Job Description
HEAD OF PLAYER & COACH DEVELOPMENT U13-U18
Plymouth Argyle’s Academy are recruiting for a full-time Head of Player & Coach Development for the U13 to U18 age groups.
This exciting new role will be integral to the development of the Academy’s coaching curriculum and games programme as we transition into our new Academy training ground at Brickfields in the 2025-26 season. As well as leading our team of enthusiastic and dedicated Academy coaches through regular CPD and individual Development Action Plans.
We are looking for a player and coach developer that has experience working with players in the Youth Development & Professional Development Phases. This is an exciting opportunity to support the development of players & coaches at this stage of their pathway as well as assisting the club’s aim of developing more home-grown players into the first team.
KEY OUTPUTS:
- Provide structured and timely support for all Academy coaches through a planned CPD Programme and Individual coaches CCF & DAP.
- Manage and develop the club’s coaching syllabus, curriculum and games programme with the support of all age group coaches.
- To oversee the coaching programme and provide support for all age groups teams and individual players to ensure all EPPP requirements are met.
- Alignment of the playing and coaching philosophy across the age groups.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist the Academy Manager on all issues relating to player & coach development on a day-to-day basis.
- Enrol and fully participate in the Premier League’s Elite Head of Coaching (EHOC) Programme.
- To develop and organise a planned CPD schedule for the coaching department and individual needs of the Academy coaches.
- Ensure all coaches buy in to the club’s CCF & DAP process supporting each individual with any areas identified for development.
- To be responsible for the training needs analysis (TNA) for all coaches.
- Assist the Academy Manager to develop the club Academy Performance Plan and achieve departmental KPI’s within the coaching and games programme.
- To guide the clubs playing and coaching philosophy throughout the age groups.
- To monitor and develop the Academy syllabus and curriculum to produce technically excellent players across the age groups.
- To ensure the Academy coaches have written session & game plans including Team & Individual learning objectives linked to the Academy’s curriculum.
- To attend the Academy’s Technical Board and Academy Management Team meetings and arrange coaching department meetings every 6 weeks.
- To coach and develop players across the age groups on a regular basis.
- UEFA A License
- FA Advanced Youth Award 12-16 or 17-21
- FA Safeguarding Workshop
- FA Level 2 Emergency First Aid in Football (EFAiF)
- UEFA Pro License
- Elite Head of Coaching (EHOC)
- European Mentoring & Coaching Council Foundation Award
- Knowledge of the rules and regulations of the FA, EFL and Premier League for Youth Development.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office systems e.g. Office, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent systems.
- Has a desire to develop their own knowledge, skills and capability to be at the leading edge of player development.
- Has a passion for working with players and coaches to develop them.
SKILLS
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Highly organised
- Able to work autonomously
- Able to work as a member of a team
- Strong time management skills
- Ability to problem solve
- Attention to detail
EXPERIENCE
- Coaching within a professional football club within the FP, YDP & PDP.
- Working in a fast paced and pressurised environment.
- A similar role which involves working in an elite learning and/or performance environment
- An education / pedagogy role and understand the process of learning in young people and coaches.
