Lessons from the Special Olympics

Monday, April 13th, 2009
by RyanB

This year’s Special Olympics Massachusetts event was one of the most successful events held at WA this year. One of the sites for a basketball event was Daniels Gym at Worcester Academy, where many WA students volunteered their time. Many WA students also volunteered at the event at the College of the Holy Cross, also in Worcester, Massachusetts. As a volunteer at the Daniels Gym event, I enjoyed the experience and believe that the event was very successful. Here’s why:

1. Sportsmanship

All the athletes displayed good sportsmanship toward one another. I saw many athletes shaking hands with others, saying “good luck”, or “good game”. They were also friendly towards each other as well as the volunteers and coaches. The athletes rarely complained about calls made by referees. Overall, the level of sportsmanship shown by the athletes was at a level rarely, if ever, seen in high school athletic events.

2. Volunteer Involvement

Another reason that the Special Olympics was successful was that the volunteers, which included many Worcester Academy students, were always willing to help out with what needed to be done. The volunteers enjoyed giving their time for the event. I spoke with one woman who called the volunteering experience “a privilege”. A WA volunteer described the experience as “so much fun”. As one of the volunteers, the two days spent at the event did not feel like work; it was fun being there and the days went by quickly. The medical volunteers also worked to ensure the safety of all the athletes, and gave out walkie-talkies to scorers’ tables to ease communication of medical problems. Everyone was excited to be there. What’s better than having a good time with friends while volunteering for a good cause?

Special Olympics volunteers at a separate event taking the “Polar Bear Plunge” in Kennewick, Washington.

3. Enthusiasm of Players and Coaches

All the players competing this weekend were truly excited to be there, and they showed a great amount of enthusiasm during the games. Long-range baskets were often cause for major celebrations. After making a shot, one player sprinted down the court with his arms outstretched like wings of an airplane. The enthusiasm of the coaches and the players, shown in moments like these, made the games fun to watch. The coaches also seemed to enjoy coaching during the event. Watching the games, I could tell the athletes were excited to be there, playing basketball, whether or not they won their games.

4. Emphasis on playing over winning

While the athletes played hard, and wanted to win, the emphasis was primarily on enjoying the opportunity to play basketball. The coaches and players did not take the games too seriously, and as a result, everyone was more relaxed and had a good time. When asked by volunteers for the score sheet before games, one coach joked multiple times that he didn’t have it. This shows the laid-back atmosphere of the event. I noticed that the referees did not call many fouls and travels, which shows the emphasis on the athletes having a good time playing basketball rather than on competition. Unlike many coaches of competitive sports teams, the coaches played everyone an equal amount, showing their commitment to their players. The emphasis on simply playing basketball, while not focusing on winning or losing, was a major reason for the event’s success.

5. Attitude of Athletes

During the event, the athletes were polite and friendly. The athletes I talked to were nice and seemed happy to be there. On Sunday, I handed out lunches, and nearly everyone said “Thank you” to me after I gave out the lunches. The athletes were grateful for the experience, and encouraged their teammates constantly during the games.

Overall, the Special Olympics event this past weekend was very successful. Everyone, volunteers, coaches, and players, were all excited to be there, and made the most of the experience. If you haven’t volunteered yet, I highly recommend it. Simply enjoying the opportunity to play a sport without focusing on competition is something that is very rare in sports at all levels today. Maybe we could learn something from the Special Olympics athletes.

photo credit: cobalt123

photo credit: Scott Butner

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