West Yellowstone Nordic Needs Head Coach

West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation

Head Coach – West Yellowstone Nordic Ski Team

Position:  Head Coach – Nordic Ski Team

Accountable To:  WYSEF Board of Directors in consultation with the West Yellowstone School District

Primary Objective of Position:  Under limited supervision, acts as the Head Coach for the West Yellowstone Nordic Ski Team

Job Characteristics:

Nature of Work:

Regular Contact with ski team members and their parents.  Frequent contact with WYSEF Board of Directors, WYSEF Program Director, West Yellowstone Booster Club, local and regional ski community.

Supervision Received:

Position is primarily supervised by the WYSEF Board of Directors in consultation with the West Yellowstone School District; must be able to pass a background check

Essential Function:

Essential functions, as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics.  The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.

This position requires the ability to walk, run, bend at the waist, kneel, reach over head, carry equipment up and down stairs, squat, talk, hear, and see.  The Nordic Ski Team Head Coach must routinely Nordic ski, and regularly work outside in winter conditions.  Hazards are generally controllable; position requires knowledge and proper use of safety equipment, clothing, and procedures.  Must be able to supervise children (and their parents) under occasionally stressful situations.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

Off-Season (5/1-9/30):

• Plan upcoming season’s race schedule
• Coordinate upcoming season’s travel arrangements and associated costs
• Coordinate fundraising efforts for upcoming season’s expenses, including grant writing
• Plan for any new equipment upgrades and expenditures
• Attend Inter Mountain Division annual meeting in May in Park City, UT
• Help develop year-long training plans for athletes for summer training and upcoming season’s goals

Pre-season (10/1-11/30):

• Begin pre-season dry-land training by October 1
• Hold a minimum of two dry-land training practices per week including activities such as Ultimate Frisbee, mountain bike rides, roller-ski workouts, etc
• Organize Ski Team participation (ski team members, coach, and parents) in the annual Trail Clean Up Day at the Rendezvous Ski Trails
• Organize Ski Team participation (ski team members, coach, and parents) in the annual WYSEF Ski Swap

Yellowstone Ski Festival (Thanksgiving Week):

• Coordinate with WYSEF to send three Ski Team members on a scholarship to participate in the Ski Festival clinics
• Hold practices for remaining Ski Team members on snow
• Organize Ski Team volunteers participation (ski team members, coach, and parents) in the Ski Festival Races
• Enter qualified team members in Ski Festival Races

Regular Season (12/1-4/1):

• Hold regularly scheduled practices daily from 4:00PM-6:00PM at the Rendezvous Ski Trails
• Coordinate travel schedules with team members and parents
• Travel with Ski Team to away races
• Coordinate with WYSEF Board Members to schedule assistant coaches three nights per week
• Review and update athlete training plans and goals with Ski Team members

General

• Help produce a Policies and Procedures handbook for ski team members and their parents outlining expectations for behavior, participation, and conduct
• Attend all regularly scheduled WYSEF Board Meetings, and/or provide written reports
• Participate in WYSEF events and functions throughout the year
• Coordinate Ski Team parent involvement in WYSEF events
• Attend regular USSA Intermountain/Northern Division planning meetings and report back to the WYSEF Board with updates
• Attend ongoing coaching education/training when available
• Recruit new athletes to the Ski Team
• Maintain a high level of standard for the West Yellowstone student athletes

Education and Experience:

The knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position include the following:

• Strong Nordic ski teaching and coaching knowledge and skills necessary to teach Classic and Freestyle techniques
• Efficient verbal and written communication skills
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and delegate responsibilities when necessary

Performance Criteria:

This position is subject to annual performance reviews by the WYSEF Board of Directors