An athlete’s perspective on Quality Games Training
This post is about my recent experience participating at a Quality Games Training at the 2019 Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games as a Special Olympics North America/Unified Champion Schools staff and Special Olympics athlete.
My name is Jerry Holy. I work as a Specialist in Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools/Special Olympics North America in Washington, DC. I’m also a Special Olympics Virginia, Global Messenger and 2016 SOVA Athlete of the Year. I can’t forget being a proud George Mason University Alumni, Class of 2010.
I recently participated at a Quality Games Training at the 2019 Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games. The Games and training took placed on June 21st — 23rd at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. The purpose of the training was learning how to put on quality games back in your State Program. It also served as an evaluation for Special Olympics Minnesota on their Summer Games. Participants in the training provide feedback on what the host program can do to improve their Summer Games.
I was nervous and anxious leading up to the training. One of my original thoughts before going into this training was the possibility on how complex and overwhelming all the information I would be taking in would be and if I would be able to remember it all and implement what I learned into the field. I was also doing my very best while juggling both staff and athlete perspective was another thought I had as well.
Once the training started, I realized my concerns were nothing. The actual information presented was very insightful and I even joined in the conversation at different points as well. Once we were out in the field, we had to observe evaluate Track & Field (Athletics), Swimming and Basketball (Traditional and Unified). We also observed and evaluated Healthy Athletes, the Opening Ceremony and Olympic Village.
It was a lot to take in since I had to constantly switch between my Special Olympics staff and athlete hats with my observations and evaluating. I was using my experiences from all the competitions I have competed in as a measuring, reflecting and comparison tool. I will admit, it was worth the experience to take in a different perspective on another State Program Games. It made me realized what things can be improved back in my own State Program (Virginia).
Being an athlete, I realized the Quality Games Training is an opportunity for all athletes to gain new experiences in various leadership roles at any Games and competitions. Athletes can easily be a part of games/event/venue/volunteer management, communications, officiating and evaluating. We can offer our perspective and expertise to put on a quality event. It is also a learning opportunity for athletes as well as staff, volunteers, and officials to cultivate meaningful inclusion and leadership for all. Athletes can provide meaningful insight on improving the quality of competition as well.
For example, I provided my feedback and input when we were a group on my thoughts about the Games and potential improvements. I even brought to the table ideas that my State Program does at our Summer Games. Having an athlete perspective, I brought up suggestions that would benefit athletes as we aim and prepare to compete at the next level of competition (USA Games and World Games).
In the end, I highly recommend any athlete to participate in Quality Games Training because it will open opportunities for them to be in more meaningful leadership roles with their State Programs. It is also an opportunity on how to improve the quality of competition via the athlete perspective. All of us are the current and future leaders in the Special Olympics Movement and the next 50 years, Special Olympics will need our perspective more and more to grow and succeed.
