In Special Olympics Athlete Leadership, we partner with Athlete Leaders to educate people about the abilities of our athletes, provide leadership and skill training for athletes to be successful, and support them in leadership roles inside and outside the movement.

Athlete Leaders are an important part of Special Olympics Nevada. Athlete Leaders represent Special Olympics to their fellow athletes, coaches, volunteers, and the general public. They take on roles within the organization, assist with marketing and fundraising efforts, deliver speeches and presentations, and more. They are the “face” and the “voice” of Special Olympics Nevada! Along with being ambassadors for the Special Olympics, Athlete Leaders gain a variety of traits and skills that they can use in their everyday lives.

To become an Athlete Leader, Special Olympics Nevada athletes MUST attend the Introductory Athlete Leadership Program Courses: Understanding Leadership and Introduction to Leadership.

These courses are to be taken together in the same season and will be held via Zoom.

Qualifications

Here are the qualifications needed to attend an Athlete Leadership Program Training:

• Must be an athlete in good standing with SONV and have a current athlete application on file; OR be a student-athlete through the Unified Champion Schools Program
• Must have basic reading skills or someone to assist in understanding the materials and potential speeches
• When necessary, must be able to provide transportation to and from speaking engagements
• Must be outgoing, friendly, and enjoy interacting and meeting new people
• Must commit to being an active part of the Athlete Leadership Program and supporting fellow Special Olympics athletes
• Must always represent Special Olympics Nevada in a professional manner and set a good example for other athletes

Athlete Leaders who complete the Introduction to Leadership and Understanding Leadership courses will qualify to attend future training and courses. These include, but are not limited to:

• Health Messenger Training
• Global Messenger Training (speech writing and public speaking)
• Advanced Training Modules
  • Unified Leadership
  • Understanding Emotions
  • Engaging with Others
  • Managing Time
  • Leading Discussions

Apply to be a part of the Athlete Leadership Program below. Please contact Dominique Christion at DominiqueC@sonv.org with any questions.