The West Morris Soccer Club (WMSC) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director of Coaching. The Director of Coaching will provide and manage coaching staff to achieve organizational and performance objectives related to player development for our Pre-Travel Program and Travel Program. This document details the duties and responsibilities of the part-time Director of Coaching role.
WMSC Vision and Mission
The West Morris Soccer Club, an incorporated nonprofit 501(c)(3), spans the Townships/Boroughs of Mendham, Chester, and Long Valley. The WMSC is dedicated to enhancing the athletic development and enjoyment of soccer for participants of our pre-travel and travel soccer program. WMSC looks to build on past alumni successes and achievements and to continue to grow and improve the soccer program by promoting sportsmanship, integrity, and teamwork at all pre-travel and travel levels. WMSC stresses positive parental and coach involvement with the goal of children having a life-long involvement in the sport.
The WMSC’s Pre-Travel Program is focused on the development and investment of our youngest WMSC members with the goal to advance these players into our Travel Program. The Pre-Travel Program is designed to simulate the competitive play environment of travel in both individual drills and small sided play. Additional information about the Pre-Travel Program can be found . The WMSC Travel Program aims to offer its members developmental soccer opportunities in an appropriately competitive environment and is designed to be a next step for those players looking for a higher competition level than recreational soccer. Additional information about our Travel Program can be found .
Program Administration
The Director of Coaching will be expected to execute and evolve our pre-travel and travel soccer program in accordance with the aforementioned Vision and Mission, including but not limited to the following:
- Administer and implement the annual travel Spring tryouts and support the creation of the succeeding year rosters.
- Work with coaches to determine the appropriate placement and seeding of teams for each season.
- Oversee the league’s regular season schedule and winter program, including managing the practice times and field/location assignments for spring/fall schedules.
- Identify and coordinate participation in local soccer tournaments.
- Oversee staffing for all our travel teams, including identifying coverage as needed.
- Designate the assignment of coaches to Travel Program teams taking into consideration each coaches strengths and abilities for each relevant age group.
- Participate in monthly WMSC board meetings
The Director of Coaching will be expected to perform these duties in coordination with the VPs of Travel or their designees.
Coaching Staff Development and Support
The Director of Coaching will be expected to develop and support coaching staff, including but not limited to the following:
- Identify, vet, and hire qualified trainers and coaches with experience in soccer coaching 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 to support an average of 200+ travel soccer players in each of the Fall and Spring sessions. Vetting process must include a review of background checks with NJYSA and any verifications required by municipalities served by the program.
- Develop and maintain a coaching curriculum tailored to each age group
- Conduct coach training sessions on the curriculum at time of hire and as needed basis.
- Train coaches on implementing the WMSC Travel Coaching Framework (see attachment).
- Encourage and promote the continued professional education of the WMSC coaching staff.
- Oversee the performance of coaching staff on a regular cadence, at least annually, and implement any necessary coaching changes needed based on such performance. The feedback of the VPs of Travel, WMSC board, and parents should be considered in evaluating coaching staff.
Player Development
The Director of Coaching will be expected to ensure the proper development of players in the Pre-Travel and Travel Programs, including but not limited to the following:
- Demonstrate ability to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment.
- Focus on fun with firmness on attitude and active listening of various age groups.
- Create and design structured and engaging training sessions adaptable to various age groups and skills.
- Maximize the development of players by collaborating with their Coaches and Trainers to specialize in improvements in the specific needs of individual players.
- Maintain and create new club initiatives that focus on player development (i.e., technical training, striker training, goalkeeper training, etc.).
Player Parent and Family/Guardian Relations
The Director of Coaching will be expected to interact regularly with family members/guardians of WMSC players, including but not limited to the following:
- Ability to communicate with player’s parents and family regarding constructive feedback on player ability and development.
- Maintain constructive and engaging communication with players’ family members and guardians based on overall coaching, team, and trainers’ performance.
- Conduct Parent Education and Team meetings on an as-needed basis, and at least annually.
Personal Attributes and Skills
The Director of Coaching is expected to have the following personal attributes and skills to be successful in this role:
- Passion and energy for coaching and developing our youth WMSC players.
- Desire to continue to learn and attend coaching and leadership education programs.
- Strong listening, written, and oral communication skills.
- Ability to resolve conflicts professionally.
- Excellent leadership and time management skills.
Job Requirements and Experience
Following are the minimum job requirements and experience for the Director of Coaching:
- High School Diploma with preference given to a 2 year or greater college degree.
- At least 10 years’ experience in training and coaching youth soccer.
- At least 5 years’ experience in managing soccer coaches at the youth soccer level.
- At least 5 years’ experience in developing training curriculums and implementing them with youth soccer coaches.
- Proof of ability to work in the United States.
- Ability to work efficiently with information technology and applications, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or similar.
- Physical ability to train indoors and outdoors by demonstrating the skills needed to train coaches and players in soccer education.
- Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, if necessary.
Proposal Submission
Please submit your proposal and resume to info@westmorrissoccer.org by Tuesday, June 25th, 2024. If you have any questions or require additional information, feel free to contact us at travel@westmorrissoccer.org . The proposal must include:
- Professional resume that includes relevant educational and professional experience.
- At least three recent professional references.
- Detailed curriculum or training program outline for each season, Fall, Winter, and Spring.
- Roster of trainers and availability required to support the various age groups.
- Process to verify coaches against NJYSA requirements and background checks.
- Compensation requirements/history for the Director of Coaching.
- Cost structure for providing qualified coaches, including any additional fees or expenses.
Compensation Range
Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
Selection Process
Proposals and resumes will be evaluated based on the applicant’s experience, proposed curriculum, cost-effectiveness, and ability to meet the WMSC’s Pre-Travel and Travel Program’s needs. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview and/or presentation to the WMSC Board of Trustees as part of one of our monthly board meetings, and are subject to appropriate NJYSA requirements and background checks.
WMSC Commitments
The WMSC is firmly committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, which applies to recruiting, hiring, placement, promotions, training, discipline, terminations, layoffs, transfers, leaves of absence, compensation and all other terms and conditions of employment.
We look forward to reviewing your resume and proposal and potentially welcoming you as a valued partner in providing quality soccer training to our WMSC Pre-Travel and Travel program members.
Thank you for your interest.
