As I reflect on how leadership and teamwork are woven into every aspect of Playworks services, I think of one of the most powerful programs we offer at Playworks: our Junior Coach Leadership Program. It’s more than just a training opportunity for students. It’s a transformation tool that builds confident young leaders who bring recess and their communities to life.
Across Southern California, we’ve seen students rise to the occasion. Kids who were once hesitant to speak up now lead games with clarity and confidence. Students who struggled to find their place at recess are now the go-to teammates helping others feel included. This is what happens when kids get a chance to lead early and have the support to grow into it.
What Is the Junior Coach Leadership Program?
The Junior Coach Leadership Program is a school-based initiative that trains upper-grade students to serve as peer leaders, facilitating safe and inviting play for younger students during recess and beyond.
Junior Coaches learn:
- How to organize and lead games
- Conflict resolution techniques (like using Rock-Paper-Scissors)
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Time management and responsibility
- How to be positive role models for their peers
They also learn something just as important: how to believe in themselves.
Junior Coaches don’t just lead games. They change the feel of the whole playground. To the younger students, they’re role models, almost like superheroes, showing what inclusion, youth leadership, and fun look like when kids are empowered to lead.
Real-World Leadership, One Recess at a Time
One of the things I love most about the Junior Coach Leadership Program is how it connects learning to action. Our coaches don’t just talk about teamwork; they practice and model it every single day on the blacktop.
We’ve seen Junior Coaches:
- Welcome new students into games with a smile and a high-five
- De-escalate conflicts by stepping in calmly and fairly
- Encourage students on the sidelines to join in and try something new
- Work with recess supervisors and Playworks Ccoaches to make sure everyone is having fun and staying safe
They’re not just learning leadership—they’re living it.
“Being a Junior Coach was my first real opportunity to be a leader outside of schoolwork. It was up to us to schedule what games we wanted to play, to figure out who would work together, and to get together the equipment.” – Julia, former Junior Coach
Teamwork Makes the Playground Work
This kind of leadership can’t thrive in a silo; it takes teamwork. We see it not just among Junior Coaches but between staff, students, and Playworks Coaches. When everyone’s working from the same playbook, magic happens.
One thing I love about this program is how schools start owning the work and carrying it forward – it builds capacity across the school community. Teachers and administrators see what’s possible and begin to integrate more student leadership into their school culture. Recess becomes the place where kids actually practice the skills they’ll use for life.
And as coaches phase out, we see schools take ownership. Junior Coaches mentor the next cohort. Staff continue the structure. Students remember the confidence they built and carry it into middle school and beyond.
The Ripple Effect of Youth Leadership
Junior Coaches aren’t just changing recess—they’re changing themselves, their classmates, and their schools. They become more confident, more connected, and more capable of working with others.
And it’s contagious.
We often hear from principals and teachers that the leadership students develop on the playground shows up in the classroom—in group projects, in peer relationships, and even in academic engagement.
This is what happens when young people are given real responsibility and trusted with real leadership opportunities. They rise.
What’s Next?
As we head toward the end of the semester, we’re excited to see even more schools begin to implement the Junior Coach Leadership Program. From selecting students to training them in leadership, communication, and facilitation, it’s a team effort—and one that pays off every single day at recess.
We’ll also be hosting peer-to-peer learning opportunities where Junior Coaches from different schools can come together to share ideas, celebrate their impact, and continue growing as leaders.
Final Thoughts
Leadership shows up in small moments. It’s a Junior Coach stepping in to help a younger student learn a game. It’s a kid reminding others to include someone who’s standing off to the side. It’s students growing more confident because someone believed in them enough to hand them a role and trust them with it.
When I was an AmeriCorps Coach, I remember Liam’s first day in the Junior Coach Leadership Program. He was eager to take on a leadership role, but he was still shy when it came to working with his peers. Teaching games, resolving conflicts, and stepping into that responsibility is a big ask of a young leader. Years later, his principal shared that Liam graduated from high school at the top of his class and was headed to college. Even back in those cafeteria trainings, you could see the spark of leadership starting to form.
Want to learn more about how Playworks supports student leadership in your community?
Schools that start mid-year often experience immediate shifts in their recess culture, especially around belonging and positive play. Visit playworks.org/southern-california or reach out to explore how to bring the Junior Coach Leadership Program to your school.
