Our coaches are the greatest!
When you sign on to coach for Special Olympics, the basic coaching skills are a must. But resourcefulness and a love of problem-solving come in very handy too, since our coaches often face unusual challenges.
Take the case of the Multnomah County snowboarders. This season, two hearing-impaired teenage girls joined head coach Chad Marcus’s squad. On the mountain, what with wind, snow and frozen faces, lip-reading and signing don’t always work. Fortunately, the girls, Ashley Medlock and Kendra Liebe, each came with a translator/volunteer. Working through the translators, Chad and his coaching team have been able to make substantial progress this season. “The challenges of coaching for Special Olympics bring out the best in you,” Chad says. “I love it when a new one arises.”
This snow season saw another breakthrough with a veteran hearing-impaired skier. Jerry Grisham of Multnomah County had difficulty with communications during the winter season. Then Coach Shelly Simpson noticed that Jerry and another athlete were passing notes. “Once Shelly saw that, she got an inspiration: Let’s use flash cards to communicate with Jerry!” says head ski coach Kelly Valade. (The above photo shows Shelly and Jerry after a training session at the Cooper Spur ski area on Mt. Hood.)
Now, Jerry has one set of laminated flash for his coaches (“I’m cold.” “I’m hungry.”), and the coaches have another set they use to communicate with Jerry (“Go!” “Wait.” “Lunch time.”). Jerry’s skiing smoother and safer, and the Multnomah program has a new coaching tool that others can adopt.
1 Comments:
This is Kendra's dad, Mark Liebe. Kendra was one of the two deaf participants on this year's snow board team from Mult. Co. I have been wanting to say something for some time, but after witnessing Sunday's meet at Cooper Spur, I have to say THANK YOU!! We were told Kendra would not likely walk when she was born, and to see her take her medals at the Olympic meet this last weekend brought me literally to tears. Though I participated and cheered Kendra on throughout the day, it wasn't until I saw the look on her face as she took her medals that 14 years of emotions came spilling out (I am sure I am not the only parent of a Special Olympiad to have experienced this).
Though it has been a long journey for Kendra and us up to this point, her participation on this year's team was truly an answer to a long-standing prayer. The people who volunteer for Special Olympics are absolute miracle workers, and the determination of the athletes is something ALL should see.
As Kendra is both Deaf and Deaf/Blind, we did not have very high expectations for her, though we were willing to support her in any way possible. Through these few short weeks, we have seen her grow in the most remarkable of ways, and when she climbed back up the hill several times after missing gates on the beginner slope, I realized that this was teaching her more than just how to snow board.
You people are simply awesome, and where we as parents sometimes cannot teach, you pick up from where we simply cannot go (after being the home therapists for years).
Please know the profound effect you have had on our family, and all who know Kendra are now rejoicing in her accomplishments and the selfless contributions of MANY who we saw on the mountain that day.
Our hearfelt thanks are with you all!!
Mark Liebe
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