Academy Athletic Development Coach

About the Performance and MedicineTeam:

Our mission is to support every athlete in reaching peak performance while reducing injury risk.

Through a multi-disciplinary approach that blends sports science, nutrition, medicine, and psychology, we deliver personalised programs tailored to each player’s needs.

We work closely with coaches to balance training loads, guide recovery, and provide insights into player readiness. Mental wellness is also a key focus, with sports psychologists helping athletes build resilience under pressure.

The Opportunity:

The opportunity to join Sunderland AFC as an Academy Athletic Development Coach represents a unique chance to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of young talent within a prestigious football environment. Within the framework of the sports science programme, you will have the responsibility to design, deliver, and monitor high-quality sports science support tailored to the developmental needs of players aged U9 to U16. This role offers the chance to utilize an evidence-informed approach, ensuring that training and support are structured and periodised effectively across different stages of physical development, thereby fostering optimal athletic growth. You will work closely with coaching staff and medical teams to continually assess and adapt the programme, ensuring it aligns with the club’s objectives and contributes meaningfully to the broader performance and medical strategies.

Daily activities will encompass delivering conditioning sessions, supporting injury rehabilitation, analyzing growth, maturation, and GPS data, and providing valuable insights to players and staff. Additionally, the role involves mentoring placement students, contributing to the club’s long-term athlete development plans, and maintaining compliance with Category One standards.

This position offers a dynamic environment for professional growth, with opportunities to engage in ongoing CPD, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to Sunderland AFC’s vision of developing resilient, well-rounded athletes at every stage of their journey.

What We Ask For:

To be successful in this role, you should have relevant degree or equivalent in Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning, or a related field, along with professional accreditation from a recognized body such as UKSCA, BASES, or NSCA. A current First Aid certificate is essential, and additional qualifications like MSc, EFAIF, or CASES are a plus.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience designing and delivering youth sports science and conditioning programmes, preferably within a high-performance football environment. They should be skilled in assessing growth and maturation data and supporting injury rehabilitation alongside medical teams.

A strong understanding of periodisation, training principles, youth development, injury prevention, and evidence-based practice is necessary. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are key to working effectively with players, staff, and students, along with the ability to adapt programmes based on ongoing assessments.

An Enhanced DBS from Sunderland AFC is required.