About i9 Sports
i9 Sports is the nation’s first and largest provider of youth sports leagues, camps, and clinics. Our mission is to help kids succeed in life through sports. We offer high-quality, community-focused sports programs for boys and girls ages 3–14 in today’s most popular sports, including flag football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and t-ball.
About the Job
We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Youth Soccer Instructor & Official to join our team and play a pivotal role in the development of young soccer players.
In this dual role, you will be responsible for teaching fundamental soccer skills, officiating games, facilitating practices, and ensuring a fun, safe, and educational experience for all participants. You will work alongside our Volunteer Parent Coaches to make sure every child learns the game in a positive, high-energy environment.
Schedule & Locations
This position offers weekend-only shifts (with options available on Saturdays and/or Sundays based on your availability).
- Locations: Venues are located across Columbia, Howard County, Montgomery County
- Upcoming Fall League: Sept 12th – Oct 17th (Note: Rain out/make-up dates run through the weekend of Nov 1st).
Key Responsibilities
1. Instruction & Skill Development
- Teach young athletes the fundamental skills and techniques of soccer, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending.
- Implement age-appropriate drills and exercises using practice plans provided by i9 Sports.
- Provide encouraging, constructive feedback to help players improve their skills and on-field confidence.
- Complete mandatory pre-season training sessions.
2. Game Officiating
- Serve as the primary on-field official/referee for youth soccer matches, ensuring fair play and adherence to league rules.
- Maintain a professional, authoritative, yet approachable and unbiased demeanor during matches.
- Manage game flow smoothly, handling rule explanations and on-field situations with diplomacy and patience.
3. Safety & Supervision
- Prioritize and ensure the physical and emotional safety of all participants during practices and games (ensuring proper equipment like shin guards are worn).
- Supervise and manage groups of young athletes, maintaining a positive, structured, and inclusive atmosphere.
- Promptly address and report any safety concerns or field condition issues.
4. Communication & Leadership
- Maintain open, professional, and effective communication with parents, participants, and fellow staff.
- Act as an on-field mentor to volunteer parent coaches, helping them manage their teams effectively.
Qualifications
- Experience: Previous experience coaching, playing, or officiating soccer is required.
- Knowledge: Strong understanding of soccer rules, field positioning, and standard gameplay regulations.
- Soft Skills: High patience, high energy, a positive attitude, and excellent problem-solving skills under pressure.
- Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently interact with children, motivate volunteer coaches, and address parent feedback.
Logistics & Requirements:
- Must be 16 years of age or older.
- Must have a reliable personal vehicle/transportation.
- Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background check.
- Must be extremely reliable, punctual, and committed to working consecutive weekends for the duration of the season (including potential make-up dates).
Benefits & Perks
- Competitive Pay: Starting compensation is competitive and based on prior experience.
- Paid Training: Get fully compensated for your pre-season preparation and training sessions.
- Professional Growth: Excellent resume-builder for leadership, sports management, education, or coaching careers.
- Impact: A deeply rewarding role where you directly influence youth character development and inspire a love for the world's most popular game.
- Culture: A supportive, collaborative, and fun team environment.
With over 3.5 million registrations in communities across the country, i9 Sports is the nation's largest multi-sport provider focused solely on high-quality, community-based youth sports programs. We offer youth sports leagues, camps and clinics for kids ages 3 and up in today's most popular sports such as: flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and volleyball. To achieve our mission of helping kids succeed in life through sports, i9 Sports provides a youth sports experience unlike any other, teaching the importance of good sportsmanship on the field and in life. We are committed to providing age-appropriate instruction, making sports fun for kids, and convenient for today's busy families. To us, it's The Way Youth Sports Should Be.
Our territories are located in Central/Northern Fairfax County VA, Loudoun County VA, Arlington VA, Northwest D.C, and Howard County/Silver Spring MD.