Coach Across America AmeriCorps Girls Basketball Coach at Building Bridges
Job Description
Job DescriptionSalary:
About Coach Across America
Founded in 2010, Coach Across America is a national service organization dedicated to inspiring youth to achieve their potential by providing coaches trained in positive youth development. We do this by identifying, training, and supporting AmeriCorps coaches who bring sports-based youth development to the most underserved communities.
Role Title: Building Bridges Girls Basketball Coach
Service Term: Half-time role of 900 hours to complete between February 2026-2027
Living Allowance: $12,150.00
Education Award: $3,697.50 (upon successful completion of service hours)
Expected Hours Per Week: 20 hours per week on average, including Tuesday-Thursday afternoons and Friday-Saturday evenings
Primary Location: THEARC (Town Hall and Education Arts Recreation Campus), DC Ward 8
Key Responsibilities: Support Building Bridges Late Night League and on-site partners with an emphasis on growing girls participation in basketball
Building Bridges Across the River (Building Bridges) provides residents east of the Anacostia River in Washington D.C. access to the best-in-class facilities, programs, and partnerships in arts and culture, economic opportunity, education, recreation, health and well-being. Founded in 1997, Building Bridges operates and leads collaboration at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), a hub for community organizations serving residents of Ward 8.
About Late Night League:In response to overwhelming feedback from a 2023 town hall meeting attended by over 100 Ward 8 residents, Building Bridges launched Late Night League at THEARC in early 2024 as a violence interruption strategy. The need for safe, positive, and engaging late-night activities for youth was clear. Late Night League was launched to promote wellness and provide a space for safe recreation within Washington, D.C.s Ward 8 community. Building Bridges hosts two eight-week seasons per year with 8-12 teams. The youth division engages ages 14-17 and the young adult division engages 18-24.
Coach Role and Responsibilities
This Coach Across America AmeriCorps coach will support Building Bridges Late Night League with an emphasis on growing girls participation in basketball. The coach will also support related programs outside of Late Night League including collaboration with on-site partners at THEARC such as the Washington School for Girls (WSG) and their basketball team. WSG engages girls from 3rd -8th grade.
Responsibilities will include:
- Creating strategies and materials to promote and engage local girls in basketball
- Engagement and recruitment at local schools and recreation centers
- Facilitating basketball clinics and workshops (schedule to be determined in coordination with coach)
- Supporting Late Night League games with attendance, registration, and day-of program support
- Growing girls sports participation at THEARC with a goal of coaching a girls team in Late Night League
- Collaborating with THEARC partners such as Washington School for Girls and the Boys & Girls Club
- Developing and administering surveys and other methods of evaluation to gauge participant experience
Additionally, the Coach will:
- Encourage participants to gain and develop life skills, knowledge, and techniques through sport, using lessons learned at Coach Across Americas best-in-class training events
- Perform data collection activities as directed by the Coach Across America Program Lead
- Act as a role model, gaining the respect and trust of the community and youth served
The coach will serve as part of She Changes the Game, an initiative by Coach Across America and Monumental Sports & Entertainment to build a DC-based hub of coaches dedicated to growing girls participation in sports.
Tentative Schedule
- Tuesdays, 2:00-5:00 p.m. (WSG basketball practice)
- Wednesdays, 2:30-5:00 p.m. (WSG basketball practice)
- Thursdays, 2:30-5:00 p.m. (WSG basketball practice)
- Fridays, 6:00-11:00 p.m. (Late Night League)*
- Saturdays, 6:00-11:00 p.m. (Late Night League)*
- Additional hours each week for planning, recruiting, etc. (schedule to be determined in coordination with coach)
*Late Night League occurs twice per year, 8 weeks per season. (Spring & Summer/Fall Season, start dates TBD)
Additional Requirements
Coach Across America AmeriCorps coaches must complete the following requirements to ensure successful completion of the AmeriCorps program:
- Completion of the minimum required hours of service and training by last day of coach contract
- Attendance at the Coach Orientation
- Completion of bi-weekly timesheets
- Attendance at days of community service
- Attend/participate in Coach Across America trainings, meetings, and special initiatives
- Attend Coach Training Institute (date to be announced by Coach Across America Program Lead)
Uniform Policy
Coaches must wear Coach Across America branded t-shirts provided by Coach Across America with AmeriCorps logo when coaching and at program sessions and events
Eligibility & Qualifications
- Familiarity with DCs Ward 8 preferred.
- Knowledge of basketball fundamentals required.
- Prior experience playing basketball preferred.
- Prior experience coaching or working with youth preferred.
- AmeriCorps is open to 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 the equivalent.
Coach Across America AmeriCorps members are as diverse a group as the communities we serve. Were looking for you if you want to build yourself, give back, and are ready to change the world through the power of sports.