Our Junior Coach program is a unique program designed to teach and promote leadership and mentorship skills among our youth athletes. Select middle school students are invited to participate in this program based on a demonstration of the characteristics and focus of our program & culture such as community & teamwork, inclusive focus, positivity, growth mindset, sportsmanship, integrity, and empathy. Selection is based on the potential for future leadership, mentorship, and the ability to be a role model to younger athletes. Our goal of this program is to promote, build, and engage future leaders.
The program includes leadership training in the form of a quarterly workshop and on-site engagement with our Mini Ninja, Beginner Ninja, and Tumbling 1 classes. Our Junior Coaches are taught how to mentor younger athletes, be an appropriate role model, lead by example, build positive relationships, encourage & empower others, and communicate effectively. These athletes/leaders are provided incredible opportunities to learn and improve their skills in a safe, supportive, and fun environment while participating in an activity that they love.
Our younger athletes benefit from this program as our lower level classes typically have at least 2 Junior Coaches in addition to our regular staff. This brings the ratio of students to “workers” down even further than our standard coach to student ratios and increases eyes on athletes and engagement with young athletes. It provides young athletes with role models that are close in age to them and something to aspire to. We hear many of our younger ninjas talking about wanting to be a Junior Coach when they are older and we love it!