Up2Us AmeriCorps Coach in Sacramento

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This role is for people who are passionate about supporting youth and who are willing to commit to a year of service at a community sports-based youth development program.

About Up2Us Sports & AmeriCorps

Founded in 2010, Up2Us Sports is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring youth to achieve their potential by providing them with coaches trained in positive youth development. We do this by identifying, training, and supporting coaches who bring sports-based youth development to low-income communities as part of our national service program, Up2Us Coach. Up2Us Coach and Up2Us Training focus on providing coaches with positive youth development and mentoring strategies to help fight childhood obesity, to inspire academic success, and to reduce youth violence. While cultivating caring, trust-based relationships with the youth they serve, Up2Us Coaches can make a great impact and experience meaningful connections within their community.

AmeriCorps State and National programs provide thousands of Americans each year the opportunity to improve the lives of their fellow citizens through long-term service efforts in their local community.

Principal Member Duties and Responsibilities

During the term of service, the Up2Us AmeriCorps Coach will primarily serve in a direct-service role at his/her host site for a total of 900 hours over the course of 12 months (apx20 hrs/wk). Direct-service duties and responsibilities must account for at least 70% of the coach’s total service term hours, align with Up2Us Sports’ mission and goals, and coincide with the following guidelines:

Sports Based Youth Development (SBYD) Coaching (70%)

• Lead SBYD programming (schedule, activity/sport determined by the host site) for at least 80 youth participants
• With support of the host site and Up2Us, comply with host site training and guidance for program implementation
• Maintain knowledge of and implement Up2Us SBYD training strategies and techniques
• Create and utilize lesson plans that maximize youth physical fitness and skill development
• Incorporate opportunities to recognize, practice, and develop competence in the Up2Us High Impact Attributes (life skills for healthy decision making) during sport activities
• Enhance skill development during non-sport enrichment activities by intentionally connecting and cascading skill competence learned from sports sessions with classroom and community applications
• Create and foster an inclusive team culture by maintaining a safe space, by encouraging pro-social connections, and by practicing positive traditions
• Serve as a supportive mentor by consistently showing belief in youth participants and by celebrating their successes
• Incorporate "informal time" into program activities to strengthen relationships with and among youth participants
• Support program recruitment efforts
• Set up and break down for program/practice/activity
• Maintain/organize equipment

Volunteer Recruitment/Community Engagement (7%)

• Recruit and engage ongoing volunteers in program activities
• Track volunteer participation using a volunteer log
• Build strong relationships and gain trust within the community (including but not limited to parents, guardians, volunteers, school staff, and partners) in order to serve the needs of youth participants
• Act as an ambassador of Up2Us Sports and the host site by spreading awareness about SBYD programming

Reporting Relationships (5%)

• Report to and collaborate with the Up2Us Sports Program Manager
• Report to and collaborate with the Host Site Supervisor and other host site staff members
• Support volunteers at the host site
• Submit bi-weekly timesheets
• Report student safety concerns

Data Collection (8%)

• Accurately monitor youth participation in SBYD programming at the host site using the Up2Us roster for the duration of the service term
• Administer pre and post physical fitness testing (PACER) to youth participants at the host site
• Administer pre and post Up2Us High Impact Attribute (HIA) Survey to youth participants at the host site
• Complete pre and post Up2Us Coach Surveys
• Complete additional data collection required by host site (eg: attendance, surveys, youth performance reviews)

The Up2Us AmeriCorps Coach will also engage in training and professional development as part of his/her service term. Training is not considered direct service and will not exceed 20% of the coach’s total service term hours. Training duties and responsibilities are as follows:

Training & Professional Development (10%)

• Attend and complete all training and professional development sessions required by Up2Us and the host site in order to provide high-quality direct service and to successfully complete the service term
• Complete all required knowledge checks to achieve Up2Us Sports SBYD Certification

Basic Eligibility

• Members must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents
• Members must be 18 years old, or 17 with written parental/guardian consent
• Members must have or be working toward a High School diploma, GED, or its equivalent
• Members must consent to a background check performed by Up2Us Sports. The term of service is always contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check. The results of state and FBI criminal history background checks and national sexual offender checks through the National Sex Offender Public Registry Website (NSOPW) are considered.
• Members must commit to the entire term of service
• Members must have access to consistently reliable transportation (eg: personal vehicle or public transit)
• Military Veterans have priority status for this position

Desired Qualifications

• Expresses commitment and excitement to a year of service to the community by coaching youth sports
• Values making connections with people (especially youth) and building relationships
• Abie to encounter challenges with a solution mindset and remain optimistic despite setbacks
• Has flexibility and adaptability in work style and in work environment
• Can manage a dynamic "work" schedule with other jobs, personal responsibilities, school, etc
• Able to meet deadlines and complete tasks/projects on-time