Cheer Coach Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Pay starting at $10.00 per hour and up based on experience

Bring your spirit, share your passion, and join the Crossroads YMCA Cheer Team!

As a Cheer Coach, you'll have the opportunity to work with children, teens, and/or adults while teaching cheer skills, building confidence, and creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported.

No two classes are exactly alike. You will:

• Lead fun, energetic, safe, and educational cheer classes.
• Provide appropriate supervision and maintain a safe learning environment.
• Create age- and skill-appropriate lesson plans that help participants progress.
• Modify activities and instruction to meet the individual needs of participants.
• Teach and develop cheer skills, routines, and choreography.
• Assist with planning and developing cheer routines for competitions and performances.
• Build positive relationships with participants, parents, and families.
• Encourage participants and celebrate their progress and accomplishments.
• Bring energy, enthusiasm, and positivity to every class.
• Communicate with parents and guardians about participant progress when appropriate.
• Maintain accurate class attendance records and help support program retention and growth.
• Complete daily equipment checks and cleaning tasks.
• Participate in staff meetings, required training, special events, and YMCA activities.
• Promote other YMCA programs and support the YMCA's mission and community initiatives.

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Share your passion for cheer with others.
• Help participants build confidence, strength, coordination, and teamwork skills.
• Teach skills that encourage discipline, perseverance, and personal growth.
• Create a positive team environment where participants feel supported.
• Develop your leadership, communication, coaching, and choreography skills.
• Celebrate participants' achievements and be part of their growth.
• Build meaningful relationships with participants and their families.
• Help create a strong sense of community within your classes and teams.

Being a Cheer Coach requires energy, patience, creativity, and the ability to work with participants at different skill levels.

You should expect to:

• Keep participants engaged and actively involved throughout class.
• Adapt instruction for different ages, abilities, and experience levels.
• Balance fun and creativity with safety and appropriate supervision.
• Teach skills while maintaining a positive and encouraging environment.
• Adjust activities and routines when participants need additional support.
• Work collaboratively with participants, families, and fellow YMCA staff.
• Maintain consistent energy and enthusiasm throughout your classes.

• Passion for cheer and working with others.
• Ability to lead engaging and age-appropriate cheer instruction.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships with participants and families.
• Ability to create an inclusive environment for individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
• Previous cheer, coaching, gymnastics, tumbling, or related experience is preferred.
• Willingness to complete required YMCA training, certifications, and staff meetings.

You'll be successful in this position if you:

• Love cheer and enjoy sharing your passion with others.
• Bring positive energy and enthusiasm to every class.
• Enjoy working with children, teens, and/or adults.
• Are patient, encouraging, and supportive.
• Are creative and enjoy developing routines and activities.
• Can help participants feel welcomed, valued, and confident.
• Enjoy working as part of a team.
• Want to help others discover the confidence, teamwork, and joy that come from cheer.

When you join Crossroads YMCA, you'll enjoy benefits that support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth, including:

• Free individual YMCA membership
• Discounts on YMCA programs
• Voluntary 403(b) retirement savings plan
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Career growth opportunities

At Crossroads YMCA, we believe every participant deserves the opportunity to feel confident, connected, and supported. As a Cheer Coach, you'll help create those experiences while sharing your passion and building skills that can last a lifetime.

Ready to bring the spirit? Join the Crossroads YMCA Cheer Team today!

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Minimum age 15 required.
2. Must have 12 months experience in participating in cheer training, with prior experience teaching gymnastics lessons preferred.
3. Certifications required within 30 days of hire: CPR/AED & First Aid and New Leader Orientation.
4. Must be available to work evenings and weekends.
5. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
6. Ability to relate and communicate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
7. Ability to read and interpret instructions, procedures, manuals, and other documents.
8. Must have a passion for learning, working with youth/families, and the sport in general.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

The National YMCA Mission:

"To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all."

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y's values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person's point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work, and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths, and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Visual, auditory, and verbal ability to communicate effectively.
• Must have a high level of alertness, concentration, and initiative.
• Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform job responsibilities.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and stand, walk, or sit for extended periods of time; occasionally stoop/bend.
• Maintain a neat and professional appearance at all times.
• Sufficient physical strength and agility to carry out essential duties.
• Position may require bending, leaning, kneeling, and walking.
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to game situations and the physical ability to act swiftly in the event of an emergency.
• Must demonstrate initiative and sound judgment.