Athletic and Recreation Coach

Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW)
Department: Operations
Reports To: Club Experience Director
Dotted-Line Reporting: Regional Athletic Director
Employment Type: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: Assigned BGCGW Clubhouse

POSITION SUMMARY

The Athletic & Recreation Coach is responsible for planning, organizing, and leading high-quality athletic, fitness, and recreation programs for children and teens participating in Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington programs. The Coach creates a positive, safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate environment that promotes physical fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, discipline, confidence, and healthy lifestyles.

The Athletic & Recreation Coach serves as a positive role model and uses sports and recreation as vehicles to support character development, social-emotional growth, positive decision-making, leadership, academic success, and overall well-being.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Athletic & Recreation Program Development

• Plan, organize, and lead athletic practices, games, tournaments, clinics, fitness activities, and structured recreation sessions.
• Develop age-appropriate practice plans, drills, exercises, and instructional activities based on participants' ages, skill levels, and abilities.
• Teach fundamental skills, rules, strategies, techniques, teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy competition.
• Adapt activities to ensure meaningful, inclusive participation for members with varied experience levels and abilities.
• Assist with seasonal schedules, practice plans, competition calendars, and special athletic or recreation events.
• Coordinate with Club leadership regarding programming, equipment, facilities, schedules, and participant needs.

Youth Development & Mentorship

• Build positive, professional relationships with Club members and serve as a caring adult role model.
• Encourage teamwork, leadership, accountability, discipline, respect, perseverance, and positive decision-making.
• Incorporate character development, social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, and life-skills lessons into activities.
• Recognize individual effort, strengths, and progress and encourage members to reach their full potential.
• Promote youth voice, choice, leadership, and peer support during athletic and recreation activities.
• Create a welcoming environment where every young person feels safe, respected, included, and encouraged to participate.

Safety & Supervision

• Actively supervise youth before, during, and after activities and maintain required staff-to-member ratios and accurate head counts.
• Follow all BGCGW youth protection, safety, emergency, supervision, behavior management, and incident reporting policies and procedures.
• Conduct pre-activity safety checks and explain rules, boundaries, expectations, and proper equipment use before each session.
• Conduct activities in a manner that minimizes the risk of injury and supports participants' physical and emotional safety.
• Respond appropriately to injuries, emergencies, behavioral concerns, conflicts, and other incidents.
• Complete required incident reports and promptly notify the appropriate Club leadership and families as directed.
• Identify and report hazards, unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, or member concerns immediately.

Equipment & Facility Readiness

• Set up and break down courts, fields, gym spaces, classrooms, and recreation areas before and after activities.
• Inspect, organize, sanitize, maintain, and securely store athletic and recreation equipment.
• Maintain clean, orderly activity spaces and communicate equipment, supply, or facility needs to the Regional Athletic Director.

League, Game & Event Support

• Assist with practices, games, tournaments, field days, showcases, community activities, and other Club events.
• Support participant check-in, warm-ups, scorekeeping, officiating, setup, breakdown, and event logistics as assigned.
• Provide appropriate youth and spectator supervision and reinforce program expectations and behavioral standards.
• Communicate schedule updates, participation needs, and event information to the Regional Athletic Director and Club staff.

Program Administration

• Maintain accurate attendance, participation, roster, assessment, and program records.
• Assist with registration, evaluations, activity planning, and other required documentation.
• Communicate regularly with Club leadership regarding program progress, member needs, family questions, safety concerns, and supply needs.
• Participate in staff meetings, program debriefs, required trainings, and professional development.
• Support recruitment and retention of youth participants in athletic and recreation programs.

Club Operations, Family & Community Engagement

• Collaborate with the Regional Athletic Director, Branch Director, Club Experience Director, program staff, volunteers, and community partners to deliver a coordinated Club experience.
• Assist with member supervision during arrival, dismissal, transitions, meals, Club-wide activities, and special events.
• Support BGCGW core program areas and integrate health, wellness, social recreation, and leadership development into programming.
• Maintain active engagement with members outside of athletic sessions to strengthen relationships, participation, and retention.
• Maintain professional and respectful communication with parents, caregivers, Club staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Support family engagement activities, athletic showcases, community events, and fundraising activities.
• Represent BGCGW professionally and maintain confidentiality regarding members, families, and organizational information.
• Support program coverage when necessary to maintain appropriate staff-to-member ratios and safe Club operations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience coaching, instructing, mentoring, or leading sports or recreation activities for children and/or adolescents.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals, rules, techniques, and safety practices associated with assigned sports and recreation activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, teenagers, families, and colleagues.
• Ability to lead groups, provide clear instructions, manage behavior positively, and maintain a structured and inclusive environment.
• Ability to work effectively with youth from diverse backgrounds and with varied abilities and experience levels.
• Ability to work after-school hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or special events as program needs require.
• Ability to successfully complete required background screening, youth protection training, and organizational onboarding requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year of coaching, teaching, recreation, or youth-development experience.
• Previous experience with Boys & Girls Clubs, schools, recreation programs, youth organizations, community centers, or athletic leagues.
• Current CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications, or willingness to obtain them within the timeframe required by BGCGW.
• Coaching certification, recreation-related training, or formal athletic training.
• Experience supporting competitive youth sports programs, leagues, tournaments, or special events.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong youth engagement, mentoring, and relationship-building skills.
• Effective coaching, recreation leadership, instructional techniques, and knowledge of youth sports, physical fitness, and age-appropriate skill development.
• Strong communication, teamwork, organization, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Patience, professionalism, enthusiasm, reliability, and sound judgment.
• Ability to motivate youth and manage groups in active, structured environments.
• Ability to collaborate with Club staff, volunteers, families, and community partners and use basic digital tools for communication and documentation.
• Commitment to youth development, safety, inclusion, confidentiality, and the mission of BGCGW.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in gymnasiums, athletic fields, recreation areas, classrooms, and other Club or community facilities.
• The position requires frequent standing, walking, running, bending, reaching, repetitive movement, and physical demonstration of activities; the employee must be able to lift or move at least 25 pounds.
• Work may occur indoors or outdoors in active, noisy environments and varying weather conditions.
• Evening, weekend, holiday, and special-event work may be required based on program schedules.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

YOUTH PROTECTION & COMPLIANCE

Because this role involves direct contact with youth, the Athletic & Recreation Coach must comply with all BGCGW background screening, youth protection, mandated reporting, supervision, safety, emergency, and incident-reporting requirements, including required ratios, head counts, and CPR/First Aid/AED training when applicable.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

1. Provide safe, engaging, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate athletic and recreation programming.
2. Build positive relationships and promote teamwork, sportsmanship, confidence, healthy lifestyles, and leadership.
3. Maintain safe supervision, required ratios, head counts, accurate documentation, and effective communication.
4. Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and preparation while supporting BGCGW's mission, policies, Club operations, and inclusive culture.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

BGCGW provides equal employment opportunities without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.