Adaptive Sports Coach

About the Role

Help every athlete find their place on the team. As an Adaptive Sports Coach, you'll lead practices, games, and one-day workshops for children and adults with a wide range of abilities. You'll adjust drills, equipment, and communication so each participant can build skills, gain confidence, and feel like they belong. You'll work alongside our Sports Director and Adaptive Programming Coordinator, with volunteers supporting you on the field or court.

Schedule

Schedule will vary based upon program sessions; will require evening and weekend availability.

What You'll Do

- Coach four-week adaptive sports seasons and one-day adaptive workshops

- Teach each session from the sport-specific curriculum, adjusting activities so every athlete can take part

- Get to know athletes and their families, and use what you learn to shape the right accommodations for each person

- Arrive early to set up equipment and review the day's plan, then put everything away at the end of the session

- Keep every athlete in view and safe at all times, following YMCA safety and emergency procedures

- Keep sessions active and engaging so athletes get as much playing time as possible

- Celebrate progress and positive behavior with encouragement and praise

- Direct volunteers with confidence and give them meaningful ways to support athletes

- Invite families to get involved and look out for potential new volunteers

- Keep skill sheets current, tracking attendance, progress, and accommodations for each athlete

- Help complete incident and accident reports when needed

- Request time off through your supervisor and help find a qualified sub when you can't make a session

- Attend scheduled staff trainings

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

- High School Diploma or equivalent

- Must complete the ACE Adaptive and Inclusive Coaching for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities training course at the first opportunity and maintain certification.

- Must complete all trainings and certifications required by curriculum providers.

- Employee will be asked to take additional education requirements as offered by the Adaptive Programming Coordinator.

- Must be able to demonstrate Sports Coach skills in accordance with YMCA standards.

- Reliable and punctual attendance.

- Must be able to modify skills and tasks to meet the needs of each participant.

Pre-Hire Screening

Staff 18 and older must pass a background screening; all new hires must complete a reference check. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Physical Demands

This role involves standing, kneeling, bending, and moving around the program area. You'll occasionally lift equipment up to 25 lbs, and you'll need to keep participants in sight and within hearing range in settings that can get loud. You may occasionally give brief hands-on assistance to a participant, but only when you've been trained and it follows YMCA policy. Reasonable accommodations are available.

Why Countryside YMCA?

Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. We're committed to the safety of every child and vulnerable adult in our care.

Abuse Risk Management Statement

Countryside YMCA is committed to providing a safe environment for all children and vulnerable individuals in our care. We follow best practices for abuse prevention, including thorough screening, ongoing training, and clear behavioral expectations for staff and volunteers. We have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and take all allegations and concerns very seriously. All employees are required to follow our child protection policies, complete required training, and report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior immediately.

Countryside YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.