Who You Are
You might be exactly who we're looking for. This program is for you if you:
- Want to be a leader and positive role model for younger athletes
- Identify as female
- Are at least 15 years old (or a rising sophomore)
- Have played the sport you want to coach at the middle school level or higher
No prior coaching experience required — just a genuine desire to lead and give back.
What You'll Do
The Coach Today, Lead for Life program combines hands-on leadership development with the opportunity to coach a team in your community. Here's what that looks like:
Leadership Program
- Complete an Everything DiSC© assessment to better understand your leadership style and how you work with others
- Attend a Leadership Academy training before your season begins
- Engage with professional development content delivered throughout the program to keep you growing
- Meet weekly with a dedicated adult mentor for guidance and reflection throughout your season
- Connect and grow alongside a peer cohort of fellow WCA coaches going through the program with you
Coaching Placement
- Coach young athletes alongside a peer co-coach, keeping sport fun while helping kids build real skills
- Prepare, organize, and adapt practices and game plans for athletes of different skill levels
- Communicate with kids, parents, co-coaches, and program staff throughout the season
- Coach 1–2 practices per week plus games — typically weekday practices and weekend games
- Commit to a full coaching season, which is usually 8–10 weeks depending on your league
What’s Required
Here's what you'll need to participate in the program:
- Be reliable, consistent, and fully present — your players need you at every practice and game
- Have a schedule that allows you to show up consistently — significant conflicts with school, work, sports, or other commitments during the coaching season may affect your eligibility
- Have reliable transportation to and from all practices and games
- Attend the Leadership Academy training before your season begins
- Be at least 15 years old or a rising sophomore
- Have played the sport you want to coach at the middle school level or higher
- Submit a work permit if you are under 18
- Submit a Parental Consent Form if you are under 18
- Complete a background check if you are 18 or older
- Pay a $200 Program Commitment Fee upon acceptance. Scholarships are available so that cost is never a barrier to participating — if you're able to pay, doing so helps us support those who need it most
What You'll Receive
The Coach Today, Lead for Life program offers more than a coaching placement — it's a structured leadership experience with real support along the way:
- An Everything DiSC© assessment and leadership curriculum to help you grow and know yourself better
- Leadership Academy training and sample practice plans to set you up for success
- A dedicated adult mentor with weekly check-ins throughout your season
- A peer cohort of fellow WCA coaches growing alongside you
- Professional development content delivered throughout the program
- A paid coaching position with hourly pay at minimum wage. Prefer volunteer hours instead? Coaches who opt out of pay can receive documented volunteer hours for their coaching time
- A co-coach to partner with throughout the season