Water Polo Coach

Asphalt Green•New York, NY

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Asphalt Green is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives and builds community through sports, fitness, and play for all. Each year, Asphalt Green serves thousands of New Yorkers through sports, aquatics, fitness, camps, and community programs that promote health, personal growth, and lifelong participation in physical activity. Across three campuses and numerous community partnerships, Asphalt Green is committed to providing high-quality programs that are inclusive, accessible, and rooted in excellence. Asphalt Green believes that access to movement, sport, and wellness can change lives. Our work helps young people develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and healthy habits that extend far beyond the playing field. Asphalt Green is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Water Polo Coach to support water polo programming at both our Upper East Side campus and off-site locations. The Water Polo Coach is responsible for helping athletes develop technical skills, game understanding, conditioning, teamwork, and confidence in a safe and structured aquatic environment. This role will lead and support practices, provide individualized coaching and feedback, reinforce team expectations, and help prepare athletes for games and competition. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of water polo, experience working with athletes in an aquatics or competitive sports setting, and the ability to create a positive and development-focused team environment. The Water Polo Coach plays an important role in helping athletes build both competitive skills and a lasting connection to aquatic sports. Through structured instruction, thoughtful feedback, and positive team culture, this role helps participants improve swimming ability, water polo technique, game awareness, teamwork, discipline, and confidence. The coach also helps maintain a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where athletes can develop at their individual level while contributing to the success of the team.

Requirements

Experience playing, coaching, or instructing water polo in a competitive, recreational, school, club, or similar environment.
Strong understanding of water polo fundamentals, rules, strategies, and game concepts.
Strong swimming and aquatic knowledge.
Ability to teach and demonstrate water polo skills and techniques.
Experience working with youth or athletes in a structured sports environment.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to provide clear instruction and constructive feedback.
Ability to foster a positive, respectful, and team-focused environment.
Ability to work evenings and weekends.
Dependability, professionalism, and strong judgment.
Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Previous water polo coaching experience.
Competitive water polo playing experience.
Experience coaching youth, club, high school, collegiate, or competitive aquatic athletes.
Experience developing practice plans and athlete training programs.
Knowledge of athlete development, conditioning, and injury prevention.
CPR/AED and First Aid certification.
Water safety, lifeguarding, USA Water Polo, or related coaching certifications.
Experience communicating with parents and families in a youth sports environment.
Bilingual or multilingual language skills.

Responsibilities

Lead and support water polo practices, drills, and training sessions.
Teach and reinforce water polo fundamentals, including passing, shooting, ball handling, positioning, defense, and game strategy.
Support athletes in developing swimming endurance, speed, strength, and water polo-specific conditioning.
Provide clear instruction, demonstrations, and individual feedback.
Modify coaching techniques based on athlete experience, skill level, and developmental needs.
Help athletes understand team systems, positioning, rules, and game situations.
Encourage continuous skill development and athletic growth.
Help plan and execute organized, purposeful, and age-appropriate practices.
Prepare athletes for games, competitions, and other program events.
Support game-day coaching, athlete rotations, strategy, and in-game adjustments.
Reinforce team expectations and standards during practices and competition.
Help evaluate athlete progress and identify areas for development.
Maintain consistent attendance, preparation, and punctuality for assigned practices and events.
Foster a positive, respectful, disciplined, and inclusive team environment.
Promote sportsmanship, teamwork, accountability, effort, and respect.
Serve as a positive role model for athletes.
Encourage confidence, resilience, communication, and leadership.
Support athletes through constructive feedback and encouragement.
Help ensure all participants feel welcomed, supported, and appropriately challenged.
Maintain a safe environment during practices, games, and aquatic activities.
Follow Asphalt Green Aquatics policies, procedures, and emergency protocols.
Supervise athletes appropriately while on deck and in the pool.
Monitor participant safety and respond appropriately to concerns or incidents.
Help maintain organized equipment and program spaces.
Communicate safety concerns, injuries, incidents, or participant issues to program leadership promptly.
Work closely with Aquatics leadership and other coaching staff.
Communicate clearly and professionally with athletes, families, coaches, and program staff.
Participate in required staff meetings, trainings, competitions, and program events.
Support team scheduling, communication, and program needs as assigned.
Represent Asphalt Green professionally at practices, games, competitions, and other events.
Support the overall goals and expectations of Asphalt Green’s Aquatics programs.