Lead Professional Development Phase Coach (U18’s)

Location

Huddersfield

Contract type

(Full time)

Closing date

10 April 2024

Interview date

29 April 2024

Contract

• Full-time (35+ hours per week, including occasional evenings and weekends)
• Permanent

The role

We are currently recruiting for a Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, with a specific focus on Under-18 players, in preparation for expanding our Academy and developing footballing talent across younger age groups. In this new role the successful candidate will lead, coach, and develop Academy Scholarship Players (U18s) and prepare them for the Senior Professional Development Phase. The post holder will be the Lead Coach of the U18s with responsibility for the training and competitive fixture programme. You will work alongside the Academy Manager and the B Team Coach to ensure the correct pathway opportunities are available for players to progress to the First Team.

The post holder will be required to oversee all operations of the U18s Coaching Phase, and to manage and work with the Academy staff to plan, deliver, and review coaching sessions in accordance with the Club Philosophy, Coaching Plan, and Coach Competency Framework

Applicants must have significant coaching experience within a professional football Academy and/or player development environment and be able to demonstrate a successful record of player development. You must hold a UEFA A coaching licence as a minimum, alongside the FA Youth Award qualification.

This role requires flexibility and a willingness to work non-standard hours in accordance with the needs of the Club. Passionate about making a difference through sport, the successful candidate must be an effective communicator and able to form positive relationships with young players and their parents/carers, and other team members.

Applications

If you have the specified experience, qualifications, and personal attributes, and are enthusiastic about the variety and opportunities that this role offers, we would love to hear from you.

We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and as such, we encourage you to ensure that your application details how you feel you match our requirements. The volume of applications received prevents us from being able to provide feedback at short-listing stage. Please ensure that your application is:

• Fully completed.
• Tailored for the requirements of the role – Section 6 of the application form should reflect how you meet the ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria for the position as detailed on the person specification (please follow the instructions on the application form)
• Accurate in terms of content and presentation.
• Submitted by the specified deadline.

Please also highlight any factors that you would like us to consider, for example, if you have a disability or health condition that may require us to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

To apply

Please download an application form from our website. Please note that we do not accept CVs.

Please send your completed application by email to [email protected] by 9:00am on Wednesday 10th April 2024.

Interviews are likely to take place in mid to late April 2024.

Key Performance Indicators

• To follow the coaching competency framework set and agreed by the Club, and lead in the detailed six-weekly individual development plans and player parent reviews.
• All players to achieve training and playing minutes targets within the season, as set out in the Academy Performance Plan (APP).
• To implement the objectives/processes as set out in the APP for the Academy coaching department.

Role Specific Responsibilities

Coaching

• Oversee all operations of the U18s Coaching Phase.
• Work with the Academy Coaching Team to develop the Academy coaching philosophy.
• Manage and work with the Academy staff to plan, deliver, and review coaching sessions in accordance with the Club Philosophy, Coaching Plan, and Coach Competency Framework.
• Work with relevant support staff to ensure that the training programme is clearly planned, with well-defined objectives on a Macro, Meso, and Micro level.
• Ensure that each session plan is documented prior to delivery of the coaching session, including individual and team key coaching points and learning objectives for each player using the Performance Management Application (SAP).
• Evaluate coaching sessions, documenting achievement of learning objectives on SAP.
• Ensure that all individual and team learning objectives link to the Academy Coaching Programme and Terriers identity.
• Ensure that each coaching session correlates with the individual player and team requirements of the Sports Science and Medical departments.
• Work with the U18s staff to plan, deliver, and review every coaching session using methodology and vocabulary specified within the Academy Coaching Philosophy.
• Ensure that the Performance Clock is maintained and updated on SAP daily for each player, reflecting all training information.
• Provide support to the B Team coaching teams for training and matches when required.
• Work closely with individuals and the multidisciplinary team to develop the individual and player led coaching programmes for all Academy players in line with the Club’s Position Specific Characteristics.
• Ensure all sessions are delivered with a compliant approach to Health and Safety.
• Develop and maintain a positive learning environment to maximise each player’s learning potential in line with the requirements of the Coach Competency Framework.

Match Day

• Document Match Day planning and evaluation using SAP.
• Document on SAP individual and team key coaching points in each Match Day Plan, which are linked to the Academy Coaching Philosophy and individual player aims.
• Ensure appropriate playing opportunities for all players in the U18s including contracted and trialist players.
• Ensure the evaluation of the players’ performance against the players’ individual aims.
• Ensure that all Academy staff emphasise individual and team learning objectives during pre-match, half-time, and post-match team talks and player interaction.
• Ensure that the Performance Clock is maintained and updated for each player on SAP, to ensure all match minutes are recorded correctly.
• Arrange games, in addition to the Youth Alliance games programme, as deemed necessary to ensure players receive adequate match time to support development.
• Exhibit appropriate touchline behaviour according to the Coach Competency Framework.
• Liaise with the Academy Lead Goalkeeping Coach to report on the performance and progress of each Goalkeeper.

Performance Reviews

• Work with the other Academy Coaches to prepare and conduct Player Performance Reviews (IDPs) for each player every six weeks, involving all multidisciplinary departments in the process.
• Link player Individual Development Plans to the learning outcomes of the Academy Coaching Programme and the Position Specific Characteristics.
• Work with the Performance Analysts to ensure video evidence is available to support each IDP.
• Ensure all information relating to performance reviews is maintained on SAP and/or the Club server, and that information is distributed to parents/carers.

Recruitment

• Help to identify talented young footballers who can play in the First Team at Huddersfield Town.
• Assist in the evaluation of the succession plan, working with other Coaches and Recruitment team to ensure that there is a streamlined pathway for players to get to the First Team.

General Duties

• Attend Academy meetings as requested to ensure appropriate departmental communication, planning, and evaluation.
• Attend any special events, dinners, and functions as may occasionally be required.
• Attend at least five hours of in-service training provided by the Football Association each year.
• Attend First Aid Training for Academy Coaches provided by the Football Association at least once every three years.
• Liaise with the Academy Manager and B Team Coach to ensure the succession plan for players in the U18s is followed.
• Contribute to parents’ evenings, player and parent/carer meetings, and to maintain a positive relationship with players and their parents/carers.
• Create a positive environment for player development.
• Provide genuine care for each player as an individual striving to develop a rapport and relationship based on mutual trust, Club values, and the Academy philosophy.
• Provide a safe environment in which the player can learn without fear of abuse, consistent with the Club’s Education and Welfare philosophies.
• To execute additional tasks as required in order to meet the Club and Academy’s changing priorities.