Category: Coach
The Athlete & Coach Bond
by Christian Bood In the pool of life, everyone deserves a support system to keep them afloat. Someone to guide us through the water when situations get tough or simply cheer us on when we are splashing past the competition. Special Olympics Athlete Christina Principe and Coach Leslie Runnelstover have a unique bond that began ...
Volunteer Week: A Passion for Basketball Leads to Lifelong Friends
By Rachel Bialkin The pandemic has suspended many things in our lives, but one thing it couldn’t stop is Scott Norton’s passion for Special Olympics, his love for the athletes he coaches, and his determination. Since 1999, Scott Norton has volunteered as a basketball coach for Special Olympics Southern California in the Santa Clarita area. ...
INSIDE SOSC: Joyce Wittal Keeps Team Active Through Pandemic
By Zane Landin Special Olympics coaches not only teach athletes how to play their respective sports and improve, but they play an active role in the athletes’ lives. Some coaches go above and beyond in their roles, exemplifying servitude and passion. Joyce Wittal is one example of an extraordinary coach who has demonstrated admirable qualities ...
National Volunteer Week: In the Coaches’ Words
Special Olympics Southern California coaches express what they enjoy about the role, find most rewarding, and more.
2020 Floor Hockey Championship Recap
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Special Olympics Southern California's Floor Hockey Championship had inspiration from start to finish Saturday at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The event featured 15 teams and 240 athletes, with teams split into the Pacific, Central, Metropolitan and Atlantic divisions. Teams played games in the morning before being seeded based on record in the ...
2020 Floor Hockey Coach of the Season
Jaime Rutiaga was presented with the Special Olympics Southern California Floor Hockey Coach of the Season award Saturday during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2020 Floor Hockey Championship event at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield. A coach in the Santa Barbara County region for more than 13 years, Jaime puts his athletes first and ...
Special Olympics Lakewood Honored by City Council
Special Olympics athletes and organizers in Lakewood have made a tremendous impact, and the City of Lakewood took notice. In celebration of the city’s 65th anniversary, Special Olympics Lakewood was among the nonprofit programs honored as the City Council named “Lakewood Volunteer Civic Organizations in Service to the Community” its newest Legends of Lakewood. The ...
INSIDE SOSC: Competition Breeds Friendly Rivalries
Special Olympics Southern California competitions throughout the year often lead to familiarity among the teams. Think about it: Year-round sports, often featuring the similar groups of athletes in each region, create a bond over time. A case can be made that it's no more apparent than in the winter floor hockey season. Nine teams featuring ...
From Student to Mentor
Mike Dyer wants to help Special Olympics Southern California athletes reach the same thrills he experienced during his time as an athlete. A right shoulder injury in 2018 and a pair of surgeries may have cut his time on the basketball court short, but Mike had a plan in place years prior to transition into ...
SOSC Coach Teaches ‘The L.A. Way’
By Ryan Lefever In the city of angels, there’s one thing that’s making a difference in a special way. Cristian Ortiz, 39, is the head coach for the LAFC Special Olympics team and the L.A. Galaxy Unified soccer team. He has coached with Special Olympics for six years, and he also is an adaptive physical ...