Home Field Advantage Launches New Student Coach Micro-Internship Pathway with Support from LA84 Foundation

Home Field Advantage expands its Student Coach Program with a new paid micro-internship, creating leadership opportunities for 45 high school students across Downey, El Monte, and Whittier.

December 10, 2025

Home Field Advantage is excited to announce the official launch of our Student Coach Micro-Internship Pathway, made possible through the generous support of the LA84 Foundation. This marks a major milestone in the continued growth of our Student Coach Program and our commitment to investing in local youth leaders through sport.

HFA’s Student Coach Program has long been a proven pipeline for developing local leaders, with alumni going on to become mentors, coaches, and role models in their communities. This new paid micro-internship represents the first time we are able to offer stipends at this scale — 45 total, with 15 students each from Downey, El Monte, and Whittier — building on the success of our recent pilot program at Ánimo Compton in partnership with Youth Business Alliance, supported through a CFCI grant.

Two Pathways for Spring 2026

Beginning this spring, the HFA Student Coach Program will officially offer two pathways:

Volunteer Student Coach Pathway
This pathway will continue to provide students with hands-on coaching experience, leadership development, and community impact through volunteer service.

Paid Student Coach Micro-Internship Pathway
HFA will offer 15 paid micro-internship positions for the spring semester. Selected students from Downey, El Monte, and Whittier will receive structured professional development, mentorship, a stipend in recognition of their time and impact, and nationally recognized coaching licenses through US Soccer, USA Basketball, and USTA. Across the full program, 45 Student Coaches will participate in HFA’s leadership and coaching initiatives during the school year.

Powered by LA84’s Commitment to Play Equity

This opportunity is made possible by funding from the LA84 Foundation, which recently announced $1.78 million in grant awards to 19 organizations across Southern California, including Home Field Advantage. These grants focus on expanding access to youth sports in communities where cost, transportation, safety, and lack of facilities often create barriers to play. LA84’s investment supports programs that prioritize equity, belonging, and opportunity for young people across the region.

With this support, HFA is able to further strengthen its youth leadership pipeline, ensuring that Student Coaches not only gain experience but also develop leadership skills, earn professional credentials, and become mentors and role models in their own communities — continuing the cycle of impact from one generation to the next.

Priority for Current Student Coaches

All current Student Coaches are automatically enrolled in the Volunteer Pathway and will receive priority consideration for the new paid Micro-Internship positions. Additional details about expectations, timelines, and selection will be shared during upcoming program meetings.

To learn more about the updated Student Coach Program, visit:
🔗 https://www.hfa-sports.org/student-coach

We’re grateful to the LA84 Foundation for their continued investment in youth, coaches, and community-based sports — and excited to take this next step in supporting the next generation of local leaders.