Assistant Coach InternAt — DCM Coaching

As an Assistant Coach Intern, individuals will observe and support clients while assisting the lead coach in creating a safe, structured, and encouraging environment. Responsibilities include assisting with equipment setup, managing designated activity timers, monitoring client participation, and providing additional instruction or guidance when needed.

When working with children and individuals with special needs, interns will assist the coach in monitoring behavior, maintaining client safety, and responding appropriately to individual needs. This may include supporting clients experiencing emotional distress, behavioral challenges, or difficulty understanding or completing instructions. Interns will observe client behaviors and responses and communicate relevant observations with the lead coach to determine appropriate strategies for support.

Assistant Coach Interns will also help cultivate an environment that promotes learning, motivation, confidence, emotional development, and positive social interaction. Interns will provide positive reinforcement, encourage participation and appropriate coping strategies, and assist clients in working through challenges. Through direct observation and discussion with the lead coach, interns will gain experience in behavioral support, communication, motivation, individual differences, and the application of psychological principles within a coaching environment.

Tasks:

- Observe client behavior, communication, and engagement. They will be provided with the clients notebook where they are responsible in note taking during the session. They will notate everything completed during the session as well as what went great and what needs improvement.
- Assist with the lead coach in implementing individualized strategies to support growth, motivation, learning, confidence, and self- efficacy.
-Assist the coach in handling clients that are experiencing frustration, emotion dysregulation, or behavioral challenges.
- Communicate behavioral observations with the coach and engage in discussions to help improve individual needs.
-Adapt communication based on clients development, behavioral, and individual differences.
-Assist coach with basic session preparation and organization.
-Assist coach in direct client observation, support, and skill development

Training:

Interns will be required to attend a mandatory orientation that covers expectations, safety procedures, client demographics, as well as a tour of the facility. In addition they will be required to shadow 2 sessions, and immediately have a 1 on 1 sit down with the coach to go over questions and further discuss the position. Detailed tasks will be provided as well to help the intern better understand the demographic of clients. The 3 demographics they will assist in is children, Down syndrome, and autism. Going forward interns are required to do weekly check in's to discuss any questions, observations, and plans of action

Learning Outcome:

1. Identify and respond appropriately to behavioral and emotional challenges by recognizing signs and assisting with the coach to conduct proper interventions.
2. Develop effective communication skills with children, special needs clients, and parents.
3. Be able to observe and evaluate client behavior and progress.
4. Apply psychological principles such as positive reinforcement, motivation, behavior modification, and more.