Sports Program Assistant

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

3d•$18 - $18•Onsite

About The Position

The Sports Program Assistant supports the YMCA’s mission of strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The role builds positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents and caregivers, staff, and community partners. It promotes the potential of youth, encourages peer connections, and provides program experiences that foster achievement, belonging, and relationships among youth and families. The assistant plans and implements classes focused on a specific topic and skill mastery, culminating in a session-end exposition or showcase. The position maintains close visual supervision of assigned children, supports positive behavior, and helps ensure that programs are inclusive, safe, clean, and consistent with YMCA standards and applicable requirements. It also maintains program records and communicates with families, participates in events, activities, meetings, and trainings, and follows YMCA policies for safety, reporting, and risk management.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years old.
High school diploma or equivalent; employees under 18 must have a school-issued work permit.
Ability to assist with planning, organizing, and implementing age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate activities around a specific focus area.
Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.
Strong character values, including respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring.
Strong communication skills and emotional maturity.
Current approved First Aid certification.
Adult, Infant, and Child CPR certifications.
Complete child abuse prevention training before the first day in the program.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including planning, leading, and participating in activities.
Ability to lift 30–35 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with school-age children in a group setting.
Previous experience with diverse populations.
Completed semester units in child development, human services, or related fields.

Responsibilities

Nurture children through purposeful programming that supports achievement, belonging, and positive relationships among youth and families.
Maintain close visual supervision of assigned children and follow program- or class-specific staff-to-child ratios; ensure no child is left unsupervised and no staff member is alone with a child during the program.
Help children manage behavior through positive approaches, proactive strategies, redirection, and constructive discipline using natural and logical consequences.
Support inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act where appropriate.
Plan and implement classes focused on a specific topic and skill mastery, culminating in an exposition or showcase at the end of the session.
Follow program standards for safety and cleanliness; maintain program sites and equipment and keep required records in accordance with YMCA expectations.
Build positive relationships and communicate effectively with parents; engage parents as volunteers and connect them with the YMCA.
Attend and participate in family events, program activities, staff meetings, and trainings as needed.
Follow YMCA policies and procedures, including those for medical and disciplinary situations, child abuse prevention, emergencies, mandated reporting, supervision, and risk management.
Follow reporting procedures and respond proactively to situations to maintain a safe environment.
Comply with current federal, state, and local regulations and YMCA policies and procedures.
Maintain positive relationships with parents, YMCA team members, and community partners, and model relationship-building skills, including Listen First.
Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character and YMCA Core Values in dealings with members, guests, volunteers, and coworkers.
Demonstrate competencies and willingness to develop in mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and personal growth.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.