Game Day Assistant - GDA for Spirit League -Special Needs Athletics

There is no organization like Spirit League, providing year-round connection and self-confidence on the field of play to a historically under-supported population. Nearly 600 autistic, neurodivergent, or developmentally disabled youths and adults in Orange County participated in Spirit League athletics in 2025. The League is expanding, and now offers an additional week each season to include a Community Day event - programming that brings experts, families and athletes together to connect, support, and learn from each other, off the fields.

We are the only special needs team sports league in California that offers year-round programming.  We run 11 weeks of Soccer in the Fall, 11 Weeks of Baseball in the Winter, and 11 weeks of Basketball in the Spring.  We hire Game-Day Assistants year-round, as another sports season is always around the corner.  We hire per season, so you can apply anytime of year!

Game-Day Assistant (GDA)
 Reports To:  Program Director

Rate of Pay: $25 p/h starting compensation, Part-Time.  We pay more for people experienced and/or trained to work with this population.

Hours:  The GDA is the foundation for the overall quality and delivery of all Spirit League Youth Sports.  The GDA must be present at all Spirit League Youth Athletics unless approved by their supervisor.  Additional hours outside of game time are required to prep, review, and facilitate all SL Youth athletic programming.

Every Spirit League GDA is expected to work effectively with all team members, ensure the health and safety of all athletes, and maintain a caring community that nurtures the growth of all athletes.  General responsibilities of all Program Staff include:

• Ensuring compliance with safety rules and regulations.
• Be customer and client-facing through
  • answering phone calls and responding to emails promptly 
  • Resolving customer complaints and issues courteously 
  • Building positive and supportive relationships with all members of the SL community (staff, coaches/volunteers, families, athletes)
  • Ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Function as an ambassador for Spirit League to the larger community; finding opportunities to bring awareness to the League, express its benefits, and always speak positively about the Spirit League community and its value.
• Staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.

Responsibilities Specific to the Game Day Assistant (GDA):

·         Assist program staff in preparing courts and equipment for games;·         Manage or referee a game on one's own, assisting coaches and athletes as needed;·         Helping teach basic sports skills to athletes during practice and game time;·         Adjusting equipment on the court when preparing for the next age division to play;·         Helping staff clean up equipment and return to on-site storage;·         Assisting the Youth Game-Day Athletic Program Manager, as needed, on game day. Candidates should have experience working with athletes/teens with autism and general knowledge of game rules (Soccer, Baseball, Soccer). An understanding of applied behavioral analysis is a plus.

For inquiries, please email our Program Director at [email protected]