching/running(or jogging) are always good, just make sure you keep it "at your own pace"; otherwise do a lot of drills that you would see during a normal soccer practice, kicking the ball back and forth to you/your other coaches, doing drills, scrimmage matches, etc. Once again, it will be more of a "figure it out as you go" thing; as some individuals are going to adapt really easily to doing the drills and others are going to need more side by side training.

If you've coached before, don't let yourself be intimidated by the fact that these individuals have disabilities. The same techniques that you would use in getting to know a "regular" team will be the ones you use here. The first couple of practices, do things "at your own pace" for them, and watch until you get a better idea of their abilities. Start off slow and build it up, you can probably get to doing more "complex" drills, but you will want to build on it one step at a time (ie, the first practice have them kick the ball to you, the next have them kick the ball to each other, then set up posts, etc)

If there are any individuals who utilize a wheelchair, talk to their direct support staff, look up any assistive technology that can be utilized and (if they don't have it) mention it to their team to see if it can be purchased. For example, in bowling they have this ramp-like thing that the individuals in wheelchairs use to bowl effectively (I'm not sure what adaptations would be made in soccer).

 

[cantab]

Their previous trainer is letting us figure this stuff out by ourselves

Personally, I don't think they should. They should tell you what they do, give at least some advice, etc. Or if not them, someone should give you some training in how to do your job. That you're doing volunteer work rather than paid work doesn't lessen the need for you to be given enough training to be able to do it.

 

[Optimusje]

AJers, thanks for the help, that should be quite usefull (:

@ cantab: yes, i've complained about this allready, I'm hoping they'll explain some more stuff, as that'd be quite helpfull. That also was mainly the reason I decided to ask it here (other forums didn't quite meet the requirements due to trolls etc.)