Junior High Girls Softball Head Coach

Position Summary

Position Title: Junior High Girls Softball Head Coach
Department: Activities/Athletics
Reports To: Activities Director and Secondary Principal
Employment Status: Supplemental/Seasonal Coaching Position
FLSA Status: Exempt from overtime requirements as applicable to extracurricular coaching duties

The Junior High Girls Softball Head Coach is responsible for planning, organizing, and administering a positive, competitive, and educational softball program for junior high student-athletes. The coach will teach fundamental softball skills; promote sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility, and school pride; and ensure that the program operates in a safe, respectful, and student-centered manner.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a season plan that emphasizes skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship, physical conditioning, and enjoyment of the game.

• Organize, supervise, and conduct all practices, games, team meetings, and other team-related activities.

• Teach age-appropriate fundamentals of softball, including throwing, catching, hitting, bunting, base running, pitching, fielding, offensive strategy, defensive strategy, and game awareness.

• Establish clear expectations for student-athlete behavior, attendance, academic responsibility, effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

• Maintain a positive, safe, inclusive, and encouraging environment for all participants.

• Promote the educational value of athletics and reinforce the school’s expectations for citizenship, respect, integrity, and responsibility.

• Supervise student-athletes before, during, and after practices, contests, transportation, locker-room use, and other team activities until students have safely transitioned to their next responsibility.

• Communicate regularly and professionally with student-athletes, parents/guardians, school personnel, officials, opponents, and community members.

• Work cooperatively with the activities director, principal, transportation staff, custodial staff, athletic trainer or medical personnel, volunteers, and other coaches.

• Follow all school district policies, athletic handbook expectations, conference requirements, and applicable state athletic association rules and regulations.

• Monitor student eligibility, attendance, conduct, and academic standing in accordance with district and activity policies.

• Ensure proper use, storage, inventory, care, and security of uniforms, equipment, facilities, and supplies.

• Inspect practice and game facilities for safety concerns and promptly report hazards, injuries, equipment needs, or facility issues to the appropriate supervisor.

• Follow established emergency procedures and respond appropriately to injuries, illness, weather concerns, and other safety situations.

• Attend required coaches’ meetings, rules meetings, professional-development opportunities, and district activity meetings.

• Coordinate with other softball coaches to support consistency and appropriate progression from junior high through high school softball programs.

• Encourage and support student participation in school, academic, and extracurricular activities while recognizing the importance of academic success.

• Model professional conduct and serve as a positive role model for student-athletes and the school community.

• Perform other duties related to the softball program as assigned by the activities director or secondary principal.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should demonstrate the following qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; postsecondary education preferred.

• Previous softball playing, coaching, teaching, or youth-program experience preferred.

• Knowledge of softball rules, fundamental skills, game strategy, conditioning principles, and age-appropriate player development.

• Ability to work effectively with junior high students and understand their developmental, social, emotional, and academic needs.

• Strong communication, organization, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to establish positive relationships with students, families, colleagues, and community members.

• Commitment to maintaining a respectful, equitable, and inclusive team environment.

• Current certification in CPR, first aid, concussion awareness, sudden cardiac arrest awareness, heat illness prevention, and other training required by the district or state athletic governing body.

• Successful completion of required background checks, coaching authorization or licensure requirements, and district-mandated trainings.

• Ability to safely perform coaching duties in indoor and outdoor environments, including standing, walking, demonstrating skills, lifting and moving equipment, and working evenings and weekends as scheduled.

Work Schedule and Conditions

This is a seasonal position that requires availability outside the regular school day. Duties include afternoon and evening practices, weekday and weekend contests, team meetings, possible tournament participation, and other assigned activities during the junior high softball season.

The coach will work in varying weather conditions and must be able to supervise students in outdoor athletic settings. The position requires consistent attendance, punctuality, sound judgment, and the ability to respond calmly and appropriately in emergency situations.

Evaluation

Performance will be evaluated by the activities director and/or secondary principal based on program organization, student supervision, communication, safety practices, compliance with district and athletic policies, student-athlete development, sportsmanship, and overall contribution to the school’s activities program.

The Junior High Girls Softball Head Coach serves as an important mentor for student-athletes and is expected to uphold the values, mission, and expectations of the school district at all times.