Harlem Childrens Zone (HCZ)a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New Yorkseeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-alignedTrack & Field Field Events Coach.
The Track & Field Field Events Coach will bring a strong commitment to Harlem Childrens Zones mission of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty through comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that creates opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.
We are seeking an experienced Track & Field Field Events Coach to lead and develop scholar-athletes competing in field events across our elementary, middle, and high school programs. The Field Events Coach will be responsible for providing high-quality instruction, developing scholar-athletes technical, physical, tactical, and mental skills, preparing athletes for competition, and strengthening the overall Track & Field program.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a passion for HCZs mission, an understanding of and respect for the Harlem community, and experience working with youth in a school-based or community-based setting. The successful candidate will use athletics as a platform to promote academic achievement, leadership, accountability, teamwork, discipline, resilience, and personal growth.
For more information, check out.
Requirements
High school diploma or GED required, bachelors degree preferred.
At least three years of experience coaching track and field field events, preferably at the middle school, high school, collegiate, club, or elite competitive level.
Demonstrated experience developing and coaching athletes in one or more field-event disciplines, including jumps, throws, or other applicable field events.
Strong knowledge of track and field rules, regulations, event-specific techniques, training methodologies, competition strategy, and athlete development.
Demonstrated knowledge of appropriate training progressions for field events, including strength, power, speed, mobility, coordination, technique, and event-specific conditioning.
Demonstrated ability to design and implement progressive training programs appropriate for youth and adolescent athletes.
Experience coaching and supporting youth and adolescent populations.
Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain scholar-athletes.
Commitment to the mission, values, and programs of Harlem Childrens Zone.
Strong leadership, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet established deadlines.
A positive, enthusiastic, collaborative, flexible, and solutions-oriented mindset.
Ability to work effectively with scholars, families, coaches, school leaders, HCZ colleagues, community organizations, and external partners.
CPR and First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe.
Ability to travel to away meets, invitationals, tournaments, championships, and other athletic events.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required by the athletic schedule.
Who You Are
The Track & Field Field Events Coach is responsible for the development and performance of scholar-athletes competing in field events while contributing to the overall success and culture of the HCZ Track & Field program.
The Field Events Coach will design and implement age-appropriate training plans, lead practices, prepare athletes for competition, evaluate performance, and provide individualized coaching and feedback. The coach will work closely with the Head Track & Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletics, school leadership, and other coaching staff to ensure consistency in training, expectations, athlete development, and program operations.
The successful candidate understands that coaching extends beyond athletic performance. They will serve as a mentor and role model who promotes academic accountability, positive behavior, leadership, teamwork, discipline, resilience, and long-term scholar development.
The Field Events Coach must understand the importance of developing technical skills, strength, power, coordination, mobility, and event-specific abilities progressively and safely. They should be able to balance competitive expectations with appropriate training loads, recovery, injury prevention, and the individual needs of developing athletes.
What Youll Do
Field Events Program Leadership and Training
In collaboration with the Head Track & Field Coach and Athletic Leadership, develop and implement a comprehensive field-events development program for elementary, middle, and high school scholar-athletes.
Design and implement age-appropriate, progressive training plans that develop technical proficiency, strength, power, speed, mobility, coordination, balance, body control, and overall athletic performance.
Lead daily practices and field-event-specific training sessions in accordance with the overall Track & Field program schedule.
Develop individualized training plans based on athlete ability, experience, event specialization, competition schedule, and developmental needs.
Prepare scholar-athletes for field events, including long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, discus, javelin, and other applicable events within the program.
Teach proper event-specific mechanics, body positioning, approach patterns, takeoff and landing techniques, throwing mechanics, implement control, and competition strategy.
Develop appropriate drills and technical progressions to improve event-specific performance.
Incorporate appropriate strength, power, speed, mobility, flexibility, coordination, conditioning, and injury-prevention strategies into field-event training.
Collaborate with Strength & Conditioning staff, Athletic Trainers, medical personnel, and other coaches when appropriate to support athlete health and performance.
Evaluate athlete performance through practices, competitions, technical assessments, video analysis, testing, and other appropriate measures.
Use performance data to establish goals and adjust training plans.
Identify and develop scholar-athletes with potential to compete at higher levels of competition.
Competition and Meet Preparation
Prepare scholar-athletes for league meets, invitationals, championships, tournaments, and other sanctioned athletic events.
Develop individualized competition plans based on event, athlete strengths, competition level, and meet conditions.
Prepare athletes to effectively execute event-specific techniques, approaches, attempts, warm-ups, competition routines, and strategic adjustments.
Attend and actively coach assigned competitions and provide real-time instruction, support, and feedback.
Maintain accurate records of athlete marks, personal records, placements, qualifying standards, and other relevant performance data.
Support the Head Track & Field Coach with meet entries, athlete selection, event assignments, competition logistics, and scheduling.
Help scholar-athletes understand competition rules, attempt procedures, event etiquette, equipment requirements, and appropriate conduct.
Promote sportsmanship, professionalism, accountability, and appropriate conduct before, during, and after competitions.
Scholar-Athlete Development and Accountability
Recruit, evaluate, develop, and retain scholar-athletes interested in field events.
Provide individualized instruction and feedback to support each scholar-athletes athletic development.
Create a positive, inclusive, disciplined, and high-performing training environment.
Promote sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, resilience, accountability, discipline, and respect.
Establish and communicate clear expectations regarding attendance, participation, behavior, academic performance, training standards, and team responsibilities.
Hold scholar-athletes accountable for meeting HCZ academic, school attendance, and after-school programming standards.
Collaborate with school staff, CCLR, Zone site staff, families, and other HCZ colleagues to identify and support scholars experiencing academic, attendance, behavioral, or engagement challenges.
Reinforce the expectation that academic responsibilities and required school or after-school programming take priority over athletic participation.
Teach scholar-athletes the importance of goal setting, time management, discipline, consistency, preparation, recovery, and responsible decision-making.
Recognize and celebrate academic achievement, leadership, positive behavior, personal growth, and athletic accomplishments.
Athlete Health, Safety, and Wellness
Prioritize the health and safety of all scholar-athletes during practices and competitions.
Implement appropriate warm-up, cool-down, mobility, recovery, hydration, and environmental safety practices.
Ensure that field-event training areas and equipment are properly inspected and used in accordance with established safety procedures.
Provide appropriate instruction and supervision when using throwing implements, jumping equipment, pits, runways, standards, landing areas, and other field-event equipment.
Monitor athletes for signs of excessive fatigue, overtraining, injury, dehydration, heat-related illness, or other health concerns.
Follow all HCZ, school, league, and athletic safety policies and procedures.
Immediately report injuries, incidents, behavioral concern
