Overview of Responsibilities

The Director, Learn To Play is an independent contractor responsible to the Durham Attack Executive, providing leadership for the Club's Learn To Play volleyball direction alongside the DA Director, Recreational Programming and the DA Technical Director.

• Ensure Volleyball Canada and its Long-Term Development (LTD) model is being implemented for all programming.
• Recruit, hire, train and evaluate all coaches associated with the program, including leadership for secondary locations. All staff hired by the Contractor shall be approved by DA leadership (Board of Directors) and must comply with Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) coaching policies, including Code of Conduct, Safe Sport and Making Ethical Decisions.
• Make all necessary efforts to contract existing Club athletes or coaches to fulfill the coaching duties of this program.
• Create and amend curriculum for all lessons and ensure coaches are trained to deliver such programming.
• Create session schedules for participants and communicate the calendar in advance of the start of the season.
• Manage all deliverables related to delivering the program, including equipment, T-shirts and awards. Budget to be determined by the DA Director, Recreational Programming.

Position Requirements

• Experience coaching youth volleyball.
• A proven track record in the development of youth volleyball programs at the development level.
• Knowledge of the Volleyball Canada Long Term Development (LTD) Model.
• An understanding of the evolution of coaching principles, with focus on improved coaching philosophies, communication and instructing youth.
• An ability to think and plan strategically as part of a team, and effectively link house league planning with broader Club goals.

Knowledge and Experience

• Working knowledge of and support for the Volleyball Canada LTD, in addition to Ontario Volleyball current player and coach development policies.
• A strong understanding of youth volleyball competition structure and how it relates to optimal player development.
• Knowledge of the Canadian volleyball landscape, and the challenges and opportunities it presents to grassroots player development.
• Experience creating practice plans and game schedules is considered an asset.
• Experience directly managing, mentoring and motivating a wide range of coaching personnel.
• Managing budgets and experience reporting is considered an asset.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Support the DA Technical Director and DA Director, Recreational Programming in the development and implementation of the Club technical plan.
• Provide guidance on technical volleyball decisions that may impact policy, planning and personnel.
• Create the complete DA Learn To Play schedule for the 2026–27 season that complements the technical development plan for participants.
• Identify athletes and coaches for movement to House League participation.

Coach Development

• Assist the DA Technical Director and DA Director, Recreational Programming in the recruitment, development and strengthening of the DA pool of coaches within recreational programs.
• Under the guidance of the DA Technical Director, provide technical feedback regarding recreational coaching staff, decisions on coaches continuing with the Club, and identifying individuals for further development along the coaching pathway.

Player Development

• Collaborate with the DA Technical Director and DA Director, Recreational Programming to drive the ongoing implementation of LTD principles into the DA Learn To Play program, including an enhanced training component and a recreational curriculum aligned with the pathway into house league and competitive programs.
• Build on the Club's existing development programs to deliver an effective curriculum to the whole Club.

Communications, Finance and Reporting

• Actively promote the program vision and underlying philosophy to the Club's varied stakeholders, including non-technical members.
• Maintain a strong customer-focused approach with the Club's membership, ensuring effective communication with players, parents, coaches and other stakeholders.
• Provide best practices to the DA Director, Recreational Programming on program budget expenditures and revenue opportunities. No expenses shall be permitted without prior approval from the DA Executive.
• Complete a monthly report to the Club Executive, submitted by the DA Director, Recreational Programming each meeting.
• Other duties as may be assigned from time-to-time by the DA Executive.