Academy Coach (part-time)

Post Title

Academy Coach (part time).

Department/Location

Huddersfield Town AFC Academy, Canalside Training Centre.

Reports To

Youth Development Phase Lead Coach.

Foundation Phase Lead Coach.

Head of Academy Coaching.

Purpose of the Role

To lead, coach, and develop Academy Players (U9s-U16s). The post holder will be a Lead Coach or support Coach of one of the U9-U16s squads and will work alongside the Phase Lead and Head of Academy Coaching to ensure the correct pathway opportunities are available for all Academy players.

Key Relationships

Internal:       Academy Director.

                     Head of Academy Coaching.

                     Football Administration Manager (Academy Secretary).

                    Academy Coaching Team.

                    Academy Recruitment Teams.

                    Academy Physical Performance and Medical Teams.

                    Staff and managers throughout the organisation.

External:      Coaches at other professional and amateur football clubs.

                     Regulatory bodies (e.g., FA Premier League, English Football League,  

                    Football Association).

Key Performance Indicators

·       To follow the coaching competency framework set and agreed by the Club and produce detailed six-weekly individual player development plans.

·       All players to achieve training and playing minutes 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 coaching department.

Role Specific Responsibilities

The post holder will be required to:

Coaching

·       Plan, deliver, and review coaching sessions and games 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 clearly 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 (FiP).

·       Evaluate coaching sessions, documenting achievement of learning objectives on FiP.

·       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.

·       Ensure that the Performance Clock is maintained and updated daily for each player on FiP, reflecting all training information.

·       Work closely with individuals and the multidisciplinary team to develop the individual and player led coaching programmes for all Academy players in line with 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 FiP.

·       Document on FiP 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 Academy 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 FiP, and that all match minutes are recorded correctly.

·       Exhibit touchline behaviour according to the Coach Competency Framework.

·       Liaise with the Academy Lead Goalkeeping Coach to report 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 IDPs 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 FiP or the Club server and information is distributed to parents/carers.

General Duties

·       Attend Academy meetings as requested to ensure appropriate departmental communication, planning, and evaluation.

·       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.

·       Contribute to parents’ evenings, player and parent meetings, and 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 players can learn without fear of abuse, consistent with the Club’s Education and Welfare philosophies.

·       Execute additional tasks as required to meet the Club and Academy’s changing priorities.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Head of Academy Coaching, the Academy Director, and/or any other Senior Leader within the Club.