FIRE Track and Field Head Coach

Leadership by Values

• Establish and maintain a high level of citizen confidence.
• Establish and maintain exceptional relationships with all internal team members and external stakeholders.
• Create a work atmosphere that is safe, healthy, secure, and is conscious of work-life balance as well as the Park District’s goals.
• Ensures a welcoming culture that cultivates inclusivity, equity, diversity and belonging for all people and aspects of our organization.

Operational Excellence

• Creates, coordinates, communicates, initiates, leads and delegates regular schedule of activities (i.e. scheduled team practice, group staff schedules & assignment, equipment & supply request preparation, clear direction given to staff, safety checks, evaluate activities success, medication dispensing, parent communication) to allow maximum program participation.
  
• Coordinates and leads practice and meets for the FIRE Track and Field program, including staff management, skill and practice curriculum development, and meet assignments.
• Assists and makes recommendations to recruit, hire, schedule, train, supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff with guidance from the Operations Coordinator.
  
• Active recruiter for the FIRE track program according to the strategic plan laid out by the Youth Sports Team
  
• Under the supervision of the Operations Coordinator, initiates and executes decisions regarding skill curriculum, lesson plans, program evaluation, and assessment of participant’s progress for a variety of skill levels.
  
• Final decision-maker regarding event registration for athletes based on performance, attendance, etc.
  
• Practice cancellation in event of inclement weather with direction from Youth Sports Supervisor.
  
• Represents the RPD in a friendly and positive manner when communicating with program participants, parents/guardians, staff, and all other program visitors. This includes meet and greet families at sign in and sign out time, share concerns with families, prepare and pass out newsletters & permission slips as needed to build a positive rapport with participants and their families.
  
• Identifies participant goals by tracking and evaluating participant progress and communicating with parents/guardians.
  
• Completes business transactions correctly and on time, such as verifying staff UKG time sheets, submitting purchasing receipts, accident reports, authorized pick-ups, equipment inventory, safety checklists, site & safety checklists, meeting agendas & sign-in, behavior incidents, weekly site attendance and other information as requested by the Recreation Coordinator for timely accounting and reporting purposes.
  
• Schedules, coordinates, leads, and enforces attendance of scheduled staff meetings with guidance from Operations Coordinator and Youth Sports Supervisor.
• Attends scheduled Coach’s meetings with Operations Coordinator, discusses program plan, participant staffing and behaviors, staff concerns, transportation, and risk management topics.
  
• Maintains a working knowledge of department safety procedures. Attends safety training programs and educational in-services as required.
  
• Enforces all rules, regulations and policies set up by the Rockford Park District to include, but not limited to; Affirmative Action Plan, Alcohol and drug free workplace, and following all safety and risk management procedures to ensure personal safety and safety of participants in our programs at all times.
  
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Associates Degree in recreation or related field, or college level coursework in related area and 3-5 years of experience working with individuals with and without disabilities or an equivalent combination of training and experience. 6-8 years experience coaching high school, AAU, USATF and/or high-level club track and field preferred.

Critical Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Availability: days and evening hours will vary. Weekend, holiday, and some overnight travel required.
• Has a strong working knowledge of track and field.
• Teaching proper techniques of horizontal/vertical jumps, horizontal/vertical throws, hurdles, sprint, and long distance.
• Knowledge of nutrition and healthy living for today's athlete
• Introduction to speed, strength, agility and plyometric training
• Knowledge of proper warmups and cooldowns
• Ability to create a weekly practice plan for groups and individual athletes.
• Good communication skills including expressive, written, and receptive.
• Good organizational and leadership skills for daily planning, supervision and direction of participants.
• Ability to provide customers with expert care, sensitive consideration and efficient service.
• Ability to use computer programs for creating and retrieving reports and schedules.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and demonstrate flexibility as a team player.
• Ability to problem solve in a variety of situations.
• Must attend scheduled RPD trainings, in-services and meetings.
• First Aid, CPR and AED training (can be obtained through Rockford Park District).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

Medium work:

• • Exerting up to 100 pounds of force rarely
  • Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally
  • Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently to move objects.
• Must be able to perform moderately physically intensive tasks, potentially including any combination of the following: climbing, balancing, stooping, sitting, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, repetitive motions, substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• This is a physically active position that involves stamina.
• Mobility to various locations needed.
• Assist occasionally with caring for physical needs of participants including toileting, transferring, or pushing participants in wheelchair

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• May be exposed to extreme weather conditions during camp season, particularly rain and heat.
• Significant environmental factors are applicable to this position.