Middle School Cross Country Coach

Season: Fall

Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn is a tuition-free independent public charter school serving grades 6-12. Our mission is to provide all students with exceptional preparation for college and their careers that empowers them to lead fulfilling lives.

Athletics are an important part of that preparation providing opportunities to develop discipline confidence teamwork resilience leadership and school pride. As Panthers our student-athletes are expected to compete with purpose support one another and represent Unity with pride.

Unitys Middle School is located at 432 Monroe Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant and our High School is located at 584 Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg.

Unity coaches are educators mentors and leaders who use athletics to help students grow on and off the course. The Middle School Cross Country Coach builds an inclusive competitive and high-character program in which students across experience and ability levels can discover running develop as athletes challenge themselves experience belonging and represent the Panthers with pride.

The coach is responsible for creating a program that attracts and engages students while developing the fitness technique confidence habits and competitive mindset necessary for athletes to improve throughout the season. Great runners and teams are built through consistently excellent practice preparation encouragement and feedback.

Build an Excellent Cross Country Program

• Develop and lead a competitive well-organized cross country program reflecting Unitys expectations for excellence sportsmanship safety and student development.
• Plan and lead consistently high-quality practices that are purposeful engaging appropriately challenging and maximize active participation and individual growth.
• Teach age-appropriate running fundamentals including pacing form endurance race strategy warm-up and cool-down routines strength and mobility recovery and injury prevention.
• Design training that appropriately differentiates for students across a range of experience fitness and ability levels while helping each athlete make measurable progress.
• Prepare student-athletes to compete confidently and effectively in meets and help them understand race strategy course management and goal setting.
• With the active support of the Athletic Director and other coaches recruit encourage motivate and engage students building a program they are excited to join work hard for contribute to and remain part of.
• Establish and consistently reinforce clear team expectations routines roles and standards.

Develop Student-Athletes

• Build strong relationships with student-athletes and know them as individuals students and competitors.
• Teach discipline perseverance resilience goal setting teamwork leadership accountability and sportsmanship while providing the support students need to meet high expectations.
• Help students develop confidence in themselves as athletes including students who may be participating in organized athletics or distance running for the first time.
• Use individual goals progress monitoring feedback and recognition to help athletes understand their growth and remain motivated throughout the season.
• Know the academic standing attendance and eligibility status of student-athletes and partner with students families teachers and school leaders to support Unitys academic expectations.
• Reinforce the responsibilities of being a Unity student-athlete and help students respond productively to challenge competition feedback success and disappointment.
• Create opportunities for athletes to maximize their potential and excel including encouraging students with interest and ability to continue cross country track or other athletics at Unitys High School and beyond.

Build Team & School Culture

• Create a team environment characterized by belonging enthusiasm hard work encouragement mutual respect and a strong Panthers identity.
• Build a culture in which athletes celebrate both individual improvement and team success and understand that every runner contributes to the program.
• Ensure student-athletes represent Unity with pride and sportsmanship at practices meets school and in the community.
• Model composure integrity respect preparation positivity and accountability in interactions with students families officials competitors spectators and colleagues.
• Contribute positively to Unitys broader school culture and celebrate student-athletes growth and accomplishments.

Partner with Families & the School Community

• Build strong respectful relationships with families through clear timely and proactive communication about schedules expectations student progress meets and concerns.
• Partner with the Athletic Director school leaders teachers and other coaches to support the educational and athletic development of student-athletes.
• Help build continuity between Unitys middle and high school athletics programs by encouraging students to remain engaged in athletics as they advance through Unity.
• Address concerns professionally and participate in relevant athletics and school events.

Operate with Excellence

• Maintain a consistent practice and meet schedule communicate changes promptly and arrive prepared and on time for all team activities.
• Prioritize student safety during practices and meets including appropriate attention to weather hydration training load running routes injuries and student supervision.
• Follow all school league city and state requirements governing interscholastic athletics and established health and safety procedures.
• Maintain required records and ensure proper care inventory and return of uniforms equipment and supplies.
• Work closely with the Athletic Director on scheduling transportation facilities eligibility equipment meets awards and end-of-season responsibilities.

A successful cross country season at Unity is about more than meet results. We expect our Panthers to challenge themselves and pursue excellence while ensuring student-athletes:

• Experience consistently well-planned productive practices and demonstrate measurable growth in fitness running ability confidence and race performance.
• Develop an understanding of the habits preparation and perseverance required to improve as runners and athletes.
• Meet high academic attendance behavioral and eligibility expectations.
• Demonstrate discipline teamwork resilience leadership sportsmanship and pride in representing Unity and the Panthers.
• Demonstrate strong participation attendance engagement retention and commitment to their teammates and program.
• Develop enthusiasm for athletics with students encouraged to continue participating in cross country track or other sports at Unitys High School.
• Finish the season stronger-as athletes students teammates and young people-than when they began.

• Student-Centered: You see coaching as an opportunity to teach mentor challenge encourage and develop young people.
• Developmental & Competitive: You value individual growth and broad participation while preparing students to challenge themselves and compete at a high level.
• High Expectations High Support: You build trusting relationships hold students accountable and help them rise to ambitious expectations.
• Motivational: You know how to encourage young athletes through difficult practices setbacks and the physical and mental challenges of distance running.
• Prepared & Dependable: You plan ahead communicate clearly prioritize safety and consistently follow through.
• A Culture Builder: You create belonging teamwork enthusiasm and Panthers pride.
• Reflective & Coachable: You seek feedback collaborate well and continually improve your craft.

• Strong understanding of distance running fundamentals conditioning training progression race preparation and athlete safety.
• Ability to teach and develop middle school athletes across a wide range of experience and ability levels.
• Strong organizational communication motivational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships and communicate effectively with students families colleagues officials and other programs.
• Demonstrated reliability professionalism sound judgment integrity and accountability.
• Current CPR/AED certification or willingness to obtain certification with support from Unity prior to the start of the season.
• Ability and willingness to meet all applicable certification safety league and regulatory requirements.

Preferred

• Prior cross country track and field distance running or endurance-sport coaching experience; middle school coaching experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with middle school students in a school youth development club or community-based setting.
• Experience building participation and positive team culture while developing athletes individually and collectively.

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made. The role may require extended standing and walking; traveling over varied outdoor terrain; bending stooping climbing stairs and reaching; physical ability to actively supervise and support practices and meets; and lifting up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height.