Coaching Athletes with Disabilities: A 12-Step Program
By Robert Gailey, Phd, PT  Clinicians such as physical therapists
and prosthetists often find themselves coaching early in the
rehabilitation process as the amputee or any athlete with a
disability is preparing to return to athletics.
One of the most common obstacles for the athletes, coaches,
therapists, prosthetists, and parents alike is how to encourage a
potential disabled athlete to improve his or her performance or to
initiate participation in a particular event. Often the easiest and
most frequently used approach is: "just get out there and try it!"
However, under ideal circumstances, a qualified coach would
instruct the athlete in the proper skills necessary for an event,
and with adequate time and training, the athlete would comfortably
return to his or her sport.
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case in disabled athletics.
Because of the scarce number of amputee athletes in any one region
and even fewer veteran coaches, the opportunity to develop real
expertise is difficult. Although there are several excellent
coaches around the country--many of them current or former athletes
themselves--only a small number of budding athletes are afforded
the opportunity to work with these individuals, usually because of
geographic location. As a result, most amputee athletes must rely
on themselves, other athletes, parents, interested able-bodied
coaches, and clinicians to develop or advance their skills.
Creative Problem-Solving
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World record holder Danny Andrews trains and competes as a member of the University of Miami Track Team. |
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Most coaches of athletes with disabilities have
learned to become extremely resourceful while working toward
enhancing their athlete's performance. Since there are few
references available for information pertaining specifically to
disabled sports performance, coaches must utilize available sources
of knowledge and then synthesize the data for practical application
to the athlete's training. This problem-solving approach to
training can be the most exciting and rewarding aspect of coaching
in disabled athletics.
Variety of Approaches for Success
Following are a variety of approaches that may be employed to
achieve success in coaching the novice disabled athlete:
1. Listen to the athlete.
The training process with disabled athletes must be a
cooperative effort. Historically, there have not been enough
athletes to warrant any absolute system of training. All novice
coaches will be well-served to listen to the athlete and discuss
technique variances when working together.
2. Seek out other disabled athletes competing in the
same event.
The majority of development in both equipment and performance
techniques has been achieved through the experiential knowledge and
efforts of the athletes themselves. Many of the top coaches are
experienced competitors themselves. Additionally, a training
partner can help to make the practices easier.
3. Recruit able-bodied coaches.
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Kurt Collier trains independently with limited coaching in preparation for Paralympics. Photo with permission from Advanced Rehabilitation Therapy Inc., Miami, Florida. |
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Disabled coaches are often difficult to find. Many
elite disabled athletes train with able-bodied sport teams and
athletes, under the direction of able-bodied coaches. Often the
coordinated efforts of a coach and a therapist who is aware of the
abilities and constraints of the athlete's physical capabilities
work well when technique improvement is being considered.
4. Read texts and publications pertaining to both
able-bodied and disabled athletics.
In recent years, there have been a number of significant
contributions to the body of literature concerning disabled sport.
Unfortunately, there is still is a tremendous void in many
particular sports and for many specific disability groups. However,
reading and learning about able-bodied training methods and
techniques is still an excellent way to gain insight into a
particular sport.
5. Call the appropriate disabled sports
organization (DSO) for information and names of people to assist
with training.
All DSOs try to maintain some form of database for a variety of
topics, including athletes and coaches. DSOs are generally
underutilized as resources and should be contacted to assist with
providing athletes and coaches direction in the training
process.
6. Videotape practices and
competitions.
Videotaping practice sessions and competitions for immediate
visual feedback, or for more detailed descriptive critique at a
later time away from the practice field, is an excellent method of
instruction. Moreover, if several elite competitors with similar
disabilities can also be videotaped for a comparative analysis,
benefits may be derived from having the athlete visualize the
biomechanics of other accomplished athletes' performance. Caution
must be taken not to imitate another athlete. No two athletes
perform the same skill exactly the same way; therefore young
athletes should be careful of stylized movements, even of
celebrated elite athletes.
7. Consult with technical experts about adaptive
equipment.
Many disabled athletes utilize adaptive equipment such as
wheelchairs, prostheses, orthoses, and other assistive devices.
Prosthetists, orthotists, biomedical engineers, and other adaptive
equipment specialists can assist in providing specially designed
equipment that will meet the individual needs of athletes and
enhance their performance.
Disabled athletic adaptive equipment is a specialty, and only a
few clinical professionals specialize in this area because of the
occasional demand. Ill-fitting equipment can be more harmful than
helpful and, in some cases, even be dangerous. Caution should be
exercised by the coach and athlete when selecting a clinical
professional.
8. Investigate motivational methods to maintain the
athlete's interest in training and the sport.
Maintaining the athlete's level of intensity while training for
a sport can sometimes be challenging. There is a wide variety of
literature, motivational tapes, and other resources available to
coaches who are interested in the inspirational aspects of
coaching. As with any athlete, maintaining a balanced ratio level
of difficulty to level of frustration is important. If the athlete
continues to experience success with training and competition, the
positive reinforcement will assure continuation in the sport. Often
simplicity provides the best results.
9. Become familiar with the rules or
rule changes. As disabled sports evolve, there will be continued
changes in classifications, rules, and competition formats.
Athletes and coaches alike must keep abreast of the changes as they
occur to prevent any last-minute confusion and alterations in
competition strategies.
10. Attend coaches' conferences for both the
able-bodied and disabled athlete.
Conferences and seminars are an excellent forum in which to
exchange ideas and learn innovative approaches to sport
techniques.
11. Experiment with new
techniques.
Experimentation with new and unique techniques may help overcome
a particular obstacle or enhance performance. Be careful of new
styles that emerge from a single athlete. They may lack mechanical
advantages and provide only a psychological edge. However, keep an
open mind.
12. Maintain written records.
Documentation through diaries or journals of training sessions
and competitions provides a log that may be reviewed by the coach
and athlete to determine trends that may enhance or hinder
performance. Additionally, there is a tremendous need for the
publication of positive and negative outcomes with regards to
athletic performance to assist other athletes who are in similar
situations.
Does coaching appeal to you? Individuals investigate coach
training for different reasons. Some want to build on their skills
or gain the ability to help others reach their goals. Whatever your
reasons, rest assured that the competence and expertise you acquire
will have a positive effect on your life and the lives of others.
To learn more about these basic running techniques and many others,
the Functional Training and Running Series for Transfemoral and
Transtibial Amputees video and book series can assist
clinicians and amputees alike. Robert Gailey, PhD, PT, has specialized in the rehabilitation of lower-extremity amputees for about 20 years. He has done extensive research, writing, and lecturing. In addition to teaching at the University of Miami, Florida, he also operates Advanced Rehabilitation Clinical Services and Seminars in Miami. For more information, call 800.610.4278 or visit www.advancedrehabtherapy.com 
Table Of Contents - April 2004
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