Coach-Mentor Fellowship: Greeley

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The Organization

As one of the few global languages, soccer has the power to shape the world for the better.

Soccer Without Borders (SWB) uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth in the U.S. and abroad with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success. Founded in 2006, Soccer Without Borders has reached over 15,000 young people in 12 countries on four continents, and has been recognized with the FIFA Diversity Award, the Lipman Family Prize, and the Robert Wood Johnson Sports Award. With a focus on social inclusion of newcomer youth and girls, our holistic programs provide participants with a platform for positive engagement, an avenue for personal growth, and a toolkit for a brighter future.

We envision a more inclusive world through soccer, where all youth have the opportunity to reach their potential. Global displacement currently affects more than 1 in every 100 people in the world. Newcomer youth arrive in the United States from all over the world, many fleeing some of the world’s most protracted conflicts. Soccer Without Borders has been creating welcoming communities that foster a sense of belonging and home for refugees and immigrants in the United States since 2006. We currently serve over 1,300 youth annually in the U.S. through school year and summer programs that integrate soccer, education, and community.

The Position

Soccer Without Borders is looking for dynamic Coach-Mentors to serve at Soccer Without Borders’ sports-based youth development programs across the United States through the Up2Us Coach AmeriCorps program. Coach-Mentors bring our mission to life every day through their work on and off the field, delivering quality programming and engaging in authentic community-building. The Coach-Mentors will be part of an innovative and inclusive organization that is made up of a passionate group of people who are united by the shared belief that sport can positively shape the lives of youth.

Roles Expectations and Responsibilities

This position is a unique opportunity to build the skills and experience of leading direct service programming at a local community organization, while simultaneously gaining exposure to a growing national and global organization with a vision of a more inclusive and equitable world through soccer. This position has two primary areas of responsibility:

1. Direct Service: Coaching and Activity-planning (80%): Coach-Mentors work directly with newcomer refugee and immigrant youth and families. Together with other local Soccer Without Borders team members, Coach-Mentors design and lead practices, games, league play, team-building activities, and community events throughout the year. The Coach-Mentor recruits and retains players by building an inclusive, safe space where all youth experience a sense of belonging. The Coach-Mentor will learn the Soccer Without Borders "FAMILY" model for coaching, creating an environment where everyone has an opportunity to learn and grow through the facilitation of circles every day. Key to SWB’s model, circles create a space for youth to develop Social-Emotional and Leadership skills through reflection, voice, and connection.
2. Program Support (20%): The Coach-Mentor plays an important role in the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making our programs possible. The Coach-Mentor supports youth and families to overcome barriers to participation through youth and family engagement, including phone calls and house visits. The Coach-Mentor is responsible for helping SWB communicate the impact of the program to our funders in grants and to our fans on social media through timely monitoring and reporting of activities and their attendance, as well as collecting surveys, stories, photos, and videos from our youth and families. The Coach-Mentor may take on other responsibilities to meet the unique needs of local program sites.

About You

The ideal candidate for this role...

1. Is an energetic, dynamic, and engaging leader who is passionate about bringing SWB’s mission to life. You believe in the power of sport and are eager to have as many people live the mission as possible. You get energy from interacting with people, and look forward to leading teams of youth alongside a group of volunteer assistant coaches. You have experience working with youth, coaching soccer and are able to tailor practice sessions to age and ability.
2. Is a dedicated team-oriented person who enjoys building relationships and desires to create an inclusive environment for all participants. You are interested in getting to know all SWB youth and their families, and look forward to building relationships with all members of the SWB community. You are eager to build a positive culture that aligns with SWB values and brings together diverse communities. You may already be embedded in the communities we serve, have an understanding of the experiences of immigrants and refugees, or have cross-cultural experience from your personal life, work, or travel.
3. Is a flexible self-starter who can take initiative and be a creative problem solver. You are able to work independently and figure out problems on their own without guidance. When confronted with a problem, you are resourceful when coming up with a solution. You are open-minded and flexible when plans change. You may have experience working or living independently and managing your own schedule in less structured environments.

Ideally, the Coach-Mentor is proficient in English and a second language spoken by the local SWB community. Having a driver’s license and personal transportation is helpful, but not required.

Time and Compensation

This position is a Up2Us Coach AmeriCorps term of service. This is a full-time, year-long term of service (900 hours total), beginning between December 2021 and January 2022. There are openings for this position in the following Soccer Without Borders USA locations: Greeley, Colorado & Aurora, Colorado.

As an Up2Us AmeriCorps member, the Coach-Mentor will receive a living stipend of $15,105, a monthly housing stipend, and an Education Award of $6,345 after successful completion of the term. AmeriCorps service at Soccer Without Borders qualifies for public service loan forgiveness. SWB encourages persons of any race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, and background to apply.

Interested?

Please send an email that describes your interest in the role, and what you think makes you a strong candidate, along with a resume and three references (including contact information and relationship to the candidate) to colorado@soccerwithoutborders.org. If you have a preference between the two program locations, please indicate that in your application email. While we cannot guarantee that you will be offered a position in your preferred location, we prioritize candidates who already have a connection to the communities we serve. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.