Sports League Director

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: VP of Program Innovation

DIVISION: Operations

DIRECT REPORTS: TBD

JOB SUMMARY

The Sports League Director builds and leads one Sports League framework for every Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Club, bringing AZ Plays (Sport for All. Play for Life.) to life in day-to-day Club programming. This position designs, launches, and runs seasonal leagues across 30+ Clubs in basketball, soccer, flag football, baseball, volleyball, and pickleball, and serves at the program director level for the AZ Plays Sports Sampling curriculum.

The Sports League Director also partners with the Facilities Director on gym and sports facility rentals, and builds and runs sports camps and tournaments. Through this work, the position builds essential skills for health and well-being, and for character and leadership, by making sure every young person can find a team, try a new sport, and keep playing.

JOB RESPONSBILITIES 

• Collaborates with the Director of Training, Programs, & Quality and the Director of Leadership through Sport to plan and carry out AZ Plays programming across Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.

• Designs and launches one consistent Sports League framework across 30+ Clubs, including seasons, age divisions, rules, game formats, and a league playbook each Club can follow.

• Builds and manages the annual sports calendar so league seasons, facility schedules, and school calendars align across regions.

• Manages league registration, rosters, team placement, and game scheduling for all sites.

• Recruits, trains, and supports coaches, officials, and volunteers, with coaching standards rooted in youth development best practices.

• Partners with the Director of Leadership through Sport to place teens trained through coaching and referee academies in paid league, camp, tournament, and facility rental roles.

• Coordinates uniforms, equipment, and transportation with Club Directors and funding partners.

• Leads safety and risk management for leagues, including background checks, injury and concussion protocols, and incident reporting.

• Serves as program director for the AZ Plays Sports Sampling curriculum, including session plans, age-group rotations, and skill progressions built on physical literacy.

• Aligns the Sports Sampling curriculum with the Aspen Institute’s “8 Plays” framework.

• Trains and coaches Youth Development Professionals to lead Sports Sampling with quality and consistency, and conducts regular Club site visits to observe, model sessions, and give feedback.

• Uses Sports Sampling as a pathway into Sports Leagues, clinics, camps, and the Youth & Teen Sports Councils.

• Partners with the Facilities Director to schedule and grow external rentals of Club gyms, fields, and courts, including booking processes, rental agreements, and insurance requirements.

• Protects Club programming time first, then fills open facility hours with rentals that generate revenue.

• Explores, designs, and launches sports camps during summer and school breaks.

• Plans and runs Club-wide tournaments and showcases, and develops the budget, staffing, pricing, and sponsor plan for each.

• Works with Marketing and Resource Development on league, camp, and tournament promotion and sponsor recognition.

• Manages the Sports League budget and supports grant and sponsor reporting.

• Tracks participation, retention, program quality, and family feedback, and reports results tied to priority outcomes in collaboration with the Data & Evaluation team.

• Ensures all programming aligns with youth development best practices and safety standards.

• Encourages BGCAZ “Rules of Engagement” and incorporates into day-to-day interactions with staff.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE, LICENSURE and CERTIFICATION

• HS diploma or equivalent 
• 5+ years of experience running youth sports leagues or programs, including 2+ years supervising staff and volunteers.
• Experience running programs across multiple sites.
• CPR, First Aid, and AED certification, or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Must have and maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license and an Arizona Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY and SKILLS

• Working knowledge of at least three of the following sports: basketball, soccer, flag football, baseball, volleyball, and pickleball.
• Strong skills in scheduling, budgeting, and registration systems.
• Clear, warm communication with young people, families, coaches, and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, coordinate and direct multiple activities with varied deadlines and deliver in a timely manner.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Preferred: experience building a league or program from the ground up; experience with facility rentals, camps, or tournaments; background in coach education or positive youth development; bilingual in English and Spanish.

WORKING CONDITIONS and DRIVING

• Travel between Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley sites, schools, sports facilities, and community sites is required. Must meet the insurance standards of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.
• Work is performed in Clubs, gyms, fields, and community settings as well as an office setting.
• Regular evening and weekend hours are required during league seasons, camps, and tournaments.
• Work is performed indoors and outdoors, including in Arizona heat.

EXPECTATION of EXCELLENCE

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley supports a culture of excellence in all we do and all employees are expected to reflect these values in their daily responsibilities. To be sure we meet our obligations for high performance in all areas, we organize our goals and efforts under these 5 Pillars of Excellence: