Contact: Nolan Taylor Training and Competition Coordinator Special Olympics Montana PO BOX 3507 710 1st Ave N Great Falls, MT  59403 406-216-5327 x 114 800-242-6876 (In MT Only) ntaylor@somt.org

Hello Coaches and Volunteers,

Boy have we got a treat for you…the 2010 SOMT Coaches Clinic is going to be a great one!

We are offering 18 clinics over the course of 2 days.  I have worked hard and am proud to bring you the most qualified clinicians I can imagine ranging from a USA Olympic Trials Track and Field athlete, to coaches of high school championship teams.  A collegiate level strength and conditioning coach, Special Olympics national coaches, Montana’s USATF Officiating chair, a kayak technique guru and expedition paddler, and many lifetime students of sports rounding out our arsenal of extremely qualified clinicians.  I can honestly say that I would personally love to attend everyone of these sessions as there is going to be so much to learn over the 2 days of clinics.  In almost every sport we have clinicians certified by the national governing body of that sport!  Ultimately, better clinicians means better coaches, which directly effects the level of competition our athletes get to enjoy and also raises the bar towards coaching excellence.

The clinicians chosen are amazingly technically sound and true masters of their sport, however, some of them are new to our population.  I am expecting some fun dialog between the coaches and the clinicians.  I have instructed all of the clinicians to teach their sports strategies, rules, training principles, techniques, and physiological progressions to the best of their ability.  In most cases, they will teach you high level tactics and methods and you get to take home and apply what you choose.

Thank you for your dedication to your athletes, it shows in your participation in clinics such as these.  It will be a busy couple of days and I hope you leave with your head spinning with ideas on how to put to work some of the methods, strategies, and principles you learned at the clinics. 

Thank you again, for the work you do and for being part of the 2010 SOMT Coaches Clinic.

Now for the good stuff…here are some of the logistical details that I know will be asked:

Registration: 

Attached on this email is our registration form.  Because of the logistics of offering roughly 20 clinics in 2 days, we must limit the size of the 2010 SOMT Coaches Clinic to the first 100 registrations we receive back at the state office.  I can allow roughly 20 participants into each clinic and the slots will filled on a first come first served basis.  Please complete this and have it back to me ON OR BEFORE JULY 7.  Please be aware that I will not be accepting any 2010 SOMT Coaching Clinic Registration Forms after July 7^th or after the first 100 coaches register.  You can email, fax, or snail mail it back to me!  If a clinic you were hoping to attend is already full, you will be notified by phone.

Athletic Gear: 

You bet we plan on making you sweat and work!  What would a coaches clinic be without getting in the mix and learn by doing.  For which ever sessions you plan on attending, please bring appropriate athletic clothing.  Running shoes, swimsuits, shorts, etc.  Some specialized athletic gear will be provided (examples are golf clubs, horseshoes, floor hockey gear, soccer balls, basketballs and bocce equipment) however kayaking is BYOB – Bring your Own Boat.  SOMT owns 10 kayaks which will be at the clinic, however, they will have to be shared by a few participants, so if you plan to be part of this clinic and want to be in the water non-stop, please plan on bringing your own or renting one when you get to Great Falls.  If you need kayak rental info from a couple gear shops in GF, give me a call. 

Lodging:

Once again, we have reserved rooms at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB).  These cottages can hold up to 43 individuals and have two dayrooms and a kitchenette.  The rooms are typical dorm style living, they do not have private bathrooms, or A/C.  Each room will house two coaches, so let us know if you have a roommate preference.   MSDB will provide sheets. 

In order to be added to the MSDB lodging list you must call Nolan Taylor by phone and reserve your space, unfortunately no emails or notes on registration will secure your room, please call.  Please call early to reserve your spot as this is first come first served.   Only individuals actually taking training will be given rooms at MSDB (no family, friends, etc.). There is a 20$ per person charge total for the 3 nights lodging at MSDB which covers Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night.  The 20$ will be collected at the check-in on Thursday night at MSDB

Participants are more than welcome to also stay at local hotels and motels at their expense. A list of negotiated special rates is attached.

Food: 

Continental style breakfast will be provided for all coaches whether you stay at MSDB or not.  Please mark on your Registration Form if you will be eating breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  I will only purchase enough food to feed the folks who RSVP on the Registration Form. 

Lunches will be delivered to all registered clinic participants who choose to receive a SOMT prepared sack lunch.  Lunches will be delivered to the AM venue by 11AM on both days.  Please do not expect to pick up your lunch at the PM venue as there will be none there, they are only being delivered to the AM venue.  Sack lunches will consist of a sandwich, bag of chips, fruit, and water.  Please mark on the Registration Form if you desire a lunch and if your lunch needs to be vegetarian.

Dinners will be on your own.

Costs: 

MSDB lodging costs 20$ for the entire 3 nights.  Payment is due upon check-in at MSDB Thursday night. 

First–Aid/CPR has a 5$ charge for the CPR card payable to the clinician.

If you choose to become at USATF certified official, there are additional USATF charges.  Anyone interested in taking this clinic and becoming a USATF Certified Official, please call me and I will talk you through the details and costs associated with this specific clinic.

Unless otherwise noted, all other clinics and food are free of charge.

Typical Daily Flow: 

Please look at the attached schedule.  Typical schedule looks like this:

6:30AM-7:30AM – Breakfast at MSDB

8AM-12PM – AM Clinic

12PM-1PM – Off for lunch

1PM-5PM – PM Clinic

Please notice on the schedule the general session on Thursday night and the all-comers track meet on Friday night.

Things to do in GF:

Some people will choose to come to Great Falls for 1 clinic and some people will choose to take 4 clinics. 

In your down time, remember, the Montana State Fair is going on the same days as the Coaches Clinic and well into the evening on Thursday and Friday night. 

The Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox Pioneer League farm team) are scheduled for home games for the duration of the Coaches Clinic dates, and it’s always fun going to a minor league game!

There are also tons of trails and parks.  If shopping is more your thing, Great falls may have what you are looking for. 

I want this to be a good time for everyone, so if you have any types of “What should we do tonight?” questions, please don’t hesitate to call. 

Please download these documents associated with the 2010 Coaches Clinic and email, fax or mail them to me at the address below.

Download Registration Form - Due July 7
Download Coaches Clinic Clinic Schedule
Download Alternate Lodging List
Download This Letter to Share
Googles Maps to Venues

Also, spread the word about the clinic; make sure all the coaches, LPCs, and volunteers you know know about the training opportunities available to them.  An email has been sent to all the coaches, LPCs, and volunteers that we have an email address for in our database, but regrettably, some are sure to be missed.

Run long and strong,

Nolan Taylor

Training and Competition Coordinator

Special Olympics Montana

PO BOX 3507

710 1st Ave N

Great Falls, MT  59403

406-216-5327 x 114

800-242-6876 (In MT Only)

ntaylor@somt.org

www.somt.org