Cheltenham Town FC

Responsible to

Head of Coaching & Academy Manager

Build Relationships with

Internal:

Academy Manager, Lead Phase Coaches, Coaches (Part Time), Heads of department, First Team staff, Academy Player Care Manager and Players.

External:

Premier League clubs & Football League clubs, FA, Universities/colleges, FAYCD, and PFA.

Salary

Competitive and based on knowledge and experience

Job Description

Location

Cheltenham Town FC Training Ground, Cheltenham, GL51 9RX

Working Pattern and Work base

Full time

• Flexible working arrangements/hours
• Required to work outside of normal office hours, at evenings and weekends, on bank holidays and public holidays.
• Required to work across different bases

Travel

Regular travel to fixtures, meetings and other events in conjunction with the performance of the duties detailed below.

Overall purpose of the job

To enhance the football and holistic development of the players in the Under 14s to Under 16s age groups. Manage the technical and tactical advancement (individual and team) of the players in conjunction with the relative age group coaches.

Responsible for the detailed holistic planning and implementation of individual learning plans in line with club coaching and playing philosophy.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Personal Development

Undertake self-development to ensure knowledge in relation to all aspect of your role is up-to-date and forward thinking:

• Assist with PDP ILP training sessions
• Assist with Development Squad training sessions
• Provide occasional cover for absent coaches

Coaching Curriculum, Playing and Coaching Philosophy

Ensure the academy’s coaching curriculum is consistently delivered in line with the academy’s playing philosophy and coaching philosophy:

• Ensure coaches are producing matchday/individual objectives on a match basis
• Make sure coaches are adhering to matchday protocol
• Ensure the minimum player to coach ratio for all sessions and matches is met at a 10:1 ratio

Games Programme

• All signed players to participate in 50% on average of playing time over the season
• Each registered outfield player to participate in at least 30 games U14, U15 & U16 per season.
• To provide or participate in a minimum of 3 festivals throughout the season
• To provide tournament football once per season

Psychological programme

• Deliver workshops to players on the 5Cs in line with the psychological programme and adapt match day objectives to suit.
• Attend, meet and communicate with lead psychologist to help with CPD in this area.

Sports Science & Medicine

• Communicate with academy physio on a weekly basis on player’s physical progress.
• Communicate with lead strength and conditioning coach for updates on player’s home conditioning programme.

Performance Analysis

• Communicate with the Performance Analyst assigned to the phase to ensure games are tagged correctly and on time
• Produce and compile best practice clips
• Plan and prepare one group clips meeting each week for each age group
• Link PMA feedback to Dartfish (best practice / areas of development)
• Record training monthly to review coaching and training methods
• Help players compile ‘Me at my best’ player highlight reels

Reviews

• Monitor players training and match minutes and feedback are completed weekly on PMA by coaches.
• After every 6 week block player must receive a MDT written review from the age group coach.
• Organise four sit down player and parent interviews and ensure academy player competencies has been completed by the players and their coaches.
• Monitor and evaluate ILPs and set/review them every 6 weeks.
• End of season Multidisciplinary report provided to all players by the end of the season.

Administration

• Monitor and update player contact and emergency details on google drive for signed and trialist players.
• Communicate to players, parents and coaches on a weekly/monthly basis on the curriculum, fixtures and events.
• Always be available as a contact for YDP phase players, parents and coaches.

Signing players

• Contact new signing and send relevant information and arrange signing meeting.
• Deliver the signing meeting presentation informing players and parents about the academy.
• Process schoolboy registration & release forms. Sign players and ensure relevant EFL forms are completed and handed to the club secretary.
• Maintain in accordance with governing body rules the registration database of all academy players.

Talent ID

• Communicate with Talent ID Manager on trialist start dates
• Organise trialist induction - this must be carried out before the player trains and provide trialist pack.
• Meet with Talent ID Manager, HOR and AM to discuss decision on signing trialist and implement decision made in line with protocol.

Facilities

• On match day ensure the match day protocol is being adhered to by players and coaches.

Meetings

• Attend and input into AMT meetings.
• Organise and chair departmental multidisciplinary meetings.
• Attend and input into parents and players meetings.

Such other duties as may be appropriate to achieve the objectives of the post and to assist the Academy Manager.

Person Specifications (Essential)

Qualifications

• UEFA A Coaching Licence
• FA Advanced Youth Award (or working towards)
• Safeguarding and Protecting Children
• Emergency First Aid in Football (EFAiF)

Required Experience

Experience of working in at least 1 of the following roles:

• A football coaching role
• A mentoring/coaching role

Knowledge and/or experience of at least 3 of the following:

• The process of learning in young people (pedagogy)
• Running and designing development programmes
• Football coaching
• Leading a team
• Managing people
• Sports Psychology

ICT experience of PMA, excel, word and any other software as required to carry out the duties required for the job.

Personal Qualities

• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Have a flexible attitude to work
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Have a polite and courteous manner
• Be organised and have good time management skills
• The ability to meet stringent deadlines
• Be able to adapt to different and changing situations
• Have the drive and enthusiasm to set high standards and achieve company objectives
• Have a personable approach

Other Requirements

• Have a full clean driving licence
• DBS clearance

Safeguarding

• To have due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to follow the child protection procedures adopted by the FA and the club.