League Coach (Edward Byrne Center - Queens, NY)

Position: League Coach  

Who we are:  The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization and has been a vibrant and vital institution, serving as an effective, critical bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs of the City since 1914. PAL operates diverse programs for children as young as 2 years old to young adults. Programs include Head Start, after-school programs and summer day camps for elementary, middle and high school youth, and summer Playstreets. PAL also runs evening teen centers and college readiness programs, youth employment, and juvenile justice programs. Staying true to PAL’s roots, a cornerstone of our youth development strategy includes offering competitive and recreational sports for children of all ages.  At PAL, we’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too. 

Position Summary: 

We are looking for Part Time League Coaches to be positive role models responsible for creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment where youth develop athletic skills, teamwork, leadership, and good sportsmanship. Coaches plan and lead practices, prepare teams for games and tournaments, and foster positive relationships with youth, families, officials, and community partners. 

The League Coach will report to the Teen Supervisor.  

The Commitment 

Able to work 9 hours a week (3 hours a day, 3 days a week) 

Able to attend 15 hours of orientation prior to the beginning of programming and complete 30 hours of Building Resiliency in Youth training.   

Able to attend scheduled staff meetings and professional development throughout the year. 

What you’ll do:  

Major Duties & Responsibilities  

1. Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.  

1. Plan and lead age-appropriate practices, skill development sessions, and game preparation that promote athletic growth, teamwork, confidence, and sportsmanship. 

1. Supervise participants during practices, games, tournaments, and team activities, ensuring compliance with safety protocols, and organizational policies while maintaining a positive and inclusive environment. 

1. Be aware of students with IEPs and medical conditions in your groups and follow support plans to help the student with special needs to thrive.  

1. Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member. Provide referrals to appropriate mental health services as needed. 

1. Work cooperatively with Group Leaders, professional staff, teachers, and other Program and school staff.  

1. Build positive relationships with youth and caretakers and serve as a role model with respect to demeanor, communication, and behavior.  

1. Attend meetings with staff, caretakers, volunteers, and community residents as needed.  

1. Interact with caretakers and keep open lines of communication. 

What you bring:  

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college coursework or degree in Physical Education, Recreation, Youth Development, Education, or related field preferred. 

• Previous experience coaching youth sports, leading recreational activities, or working with children and adolescents in a school or community setting. 

• Knowledge of the rules, skills, and fundamentals of the assigned sport(s), with the ability to teach participants of varying ages and skill levels. 

• Excellent classroom management, behavior management, and coaching skills.  

• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively. Bi-lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.   

• Open to learning and growing.  All staff will be learning mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and expected to integrate them into programming.   

• Ability to complete DOHMH/DOE clearances and fingerprints including that an annual physical has been completed in the last year.  

Compensation: The range for this role is $20-25.00 an hour where the finalist falls in this range will be commensurate with skills and experience. 

Benefits: PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, a generous paid time off policy, training and more!  

Location:  

Start Date: September 7th, 2026 

At the Police Athletic League, we seek people who are talented, creative and passionate to help create a more inclusive city and better futures for our youth. We’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too. 

The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy 

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agency’s lawful pre-employment checks, which may include a background check.

Salary : $20 - $25