From 26–28 January 2026, Special Olympics Malaysia successfully conducted the Gallagher Coaching Workshop at Days Hotel & Suites by Wyndham, Kuala Lumpur, bringing together a group of passionate new coaches eager to learn and grow within the Special Olympics movement.
Organised by Special Olympics Malaysia, the workshop aimed to equip new coaches with proper coaching techniques, while introducing them to Special Olympics, our values, and the work we do to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.
- An overview of Special Olympics and our mission
- What coaching means in the Special Olympics context
- How to plan effective lesson plans
- What makes a good coach, both on and off the field
- The sessions focused on general coaching principles, making the workshop multi-sport and suitable for coaches across different sports.
A key highlight of the workshop was its strong emphasis on hands-on learning. Coaches worked together to:
- Plan and execute lesson plans
Participate in practical coaching activities
Share experiences, ideas, and challenges with one another
With 13 new coaches in attendance, the Gallagher Coaching Workshop provided a supportive and engaging space for learning, discussion, and collaboration. By investing in coach education, Special Olympics Malaysia continues to strengthen its coaching network and ensure athletes receive safe, inclusive, and quality training experiences.
Special Olympics Malaysia extends its appreciation to Gallagher for their support in making this workshop possible, and we look forward to seeing these coaches apply their skills within their respective programmes and communities.
As June Lew Wan Ling, swimming coach from SO Penang, shared:
“I joined the workshop out of personal interest, as I see that this community needs a lot more support and awareness. I hope to help spread awareness within our local community, and eventually across the whole state. I have always made an effort to educate my non-ID students about inclusion and understanding. I would like to start our own swimming team in SO Penang, and through this workshop, we now have a clearer idea of how to begin and how to build the programme step by step.”
Low Mei Sun, Basketball Coach, SO Melaka:
“I learned a lot from this workshop, even though I have been coaching for some time. Through the sharing sessions, I realised that there were many fundamental techniques I had missed, especially in basketball, which I am coaching this whole time. I have always conducted training in my own way and rarely changed my approach. This workshop helped me reflect on that, and I now have ideas on how to improve my lesson plans so that we can train athletes more effectively, while also creating opportunities for new athletes to join and grow.”
Arni Juliana Binti Shamhudi, Bocce Coach, SO Putrajaya:
“From my experience as an assistant coach, I was familiar with the basics of sports. Through this workshop, I learned that being a coach requires structure. While I often had a plan, I realised that my execution needed improvement. The knowledge gained from this workshop goes beyond sports. It is applicable to everyday life, and I hope to pass these lessons on to the wider community.”
