- Meet with your SOWI Regional staff and receive a Prospective Agency Packet.
- Work with SOWI staff to determine the demographics of your Agency (i.e. ages served, geographic boundries, type of agency), and how your agency fits the bigger picture.
- Recruit one or more volunteers to serve on your Agency Management Team (AMT).
- Register your Agency
- Complete the Agency Registration form
- Complete the Class A Volunteer forms
- View the General Orientation Video
- Complete the Protective Behaviors online screening
- Meet with your SOWI Regional Staff for an Orientation
- Identify key volunteers for leadership positions on AMT and designate meeting times and agendas.
- Recruit athletes ages 8 years old and older of all abilities through schools, residential settings, the Arc, work centers, churches and families.
- Hold orientation for athletes and families to determine what sports they would like and availability of coaches, facilities and equipment also enlist them to help with the remaining steps.
- Recruit coaches through athletic clubs, sports federations and governing bodies, schools and universities, service providers, parents and family members.
- Register coaches utilizing the Class A volunteer process including screening, viewing the General Orientation video and completing the Protective Behaviors Online training.
- Train coaches by promoting their attendance at Certified Training Schools (CTS). Key points include: SOWI mission and philosophy, how to coach SOWI athletes, rules, divisioning, expectations and how to spot and foster athlete leadership.
- Meet with athletes, coaches, parents/siblings, providers and volunteers to set sports training schedule.
- Conduct athlete training a minimum of 8 sessions in each sport prior to competition. Stress skill development, offer local competition opportunities, and involve peer coaches.
- Compete and potentially advance to Regional and/or State level competition.
- Establish more enhanced relationships with schools, families, residential facilities and the community.
- Promote public awareness: the message of competence and value, importance of sports recreation; education and employment; and contribution to inclusion.
- Evaluate Agency and continue to expand services and empower athletes.
