MACCABI ALL ABILITIES INCLUSIVE COACHING HANDBOOK
Current at: July 2020
For more information: [email protected] Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook Contents ABOUT THIS RESOURCE ...... 4 IF YOU’RE A COACH OR VOLUNTEER WITH AN ALL ABILITIES PROGRAM… ...... 4 IF YOU’RE A COACH, VOLUNTEER OR COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH A MAINSTREAM MACCABI CLUB… .. 4 ABOUT MACCABI ALL ABILITIES ...... 5 WHAT IS IT? ...... 5 PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ...... 5 BASKETBALL ...... 5 SHMOOZE AND GROOVE ...... 5 BLOCK PROGRAMS ...... 5 SPECIAL EVENTS ...... 5 BUDDY PROGRAM ...... 6 COACHING AND VOLUNTEER ROLES ...... 6 COACHING ...... 6 VOLUNTEERING ...... 6 CLUB INVOLVEMENT ...... 6 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ...... 6 ONLINE PROGRAMS ...... 7 GROUP SESSIONS ...... 7 BUDDIES 2.0 ...... 7 ABOUT MACCABI ...... 8 MACCABI’S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION ...... 8 MACCABI’S COMMITMENT TO THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, YOUNG AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE ..... 8 WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU ...... 9 EXPECTATIONS ...... 9 REQUIREMENTS ...... 9 WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS ...... 10 MACCABI’S MEMBER PROTECTION POLICIES (MPP) ...... 10 REVOLUTIONISESPORT ...... 11 DISABILITY AND INCLUSION IN SPORT ...... 12 BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION ...... 13 QUALITIES OF INCLUSIVE COACHING ...... 13 INCLUSIVE COACHING PRINCIPLES...... 14 CHANGE IT ...... 14 THE TREE MODEL ...... 14 THE BALANCING ACT ...... 15 CREATING AN INCLUSIVE CLUB ...... 16 PLAYING ROLES ...... 16 INTEGRATION...... 16 ALL ABILITIES TEAM ...... 17 PARTNERSHIP/COME’N’TRY ...... 17
Page | 2 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook CASE STUDIES ...... 17 NON PLAYING ROLES ...... 18 KEY POINTERS ...... 18 TIPS AND STRATEGIES ...... 19 COMMUNICATION ...... 19 MANAGING GROUPS ...... 20 HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS ...... 20 WHAT’S HIDING BEHIND ‘BAD BEHAVIOUR’ ...... 21 MELTDOWNS AND SHUTDOWNS ...... 21 FURTHER RESOURCES ...... 22 ONLINE TRAINING ...... 23
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ABOUT THIS RESOURCE IF YOU’RE A COACH OR VOLUNTEER WITH AN ALL ABILITIES PROGRAM… Welcome to the Handbook! This handbook aims to provide you with an overview of Maccabi All Abilities, and how you can get involved. We have also included resources on inclusive coaching, communication, managing behaviours and working with people with disabilities. There are plenty of resources available in this area – more than we can include in here – so we have included links to further articles, websites and training courses at the end of the handbook. Nevertheless, we hope that this handbook serves as a valuable resource for both continuing and new coaches.
IF YOU’RE A COACH, VOLUNTEER OR COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH A MAINSTREAM MACCABI CLUB… Welcome to the handbook! This handbook aims to provide you with an overview of how to create an inclusive sporting environment. We have also included resources on inclusive coaching, communication, managing behaviours and working with people with disabilities. There are plenty of resources available in this area – more than we can include in here – so we have included links to further articles, websites and training courses at the end of the handbook. Nevertheless, we hope that this handbook serves as a valuable resource to help you improve inclusivity in your club. Remember, if you have any questions or want to discuss any specific situations, we are always available to help.
Page | 4 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook ABOUT MACCABI ALL ABILITIES WHAT IS IT? Maccabi Victoria All Abilities aims to provide Jewish people with disabilities with greater opportunities to participate in sport and recreation. We strive to have as many people as possible regularly involved in inclusive and integrated sporting and active recreational opportunities. Our multi-faceted approach includes: • Regular sporting opportunities and events tailored to participants with a disability. • Supporting the mainstream Maccabi clubs to integrate All Abilities members through training as well as voluntary and coaching roles. • Working with community organisations to offer a wide range of activities and opportunities for people with a disability, which focus on both physical and mental wellbeing. • Club education and resources to empower the mainstream Maccabi clubs to promote inclusion and inclusive club practices. Sport is a great way for people to connect with their community, improve their health, build social ties and establish friendships and connections which will last a lifetime, and we strongly believe that everyone should have that opportunity, regardless of their ability.
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES BASKETBALL The Maccabi Dolphins meet weekly during term time. The session is run by 1-2 head coaches, plus additional volunteers. Training comprises of a warm up, drills and a social game at the end. The team also competes in All Abilities tournaments throughout the year.
SHMOOZE AND GROOVE Shmooze and Groove is the Maccabi All Abilities walking group. We are affiliated with the Heart Foundation Walking Group Program. The group is coordinated by at least 2 people, (one walking at the front of the group, one at the back). Meeting points are central to Caulfield, and paths are chosen with accessibility in mind. During winter, we book the Hub space at Manders Villas (when possible) so that if a walk cannot happen due to poor weather, members can catch up indoors.
BLOCK PROGRAMS Each term, we aim to run a 4-6 week block of a different program. These activities are run by a specialised coach/coaches, and give our members an opportunity to try a new sport, or build on skills they’ve developed in previous blocks. Programs have included dance, table tennis, self- defence, and fitness.
SPECIAL EVENTS We run a number of special events throughout the year. These programs are usually run in conjunction with another organisation, or another Maccabi club. Past activities have included going to an AFL game, sailing, cricket training, tenpin bowling, lawn bowls and a ski trip.
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BUDDY PROGRAM The Buddy program connects participants with buddies from the wider Maccabi Community with a shared interest in sports and recreation. The pair catch up regularly for the sport/active recreation activity of their choosing. The program is designed to give our members opportunities to get involved in sport and recreation, beyond what is offered by the regular activities.
COACHING AND VOLUNTEER ROLES We all know that community sport survives and thrives because of dedicated volunteers and enthusiastic coaches. Maccabi All Abilities supports members to not only participate in sport, but also get involved in non-playing aspects. Some members require a buddy / support person to assist them in their role, and others just require another coach or volunteer that they can refer back to with any questions.
COACHING Some members have undertaken additional coach training and work as coaches and assistant coaches with various sports. We support members by connecting them with clubs, and working with the club, the sporting body and the individual to determine the best way to upskill.
VOLUNTEERING Many of the All Abilities members are passionate about their sport and keen to get involved in as many ways as possible. Volunteer opportunities have ranged from one day events to ongoing involvement with a club.
CLUB INVOLVEMENT In addition to non-playing roles, members have also participated in mainstream Maccabi clubs as athletes. We encourage members to pursue their sport of choice, and we will work with the member and the club to facilitate the best path for participation.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Maccabi All Abilities connects with a range of organisations in order to stay up to date with industry advances, and be able to offer more valuable opportunities and pathways to members. Some of the organisations we partner with include: • Other Maccabi clubs and Maccabi Victoria and Australia • Disability-focused organisations in the Jewish community, such as Access Inc., Flying Fox, Jewish Care, UJEB Kulanu and Friendship Circle • Peak sporting bodies, such as state sporting associations, Vicsport and the Department of Sport and Recreation • Disability sport-focused bodies, such as Disability Sport and Recreation, Special Olympics Australia and AAA Play
Page | 6 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook ONLINE PROGRAMS Due to the impact of Covid-19 on community sport, we have had to expand our programs to include online activities. The primary goal of these programs is to try and minimise social isolation, and we strive to do this with a focus on movement and wellbeing. Online programs offer unique benefits (especially when we can’t meet as a group!) but also have their challenges as we are not there in person with our members, and not everyone is comfortable participating via Zoom.
GROUP SESSIONS Some sessions we run are larger group sessions. These are open to any of our members who want to join in. Sessions include basketball/fitness, yoga, dance and healthy living. It is important to have at least 2 people running the session, to ensure that you offer options, engage members, and are able to mute/unmute, let people in from the waiting room, and assist with any technical issues.
BUDDIES 2.0 Buddies 2.0 is a new initiative in which small groups will meet every week via Zoom. The groups will have up to 6 people in them (including 2 buddies). The group will meet at the same time each week. Member must book into a session and the groups stay the same each week. We will provide some suggestions for what you might do in your session, but it’s up to you as a group to decide. It's your session and each group will do different things. Some ideas are: doing a workout together, talking about walks you’ve been on, sharing healthy recipes, doing some breathing and mindfulness activities, having a dance party. As long as it’s about sport, health or wellbeing, we think it’s a great idea!
Page | 7 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook ABOUT MACCABI Maccabi Victoria aims to connect our community through sport, encouraging more people to participate in healthy physical activity and to adopt a positive lifestyle, to strengthen Jewish identity and continuity and make friends for life. Maccabi Australia is the largest Jewish grass-roots organisation in Australia, boasting a 90+-year heritage, 35,000 supporters and more than 6,000 members ranging in age from 5 to 85 years across over 50 clubs. Every week participating in a Maccabi team provides an opportunity for Jewish children to connect and form lifelong friendships. Our event calendar includes an annual Junior Sports Carnival, participation in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, interstate sport challenges and Maccabi regional events.
MACCABI’S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION Maccabi recognises that its members come from all backgrounds, abilities and identities. Our goal is to enable all members of the Jewish community to participate in sport and active recreation and we are committed to ensuring that Maccabi reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live. We are actively working towards ensuring that our staff, volunteers, board, clubs, programs and offerings are inclusive of everyone. At Maccabi, we are committed to promoting a safe, approachable and respectful culture where everyone feels welcome and accepted. We strive to inform, support and empower everyone in the Maccabi community in relation to diversity and inclusion issues. We are committed to ensuring our programs and activities consider the individual needs of participants and are appropriate to the level of development and skill; and working with clubs and individuals to identify adaptations and modifications to cater for individual needs. We agree to be honest and explain if certain modifications or adjustments are not currently feasible given the environments in which we operate. Our Code of Conduct also requires mutual respect and consideration from everyone involved in Maccabi, including athletes, coaches, team managers, committees, parents, spectators and volunteers. Discriminatory language or anti-social conduct is not tolerated in any form. Maccabi acknowledges that it has an opportunity to shape the culture of not only the organisation, but also the wider community, through its commitment to inclusion.
MACCABI’S COMMITMENT TO THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, YOUNG AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE Maccabi is committed to ensuring the safety of children, young people and vulnerable people throughout our organisation, by protecting the safety and wellbeing of all children and young and vulnerable people accessing Maccabi services, events and activities. This commitment is endorsed at the highest level and applies throughout all levels of our organisation. The policy applies to anyone under the age of 18, or anyone who is over 18 but is or may be unable to take care of themselves or is unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation by reason of age, illness, trauma or disability, or any other reason.
In accordance with its commitment to the safety of vulnerable people, Maccabi has developed an extensive child safety policy. Click here to see Maccabi’s full Children, Young and Vulnerable People Protection Policy
Page | 8 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU EXPECTATIONS Whether you are working with a member as a buddy, as a coach, or as someone assisting with involvement in a mainstream club, there are certain expectations to help everything run smoothly. You are expected to: • Treat participants with respect, dignity and integrity • Follow the Maccabi Member Protection Policy and Code of Conduct • Understand that your role is not that of a support worker, and you will not be responsible for the participant’s personal care • Be patient, and understand that everyone communicates and processes information differently • Provide honest and constructive feedback to the head coach and/or Maccabi All Abilities if you have any concerns or need additional support for a program or participant • Inform Maccabi of any incidents or near misses • Ensure that any communication with members is appropriate and relevant
REQUIREMENTS There are a few requirements for becoming a coach or volunteer with any Maccabi Club.
These include: • Completing the online Maccabi MPP (Member Protection Policy) training • Providing a valid Working With Children Check We also need • A completed RevolutioniseSPORT profile • An interview, a reference, and a discussion about what you’d like to get involved with! We also love it when our volunteers and coaches have: • Experience working with people with a disability (ideal but not essential – just be open minded and willing to learn!) • A love of sport • Good communication skills (more on that later) • First aid qualifications (ideal but not mandatory) • Coaching qualifications (may or may not be a requirement, depending on the sport and role) If you’re a buddy you also need: • To be over 18 • A current police check • 2 references (more information available in the buddy handbook)
Page | 9 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS The WWC is a screening process which assesses people who work / care for children. This check takes a detailed look at the applicant’s criminal history, professional conduct and compliance to health practitioner legislation to ensure that children are protected from individuals who could cause sexual or physical harm. Both children and individuals with disabilities, are considered a vulnerable group. As Victoria doesn’t have a check for working with vulnerable people, any findings indicating an inability to work with children can be extended to individuals with disabilities. Volunteer checks are free, and are valid for 5 years.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CHECK Visit http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ and click ‘apply for a check’. Make sure you list Maccabi (1/115 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield North 3161) when applying for your check. If you need more information click here. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CHECK Make sure you update your details and add Maccabi. Click here for information on how to add an organisation or update our address. IF YOU’RE A TEACHER If you’re a VIT registered teacher you don’t need to get a WWCC but you do need to complete a form stating that you will be conducting non-teaching child-related activities. Click here to access the teacher notification form.
MACCABI’S MEMBER PROTECTION POLICIES (MPP) Everyone involved in Maccabi as a coach, volunteer, board or staff members is required to complete the Maccabi online MPP (Member Protection Policy) training. This course aims to help you understand Maccabi’s approach to protecting its members, including children, young and vulnerable people, within the scope of your role at Maccabi. It takes about 45 minutes in total, however it can be done in smaller sections. The online system (LMS) also allows you to upload your Working With Children Check information. To access the course go to learning.maccabi.com.au To view the complete policy go to the Maccabi Australia website Click here for more information on logging in or setting up an account.
Page | 10 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook REVOLUTIONISESPORT RevolutioniseSPORT is the system which Maccabi All Abilities uses for member and personnel registration. It is important for everyone involved in the program to be registeres so that we have the relevant information in case of emergencies (and so they are covered by insurance). Setting up a revolutioniseSPORT account is quite simple. If you are already registered with another Maccabi club or program via revSPORT, we can easily add you to our program without you needing to register again. If you don’t have an account, we just need your full name, email address and date of birth to set up a profile for you. Click here for more information on setting up your profile on RevolutioniseSPORT.
Page | 11 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook DISABILITY AND INCLUSION IN SPORT Disability can often be misrepresented. It is important to recognise that disability is very much a spectrum. As a common saying in the disability education and advocacy sphere goes: “If you have met one person with a disability, you have met one person with a disability!” Indeed the requirement needs of individuals with a disability can vary considerably. Some individuals with a disability may have difficulty with physical accessibility, others with comprehension or language, others still a combination of physical and intellectual accessibility requirements. The heterogeneity of the disability community means that the adaptions required for each person with a disability to participate in sport can vary considerably. This means flexibility in coaching and planning are both vital.
Individuals with a disability can get involved in sport through a range of different ways. This includes:
Unfortunately there is a disparity between demand and supply for sporting opportunities for individuals with a disability.
Page | 12 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION So what is stopping people with a disability from getting active and involved in sport and recreation? There are numerous additional barriers to participation for people with a disability which include: • Limited sporting opportunities that meet the unique needs of the individual • Physical barriers (inadequate accessibility) • Financial barriers • Transport barriers • Limited support / lack of suitable and available support workers • Bullying or harassment
It is important for us as coaches and clubs to consider these barriers of entry. We must work to alleviate as many of these barriers as possible to make entry into sport easier for participants with a disability. This includes using a person centred-model, and working with participants to understand their unique needs and barriers. You might also find that some simple changes (such as varying your coaching style) will benefit many of your athletes.
QUALITIES OF INCLUSIVE COACHING The key qualities to ensure inclusive coaching include1: Patience: Realising that some participants may take longer to understand instructions or develop a skill. Respect: Treat participants as individuals, individuals with disabilities have the same insecurities and frustration as everyone. Be kind and considerate Communication: Is vital – just as the physical abilities of participants differ so too do their communication requirements. It is vital to ensure that your communication with participants caters to their understanding. Adaptability: Recognising that you likely will need to adapt drills for the varying needs of participants Planning: Having foresight to realise potential difficulties for participants and having contingency plans in place.
1 https://www.sportaus.gov.au/coaches_and_officials/coaches/coaching_specific_groups#inclusive_coaching Page | 13 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook INCLUSIVE COACHING PRINCIPLES There are many different ways to plan for inclusion. Here are a few different models and things to consider when working with people with disabilities.
CHANGE IT The Australian Government and AIS recommend considering the CHANGE IT acronym2:
Coaching style. How can you use demonstrations, questions and verbal instructions to clearly communicate tasks? Are you coaching in a positive way? Are you challenging participants?
How can the team score or win? Is there a numeric goal for the activity? Is this goal challenging but achievable? Does this drill need to be competitive?
Area. Is the physical environment safe and accessible to all players?
Number of participants involved. Is there enough coaches/volunteers to adequately support all players? Are all players getting involved?
Game rules. Have they been communicated in clear simple language?
Equipment. Does it need to be adapted to physical needs of participants? Does everyone have the needed equipment?
Inclusion. Are the tasks accessible for everyone? Do you need to adapt the tasks to meet the unique needs of participants?
Time. How long will this activity go for? Are participants getting bored or distracted? Try and keep it nice and short to get the most out of participants.
THE TREE MODEL The TREE Model provides four things to think about when planning and running inclusive training sessions. The tree model involves the following3:
Teaching style. Communicating in the best way to support participants and allow for their success/ esnuring that instructions are delivered in a clear, simple way.
Rules. Trying to build up skills. Starting simple and building up games and competition to incorporate more complex skills with time.
Equipment. Ensuring every participant has the needed equipment. Where needed, that equipment is adapted to suit participants’ needs.
Environment. Creating a positive culture and team atmosphere. Making use of the space, looking to use different zones, heights and positions to perform different activities.
2 https://www.sportaus.gov.au/coaches_and_officials/coaches/coaching_specific_groups#inclusive_coaching 3 https://www.sportaus.gov.au/sports_ability/using_tree Page | 14 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook THE BALANCING ACT As a coach it is vital to find the sweet spot between maximising every individual’s involvement and maintaining the essence of the sport. This can prove quite difficult at times, yet it is important to not oversimplify activities to provide participants with a tokenistic involvement. To achieve this balance it important to emphasise fundamental skills in drills – for instance passing in basketball and recognise that the requirements between participants may be different. One participant may be proficient in passing while another struggles. Providing different, unique targets or rules to challenge participants may be needed. Being flexible and providing multiple options also promotes inclusion. For example in yoga providing both standing and sitting options caters for varying balance requirements. In this way the essence of yoga is maintained and everyone can still be involved. Altering games or skills entirely such that they no longer represent the initial game should be avoided.
Page | 15 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook CREATING AN INCLUSIVE CLUB Initially the thought of creating an inclusive club can be overwhelming. The notion of creating an inclusive club may trigger the understanding that fundamental shifts in coaching, equipment and culture are required. However creating an inclusive club starts with small actions which make appreciable difference. Play By the Rules have developed the 7 Pillars of Inclusion resource which provide clubs with a clear and actionable framework to promote inclusion in their clubs.
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Remember, there are many ways to get individuals with a disability involved in your club.
PLAYING ROLES INTEGRATION Individuals with a disability can be involved in your club by being a member. Often a participant may be eager to get involved in the club but requires some extra support. It is important to meet with the individual (and family / support person if appropriate) and understand their unique requirements. It is worth writing down what the player hopes to gain from playing and what you as a club can realistically offer them. The coach should be included in these conversations if possible to ensure that everyone is on the same page. It is worth discussing with the participant and family if extra support is required. Some athletes may require a support worker, some may need a buddy within the team who can ‘show them the ropes’, and some may benefit from the team having an additional coach who can assist them if needed. It’s important to ensure that the new participant feels included and understands what is happening during training.
4 https://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/inclusion-and-diversity/inclusion-and-diversity-what-can-you-do Page | 16 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook ALL ABILITIES TEAM Another option is the creation of an All Abilities team. This option may be suitable if there are many participants with a disability interested in the same sport but for whatever reason don’t want to be a part of the a mainstream team. They may prefer modified rules, or may simply want the opportunity to play non-competitively. Setting up a separate team requires a number of coaches and volunteers. As the unique needs of participants can be quite different, keeping groups small and with a high ratio of staff and volunteers is recommended. This team could be run entirely by the club or in partnership with Maccabi All Abilities. It is worth noting that the program doesn’t have to be branded as ‘All Abilities’. Your club may want to start a social / non competitive program that is welcoming to athletes of all ages, genders and abilities.
PARTNERSHIP/COME’N’TRY A great way to give All Abilities participants a taste of your sport is through a partnership with Maccabi All Abilities. This may involve a single come ‘n’ try event or a block of 4-6 weeks of trying your sport. Such events provide participants with an entry into your sport which they can then pursue further if they enjoy it. It also gives your club members the opportunity to understand what the All Abilities program is about.
CASE STUDIES The Maccabi Dolphins Maccabi All Abilities itself started with a single All Abilities team – the Maccabi Dolphins. The Dolphins is a basketball team which has been running since 2005! The Dolphins provides players with a chance to practice their basketball skills and stay fit but also to socialise with friends and create social connections. The Dolphins has run successfully due to the support of Head Coaches who bring patience, understanding and passion to the weekly training sessions. Further, volunteers (often young adults who have themselves been involved in Maccabi Basketball) provide the extra help needed to ensure training runs smoothly. Every week sees about 12 players practice their skills with 2 head coaches , 3 volunteers and support workers for participants who need one on one support. The consistency of players, coaches, volunteers and support workers who turn up has created a great team atmosphere and community. This feeling comes to life at the end of year celebration dinners were the team gets together to look back on another great year of training!
Maccabi / AJAX Cricket Club Late 2019 the Maccabi Cricket Club got into contact with us at Maccabi All Abilities – they wanted to engage All Abilities participants. Together we sat down and organised a come ‘n’ try event, with the training run by Cricket Victoria and the follow-up barbeque run by the club. The senior men’s cricket team participated in the session alongside the All Abilities members. Both the participants and club enjoyed the session a lot – one member asked immediately if he could come back to club Page | 17 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook training sessions, and before the 2019/20 session finished the Cricket Club had invited All Abilities members back for another training session which was very well-received.
NON PLAYING ROLES There are many benefits to having someone with a disability involved in your club in a volunteer, coach or other non-playing capacity. • Work with people whose skills are typically underutilised • Tap into a group of people who love their sport and are keen to help • Everyone benefits from exposure to diversity and a range of lived experiences • Provide an opportunity for networking • Help combat social isolation • Give people an opportunity to connect and contribute to their community in a meaningful way • Develop the skills of volunteers and others involved in the club • Engage people who often face barriers to employment and participation • Increase your club’s disability awareness and education • Create a more inclusive club • Build a reputation based on accessibility and inclusivity
KEY POINTERS • Athletes with a disability may also want to train with the team, but may prefer to take on different roles during competition. If someone is joining your team but doesn’t want to play on game day, find out how you can keep them involved as part of the team. • Treat your All Abilities volunteers and coaches like any other personnel – provide them with uniforms, include them in training opportunities and give them responsibility. • Make sure you are providing valued work to do, don’t just create meaningless jobs. Ask yourself ‘is this something we would need someone else to do if this person wasn’t here?’. • Get an understanding of what the person’s interests and abilities are and be open minded about what a role might entail. You might find you have 3 volunteers doing work which was previously done by 2, or you might find that it works the other way around! • Make sure there is a clear point of contact from the club who will be on site at the same time as the volunteer and can answer any questions. • Reinforce instructions in various ways. This might include illustrated checklists, or even recording voice memos of what needs doing. Find out what works best for your volunteer. • Some people with a disability may have barriers to participation with regards to transport. If possible, see if any other coaches or senior players can assist.
Page | 18 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook TIPS AND STRATEGIES COMMUNICATION Some people with a disability have communication difficulties. They may take longer to process information, they may struggle to retain information in their working memory, or they may not be able to clearly understand tone and non-verbal cues. It is important to be mindful of the fact that not everyone understands speech and body language the same way, so it is important to have clear communication strategies in place. Some useful tips are: • Be specific, clear and direct • Be patient – provide time for comprehension and for the individual to formulate a response. Allow at least 6 seconds for processing. • Speak to a person with a disability as you would to any other person. Use age appropriate language. • Speak directly to the person with a disability. • Use person first language e.g. an person with a disability rather than disabled person. The idea is to avoid marginalisation or dehumanisation by first emphasising the person rather than the diagnosis. • The exception to the above – listen to how people introduce themselves. If someone identifies as ‘an autistic person’ as opposed to ‘a person with autism’ then respect that. • Make sure you have the individual’s attention before you start talking. • Understand that people can be paying attention to you, even if they are not maintaining eye contact. • Provide visual options where possible (demonstrations or illustrations) to assist with comprehension. • Some people have a very literal understanding of language; be mindful of avoiding sarcasm, idioms and other potentially confusing elements of speech. • If someone is non-verbal or has limited verbal communication skills, pay attention to how they communicate. It may be through body language, gestures, sounds etc. • People may use echolalia (echoing phrases from other people or from TV/movies) to help them communicate where they’re not sure what to say or are biding time to allow more processing time. • Some people may have restricted or specific interests. Try to use these to your advantage and shape the training around these interests where possible. • Check for understanding. If someone is unsure, reword or demonstrate. • Don’t make promises you can’t keep. • Follow through with rewards. • Break the instructions into chunks – don’t give all the instructions at once. • If someone is struggling with instructions, ask them to help demonstrate as they may learn better from going through the motions. • If your sport has specific language, create a word board/resource that members can review at home.
Page | 19 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook MANAGING GROUPS • Use names to get attention. • Don’t force participation. • Change your definition of successful participation – it may not be full participation and interaction for every person. • Where possible, divide into smaller groups with a coach or volunteer with each group. • Be adaptable. • Have a consistent structure (though the activities don’t have to be the same each time). • Encourage everyone to contribute. • Ensure everyone has clear roles. • Set rules early and reinforce them. • Don’t force interaction between participants. • Be firm but fair. • Teach people how to lose, don’t just focus on how to win. • Make sure the rules are consistent for the whole group.
HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS There’s no ‘one size fits all’ model for handling difficult situations and challenging behaviours, but here are some strategies and tips which may assist. • Always look after your own safety first. • If a member is asking you questions which make you uncomfortable, stop the conversation. Be clear and firm t hat you don't think this is the appropriate place to discuss it, or that you are not the right person to be discussing it with. • Protect the safety and dignity of everyone involved. • Be patient. • If rewards have been earned, don’t take them away for bad behaviour. • Give the participant 2 choices, and make the one you want more desirable. This way you’re giving them control over the situation. E.g. if you want someone to join in a basketball drill, you might give them the choice to practice shooting for 5 minutes or do 20 laps of the court. • Consider the participant’s perspective – do they understand that the behaviour is inappropriate? Is it something they can control? • Log any incidents with the Maccabi All Abilities staff. If you have any doubts, get in touch. • Never promise that you will keep incidents or disclosures a secret; explain that you may have to tell other people in order to keep them safe.
Page | 20 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook WHAT’S HIDING BEHIND ‘BAD BEHAVIOUR’ As mentioned, there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to working with people with a disability. Sometimes anxiety, or an inability to express oneself can lead someone to behave in a way that we may see as challenging, difficult or harmful. When you see someone ‘acting out’, it’s important to think about what might be behind it. (adapted from a coaching webinar from Special Olympics Australia)
What we see What it might mean Sensitive, sulking, needy, overly empathetic Lack of self-regulation, worried about new things, may have an inner fear they can’t verbalise Angry, yelling, destructive, shutting down, Don’t have appropriate coping strategies, saying things like ‘you’re not the boss of me’ anxiety can appear as anger, may be worried about unknown feelings, may not have suitable coping strategies Perfectionist, nervous about breaking rules, Thrives on doing things the right way, struggles scared of getting things wrong, struggles with with negative thought patterns, needs help to criticism connect thoughts and actions, has trouble verbalising concerns Shy, hides, scared of new people, doesn’t like Unable to verbalise worries or fears, doesn’t new places, may struggle with personal space like being out of control, doesn’t cope well with (staying far away) the unknown Over excited, hyper, says inappropriate things, No understanding of theory of mind, no social can’t keep still, struggling with personal space, understanding, need to release nervous energy, limited self-control, rough play seeking tactile or sensory stimulation
MELTDOWNS AND SHUTDOWNS • Meltdowns and shutdowns occur when the brain is overloaded by sensory input. • Shutdowns are more internal – they may be non-responsive, may lie down, be very quiet • Meltdowns are more external. They are a way for a person to try and regulate their emotions when they can’t access rational coping skills. • When someone is having a meltdown or shutdown their brain can’t take on any more information; speaking to and touching just gives them more to process. • They may also be more suceptible to feeling others emotions highly (excessive empathy). • The most important thing is to stay calm and make sure they’re in a safe place. Give strategies for ‘next time’ when they’re not in the meltdown phase and ensure that they understand that it’s okay to need to utilise these strategies and there will be no consequence. Establish rules around someone needing a time out (or other behaviour management strategy). These rules may include – needing to let a coach know they are having a time out, letting a coach know when they are back, not leaving the building / training space without another person, and most importantly – there is no punishment or consequence for needing one.
Page | 21 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook FURTHER RESOURCES On an overview of disability in Australia https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/summary On a guide to disability in Australia https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia-in- brief/contents/about-people-with-disability-in-australia-in-brief On Autism https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/about-autism/what-is-autism https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/autism-dispelling-the-myths On Down Syndrome https://www.downsyndrome.org.au/about-down-syndrome/ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/down-syndrome Be Prepared! Disability and sport resource https://www.disability-resource.org.au/kit.pdf Play By the Rules https://www.playbytherules.net.au Disability Sports Australia https://www.sports.org.au Inclusive Sport Toolkit https://www.sportaus.gov.au/participation/inclusive_sport/toolkit Safe, fair and inclusive case studies https://www.playbytherules.net.au/resources/case-studies Communicating with people with disabilities https://www.sportaus.gov.au/participation/inclusive_sport/toolkit/communication https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/community/communicating https://www.and.org.au/pages/etiquette.html
DISABILITY, VOLUNTEERING AND EMPLOYMENT Creating volunteer opportunities for PWD http://www.inclusion.melbourne/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Include-Me-20pp-booklet- colourlow-res.pdf Why you should hire PWD https://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-steinbrecher/dancing-barista- demonstra_b_9524224.html
Page | 22 current at July 2020 Maccabi All Abilities Coach Handbook Attracting, retaining and empowering volunteers https://sportscommunity.com.au/club-member-category/attracting-retaining-and-empowering- volunteers/ Better Transitions – a guide for disability employment service providers http://www.daru.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/better-transitions-guide-final-9-june- 2015.pdf
ONLINE TRAINING Inclusive training online course https://www.playbytherules.net.au/online-courses/inclusive-coaching Interactive scenario training- Disability Inclusion in Sport https://www.playbytherules.net.au/resources/interactive-scenarios/inclusion-of-people-with- disability Special Olympics Inclusive Coaching and Autism Coaching Courses https://soalearn.com.au/ Intellectual Disability and Mental Health http://www.idhealtheducation.edu.au/
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