Teaching Football Skills Mental Preparation and Training Home Training Program 1. If athletes only train once a week with their coaches and do no training on their own, progress will be very limited. A minimum of three training sessions are needed to facilitate a training effect. The Home Training Program for Football is designed to help facilitate basic sport skills and fitness activities between athletes and families or friends. The program can also be used as a basis for a Special Olympics Partners Club program. The Home Training Program can be used in homes, schools, group homes and parks and recreation program. An Athlete Handbook/Home Training Guide can be downloaded from the Special Olympics Web site to assist coaches in integrating home training into their season and help athletes and families with ideas on how to practice between practices! Nothing improves the athlete’s sport ability like playing! Parents/guardians can challenge the athlete to family competitions for additional practice or just for social outings. To be effective, coaches should run a home training orientation for family members and/or training partners. This should be an active session where partners get practical experience with the different activities. As a motivational tool, a coach may want to award a Certificate of Achievement to athletes and training partners who complete a set number of home training sessions during the season. 2. 3. 4. 5. 122 Special Olympics Football Coaching Guide Created: February 2004