Soccer Shots Fall Internship Experience

Employer Description:
Founded in 2002, Soccer Shots is recognized as the premier intro to soccer provider throughout the United States, with a specific focus on children ages 2-8. Through franchising and a commitment to strong systems and training programs, Soccer Shots is now offered in over 170 territories in over 36 states around the US and Canada. Over 500,000 children will enjoy Soccer Shots this year!

Soccer Shots is consistently recognized as a Top 500 Franchise. In 2016, Soccer Shots was listed #194 on the list. Soccer Shots has been named the #1 Childrens Fitness Program in multiple years. Rankings are made based on categories such as financial strength and stability, growth rate, size of the system, years in business, and startup costs.

Local Franchise:
The local Soccer Shots franchise, called Soccer Shots Southwest Connecticut (the Company), was established in 2021. It covers Fairfield County, and parts of New Haven, and Middlesex Counties in Southwestern Connecticut. Our headquarters are located in Fairfield, CT. The Company is a family owned and operated business, owned by David, Kelley, and Antonio Alejos. The Company offers year-round Soccer Shots programs at nearly 100 locations, serves over 2,000 participants annually, and employs approximately 20 part-time coaches.

Primary Internship Site: 2 Trap Falls Rd 318, Shelton
Throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut

Supervisor: David Alejos, Executive Director
Phone: 203-615-8225 (company phone)

Professional Development Value:
Soccer Shots is a leader in leaving a lasting, positive impact on the youth it serves. Through the game of soccer, children learn creative play and character skills. With supervision from the manager, the student intern will be exposed to a successful franchise system and the inner workings of a small business while increasing proficiency in delivering an athletic program to youth.

Academic and Experiential Objectives:
The student intern will be required to handle and present him/herself in a professional manner, consistently arriving on time to assigned office hours, coaching sessions, and events. He/she will be expected to assist in the overall execution of a Soccer Shots season and will gain knowledge in the planning, scheduling, sales/marketing, customer service, and management side of the business. Throughout the season, the intern will have the opportunity to lead the efforts to organize and coordinate an annual clinic or event, which is an important aspect of Soccer Shots community outreach. The student intern will also participate in instructing Soccer Shots sessions, giving him/her experience in coaching youth and working with parents and directors of childcare centers.

Obtaining Academic/College Credit:
This internship experience may or may not already be an approved academic credit internship with your school. Please make sure to notify us immediately if you are seeking academic credit through your school for this experience. With your help, Soccer Shots will work directly with your schools registrar, your academic advisor, or your schools internship/career department to allow this internship experience to count for academic credit.

Responsibilities (can include but are not limited to):

Leadership/Management:
Assist in the overall execution of the scheduled Soccer Shots season
Plan and run free clinic
Coach sessions throughout the season
Video/photo projects

Sales/Marketing/Customer Service:
Run demos and attend promo events
Participate in selling
Correspond with center directors
Participate in social media content creation and communication

Administrative/Support:
Create, print, and distribute registration forms and promotional materials
Prepare and keep record of equipment sets and gear for instructors
Assist in preparation of instructor training meeting
Prepare marketing documents
Data entry

Professional Development:
Attend regional meetings, as available
Attend Director Round Table discussions and staff meetings, as available
Submit final report to Soccer Shots on experience

Goals & Evaluation method:
A performance evaluation will occur at 4 weeks and at the conclusion of the internship experience. The evaluation will consider the following general areas of professional operations and specific intern goals within each area:

1. Core Values
2. Core Skills
   1. Attitude
   2. Effort
   3. Initiative
   4. Productivity
   5. Communication
   6. Professionalism
3. Job Specific Skills
   1. Planning
   2. Business Development
   3. Marketing
   4. Coaching
   5. Administration

Continuing formal and informal supervision will occur between the intern and the onsite supervisors. Clear and open communication will occur on an ongoing and as needed basis, with a bi-weekly meeting and daily check-in via email or phone call.

Internship Structure and Compensation:
The Soccer Shots internship will vary on the season of the internship. In general, it will encompass a minimum of 220 hours over a 11-to-13-week period. Internship seasons are as follows:

Spring Semester: starting in mid-December and concluding early June
Summer: starting in May and concluding in mid-August
Fall Semester: starting in August/September and concluding end of November

The internship will include 12-15 consecutive work weeks with a range of 15-35-hour work weeks for the duration of the internship. The number of hours may vary per week and can be determined by supervisors and the interns schedule. If your need is less than the proposed hours, please do not hesitate to communicate that with us. Additional events may arise for you to attend, but we will work to communicate these dates and times in advance.

During the first four weeks of the internship, the intern will be working closely with the Executive Director or Director of Coaching on preparing for the upcoming season -- scheduling instructors, running demos, promoting the season, and training for upcoming coaching sessions. Office/admin to on-field assignments is approximately 75/25 in weeks leading up to the season start. Once the season starts, the interns focus will shift to executing the program by coaching a minimum of 25 (for full time) Soccer Shots sessions per week (sites and times TBD) and training, evaluating, and supporting other coaches. Office/admin time to on-field assignments during the 8-9-week season is approximately 25/75. The hours will include some sessions during the daytime, sessions on two weeknights (3 7:30pm), and weekend morning sessions (9am 12:30pm).

The intern will be compensated based on number of hours assigned to internship. The intern will be paid $18 per hour. Sessions will be scheduled within close proximity of the interns residence whenever possible. A gas stipend of $100 is paid for this position as some travel is required.

Interested candidates should a send a cover letter and resume to swct@soccershots.com and docswct@soccershots.com.

Internship positions will be filled on a rolling schedule so the earlier the submission, the better.