COACHING

THE SPIRIT LEAGUE TEAM

At Spirit League, we aim to teach athletes the basic skills of the game and what it means to be part of a team. As a Coach, you are not alone. Spirit League has developed curriculum for each sport. Following a pre-season Coach training session, Coaches will teach this curriculum each week to their team with support by Team Mentors and League staff.

THE COACH ROLE

With assistance by the Spirit League Staff, Coaches will tech the Spirit League curriculum using practice strategies during the skill building portion on game day. A Coach will also help athletes understand the rules of the game and clearly outline goals for the season to team members and parents. Parent concerns, athlete schedule changes ( i.e., when athletes may arrive late or miss a game), and other issues will also be addressed by the Coach.

First and foremost, Coaches need to keep their athletes safe and Spirit League will provide Coaches with the volunteers and equipment needed to do this. Coaches also generally enforce uniform standards, attendance, and teamwork in accordance with the Coach Responsibilities document and aforementioned sport Guidelines.

WINNING IS NOT THE GOAL

At Spirit League, we want our athletes to have fun, learn new skills, and make friends. Coaches should be aware of over-scoring situations and dominant athletes then talk with other Coaches about making changes to provide for a fun game for everyone. Coaches play an important part in helping their athletes learn sportsmanship while encouraging them to make friends

COACH TRAINING

Spirit League has prepared multiple resources for our Coaches. After their Coach application is approved and a criminal background check completed, Coaches will complete our Online Coach Training which will outline the Spirit League program, approach and Coach responsibilities and support. For each sport, “Rules of the Game” are provided with expectations according to each age division. We also provide Coaches with drills to work on for each season to teach the fundamentals of each sport.

ASK FOR HELP

If you are a therapist or parent wanting to provide 1:1 support to a specific athlete for a season, please contact Lexie Cory, Volunteer Coordinator at Lexie@spiritleague.org who will explain the application, background check and online training process for 1:1 assistants.

COACH APPLICATION

Please click SIGN UP below to begin the application process. You will need to create an account and complete the coach application.
Once your application is approved, your background check process will begin, and you will receive an email directing you to log in and begin the Online Training Program.

TEAM MENTORS

SPIRIT LEAGUE TEAM MENTOR PROGRAM

Spirit League is unique in that we partner with local college and high school students, community sponsors and other individuals who have a heart for helping youth build confidence through team sports. The Spirit League Team Mentor Program trains volunteers to be a consistent presence throughout a season to build relationships with athletes on a specific team.

Team Mentors become more involved with the athletes on their team; getting to know their names and building mentor relationships to foster the fun environment created by the Spirit League experience.

PART OF THE TEAM

Our Youth Program offers three age divisions, each with different game times and our seasons are 10 weeks long. For Team Mentors, we ask that you select a time that you will be available to volunteer for the entire season (see specific sport page for anticipated game times). We would like you to be part of the same team for the entire season so you get a chance to know your team members and be able to understand your coach’s needs.

VOLUNTEER CREDIT

if you are a high school student receiving volunteer credit hours for school, please be sure to arrange tracking of your hours with Spirit League staff at the start of the season. You will need to check in with staff each game day to track attendance.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Spirit League asks Team Mentors to do the following:

  • Be at least 17 years old;
  • Create a Volunteer Account on our Volunteer Training Portal and submit an online Volunteer Application
  • Complete Online Volunteer Training and Certification Program
  • For volunteers 18 years and older, complete a satisfactory criminal background history check
  • Work with the Spirit League Volunteer Coordinator to match Mentor with a team;
  • Assist the Team Coach with athletes during the pre-game drill practice and during the game (see Volunteer Code of Conduct);
  • Attend at least 8 games within the respective 10-game season.

1:1 ASSISTANTS

If you are a therapist or parent wanting to provide 1:1 support to a specific athlete for a season, please contact Lexie Cory, Program Coordinator, at Lexie@spiritleague.org, who will explain the application, background check, and online training process for 1:1 assistants.

To Volunteer as a Team Mentor click Sign Up Online to fill out the Application.

BOARD MEMBER

BECOME A SPIRIT LEAGUE BOARD MEMBER

The next several years promise to be exciting ones for the Spirit League as we grow our programs and continue to have a positive impact on athletes with developmental disabilities. We rely on our board of directors to play a central role in this important work. We are looking to expand and diversify our Spirit League board of directors for those who are a good fit with our organization.

BOARD MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

If you are interested in this board membership opportunity, please get in touch with us via the form below. Melissa Cory, board member, and board recruitment coordinator, will contact you by phone to schedule a meeting at your convenience to discuss your interest in serving and supporting Spirit League’s work.

EXPERTISE AREAS NEEDED

  • Fundraising – Individual
  • Fundraising – Events
  • Marketing
  • Media Relations
  • Policy Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Program Expertise
  • Connections in Sports Industries

BOARD MEMBERSHIP INTEREST FORM

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