GREAT BAY--Coaches, trainers, sports officials, volunteers and healthcare professionals in St. Maarten are being encouraged to register for five specialized sports training courses scheduled for November 14 and 15, 2026, as preparations continue for the Special Olympics Kingdom Games 2027, which will be hosted in St. Maarten. The courses will focus on strengthening local coaching capacity, promoting inclusion in sports and equipping participants with the skills needed to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The Special Olympics Kingdom Games 2027 Organizing Committee is coordinating the initiative in collaboration with Special Olympics St. Maarten, Special Olympics Netherlands, the St. Maarten Sports Federation (SMSF), the National Sports Institute (NSI), the Department of Sports and Thinc Ahead.
The training program will feature five sports disciplines: athletics, soccer 7v7, unified softball, swimming and bocce. The courses are being delivered through cooperation between Royal Dutch sports federations and their local counterparts, bringing international coaching expertise to St. Maarten as the country prepares to welcome participants for the Kingdom Games.
The athletics course will be delivered by Atletiekunie, the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation, together with the National Athletics Federation. Instruction will be provided by Fynn van Buuren, a former Paralympic National Head Coach.
The athletics training will introduce participants to the fundamental principles and practical skills required to coach athletes with intellectual disabilities. Through classroom instruction and practical activities, participants will explore athletics rules, coaching techniques and training methods.
The program also includes a workshop titled "Playing Sports Together," designed to encourage sports clubs to become more inclusive and create opportunities for people with and without disabilities to participate in sporting activities.
The workshop will examine practical ways to remove barriers to participation, adapt sports activities to different needs and strengthen cooperation between sports clubs and healthcare and rehabilitation professionals.
The athletics course has a minimum requirement of four coaches and can accommodate a maximum of 20 participants.
The swimming course will be conducted by KNZB, the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation, in cooperation with the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation. Instructor Petra van Rooijen will lead the Swimming Trainer/Coach Level 1 and Timekeeping course.
This module is specifically designed to prepare swimming trainers and coaches to support athletes with intellectual disabilities, while also providing instruction in timekeeping.
The swimming program begins on Saturday, November 14, with an introduction to the Special Olympics Kingdom Games, the Special Olympics Head Coach course, the "Playing Sports Together" workshop and the Special Olympics approach to inclusive sports.
Participants will then engage in classroom sessions covering swimming coaching and timekeeping. On Sunday, November 15, the program continues with classroom instruction, questions and answers, and practical training in the swimming pool, followed by a certificate ceremony.
The swimming course requires a minimum of 10 coaches and is limited to 20 participants.
The remaining courses include soccer 7v7, delivered in cooperation with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and the St. Maarten Football Federation; unified softball, supported by the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) and the St. Maarten Baseball and Softball Federation; and bocce.
Organizers emphasized that the training is not limited to established coaches. Sports officials, volunteers, healthcare professionals and individuals interested in supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities are also encouraged to participate.
The courses are intended to strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of local sports organizations while encouraging a more inclusive sporting environment in St. Maarten. Participants will have opportunities to exchange experiences, explore new coaching approaches and learn how sports activities can be adapted to accommodate athletes with different abilities.
Every participant who completes a module will receive a certificate of participation issued by the respective Dutch sports federation.
The training represents another step in preparations for the Special Olympics Kingdom Games 2027, with organizers seeking to ensure that St. Maarten has a stronger network of trained coaches, officials and volunteers capable of supporting inclusive sporting activities before, during and beyond the Games.
Registration closes on November 3, 2026. Interested participants must register through the official Special Olympics Kingdom Games website. Spaces are limited, and coaches and sports organizations are encouraged to register early.
Registration:www.sokingdomgames.com/coaches-trainers-courses/
