Passionate, energetic, and fun-loving youth soccer instructors are needed to work with children ages 2 to 8 in the greater Pittsburgh area! Most important is that our coaches have previous experience with and an appreciation for young children. There is a curriculum to follow and equipment and coaching apparel is provided.

Soccer Shots operates year-round and offers four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter; each season lasts 8 to 10 weeks. We have private (daycare / elementary school / preschool) sessions in the mornings and mid/late afternoons Monday through Friday, and public programs (open to the general public) held Monday through Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings; there are many different scheduling blocks where we could fit you in! Coaches are expected to be available and present for their particular time slot(s) all 8 to 10 weeks of the season, as the kids and parents are dependent upon the consistent leadership that our coaches provide on a weekly basis. You’ll be at the same location(s) at the same times each week, and we need you to be committed for the entire 8 to 10-week season.

The ideal instructor MUST meet the following criteria:

Responsible: Arrives at least 10 minutes early to each session; comes prepared with lesson plan memorized; can handle a group of 10 or more children; keeps accurate attendance; communicates well with Soccer Shots Director of coaching, etc.

Professional: Neat in appearance; friendly and courteous with daycare / school staff and directors / principal and parents; self-assured and confident.

Enthusiastic: Must enjoy interacting with young children (2–8 years old); able to connect with children and to communicate on their level. You must be very outgoing, animated, and able to be silly with the children. There is no room for shyness or reserved behavior; we need ENTHUSIASTIC coaches!

Soccer: Soccer experience is preferred, however, if you are great with children and have some basic familiarity with the game, that should suffice.

Experience with YOUNG children: Must be able to engage and interact with 2-8 year olds, and have experience doing so. This is very important.

Reliable PERSONAL transportation and valid driver's license: reliance on public transportation, ride sharing, or alternative forms of transportation (bicycle) has been shown to be highly unsustainable given the locations at which we work.

PA State-Required Clearances: Candidate must be able to provide clear PA state clearances and clear FBI fingerprint clearance upon acceptance of an offer of employment.

Compensation starts at $18/session for head coaches and $10/session for assistant coaches. Each session is 30 to 45 minutes in length, depending on the particular age group.

Internship Professional Development Value:

Soccer Shots is a leader in leaving a lasting, positive impact on the youth it serves. Through the game of soccer, children learn creative play and character skills. With supervision from the Program Director and the Owner, the intern will be exposed to a successful and nationally-recognized franchise system and the inner workings of a small business while increasing proficiency in delivering an athletic program to youth.

Internship Academic and Experiential Objectives:

The student intern will be required to handle and present him/herself in a professional manner, consistently arriving on time to assigned office hours, coaching sessions, and events. S/he will be expected to assist in the overall execution of a Soccer Shots season and will gain knowledge in the planning, scheduling, sales/marketing, customer service, and management side of the business. The student intern will also participate in instructing Soccer Shots sessions, giving him/her experience in coaching youth and working with parents.

Obtaining Academic/College Credit

This internship experience may or may not already be an approved academic credit internship with your school. Please make sure to notify us immediately if you are seeking academic credit through your school for this experience. With your help, Soccer Shots will work directly with your school’s registrar, academic advisor, or internship department to help you achieve academic credit for this internship experience.

As stated, the internship has the opportunity to qualify for college credits, but there are also paid portions of internship as well (if coaching is done).