For Special Olympic athletes, sports give a sense of identity, a sense of belonging in a community, a sense of purpose and an opportunity to increase confidence.
Behind those athletes are volunteers that make it all possible. Meet Sandra McDougall, who has been coaching Special Olympics for more than 10 years and in 2022, was awarded the Special Olympics Canada Coach of the Year.
McDougall coaches basketball, soccer, and coached floor hockey, and recently started coaching pickleball as well. She initially became involved alongside her daughter Tyler McDougall and son Braylen McDougall, and they continue to coach together.
“Our family has coached together for close to 15 years and has learned so much from each other and our athletes,” Sandra says proudly. Over the years, she has watched the athletes thrive. Her all-women national soccer team recently placed third at the National Summer Games in Medicine Hat in August. “It’s the highlight of their lives,” she adds.
“I have honestly stayed awake at night worrying about how best to coach certain skills as our athletes have a very diverse skill set. I have such an amazing, dedicated group of volunteers that has helped me out for years. I am all about inclusion,” says McDougall. She coaches athletes ranging in age from seven to their 70s. For McDougall, being part of a team is about more than learning a sport. It is about giving athletes an opportunity to participate and find their place within a community.
Over the years, she has also seen a new generation of players come through the program, bringing new athletes into the Special Olympics community.
Travelling with athletes is a significant part of McDougall’s role. One of those experiences took her and her athletes to Whitehorse, Yukon, where her soccer team travelled to compete in a Special Olympics Yukon Soccer tournament.
The trip gave the athletes an opportunity to travel, compete and experience something outside their usual horizon.
Our Women’s National Soccer Team that placed Bronze this summer at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Medicine Hat
Apart from coaching teams for nationals and training athletes to reach their goals, McDougall also volunteers at the RFDA, Challenger Baseball and Roots Community Food Centre. She is also guest speaker at Confederation College in the Developmental Service Worker and the C.I.C.E program. Her work in the community has grown alongside the Special Olympics program itself.
For McDougall, helping athletes reach their goals is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching. If she could leave her job and money was not an issue, “That’s what I would do full time,” she says. We have a strong school program run by Keith Nutley and Yoli Figueroa. We often can see more than 180 athletes for our Sports days held at Lakehead University throughout the school year. “Lots of caregivers and parents do not know about Special Olympics,” she says. “We try our best to put it out there, and we bring all the athletes in for the school programs to try and promote Special Olympics. The game is also about creating friendships,” McDougall says.
She reminisces about an athlete who was nervous to enter the building on his first day of soccer. He went back outside crying. The next week, he entered the building. Another practice, he watched the game from the sidelines, and on another day, he touched the turf, and on the last practice he joined the field. “Those accomplishments are as important to me as a coach as a team qualifying for National or World Games.” the coach says. Years later, this athlete competes in soccer, basketball and bowling and has become a wonderful leader within our community. McDougall has seen how those small steps can eventually lead to major changes and victories. Remembering those moments brings tears to McDougall’s eyes.
For some players, progress happens one step at a time. The game field can bring a lot of sensory stimulation, and athletes may need to become comfortable with the pitch, light, and sound before they are able to play comfortably.
Through more than a decade of coaching, “I have learned more from athletes than I can teach them,” she notes.
Outside of coaching and her community work, McDougall enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping and playing tennis. “Giving back to the community is so important,” she says, and the achievements of her athletes, along with the happiness she brings to athletes and their families, show exactly what being part of the community means to her.
