Recess Coach

Overview

JOIN OUR NETWORK OF RECESS COACHES

Join us at Kids in the Game to help us change the way kids play! Be part of a team dedicated to providing enriching recess experiences for children, fostering their growth, and promoting a love for physical activity and learning. If you have experience leading games for large groups of kids, want to become a PE teacher or stronger coach, or already have an educational background in physical education and sports management, this role is for you!

Kids in the Game sport and enrichment-based programs can be found in schools and communities across New York & New Jersey, serving thousands of children every year. Our goal is to provide positive experiences and opportunities through sports and creative play. We inspire kids to embrace new experiences, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and build integrity. Our work is focused on achieving four ultimate impacts:

• Enhancing emotional intelligence
• Creating a positive sense of self
• Developing NYC into the nation’s top talent hub
• Narrowing the income inequality gaps

Kids in the Game is a Certified B Corporation and we’re committed to doing business for good. We are striving every day to have a positive impact on the lives of our youth, and we believe that it all starts with being the best part of their day.

We are actively seeking coaches, college students, and youth development specialists to join our dynamic team of recess coaches from September 2025 through June 2026. As a valued member of Kids in the Game, you will be able to help us follow and model our 5 organizational core values through action:

• Positivity:
  Create an energetic and uplifting environment where kids feel excited to participate.
• Empathy:
  Show understanding and support for each child’s unique needs and emotions.
• Commitment:
  Be dependable and deliver consistent, high-quality programming.
• Ambition:
  Strive to continuously improve as a coach and inspire youth to set and achieve personal goals.
• Inclusivity:
  Ensure every child, regardless of ability or background, feels welcomed and valued.

Recess Coaches lead group games during the school day in schools across New Jersey. Coaches organize games and challenges that promote physical activity and positive interaction among children and young adults from pre-K to middle school. Your goal is to develop motor skills and physical development among younger children and encourage proper exercise and eating habits among older children. You must be able to adapt your activities to accommodate and include children with different physical and developmental abilities.

• Weekly
  
  Schedule:
  
  Our Recess coaches are expected to work 10-15 hours per week in different schools throughout the week. Most recess programs operate 3-5 days per week for 2-3 hours per day anywhere between 9am-2pm.
• Recess Program Areas:
• Englewood
• Teaneck
• Hackensack

• Organize and lead structured games, sports, and active play opportunities during recess periods.
• Recess style games: switch, four corners, fireball, wizardball, soccer, basketball, etc.
• Work effectively with your co-coach(es) to run recess periods of 20-25 minutes for groups of 40-80 children in collaboration with school aides who are present during recess periods.
• You should expect to see 4-6 recess groups per day broken down into age levels.
• Encourage participation in structured game play areas with different game stations available, promoting physical activity for all students.
• Coaches must be able to set up and lead games in various stations.
• Adapt games and sports to meet varying age groups and skill levels, plus in different spaces and weather conditions.
• Coaches will be expected to be outside for recess during the fall and winter, even with cold weather. Kids in the Game provides recess jackets for those seasons.
• Schools will decide when recess goes from outside to inside due to weather.
• Coaches must be able to adapt to indoor recess schedules quickly and effectively. You will be expected to partner with school aides and teachers more during this time.

• Promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play in…