About The Role
Middlesbrough Football Club is inviting applications for the role of Academy Physical Performance Coach (U9-U16). The successful candidate will lead on the delivery of the academy athletic development programme, requiring an individual that is passionate about working with youth athletes, knowledgeable on the topic of athletic development in youth populations and keen to help develop the next generation of academy talent. We are looking for an individual that is capable of delivering age and maturity status appropriate content, that engages and inspires youth athletes to maximise their athletic development.
- Lead on the practical delivery of pitch based athletic development training units for the U9-U16 squads in line with the club’s athletic development framework
- Lead on the practical delivery of gym-based athletic development sessions for the U12-U16 age groups, ensuring programmes are specific to an individual’s needs based on competency and training history in line with the club’s athletic development framework.
- Work collaboratively with the Assistant Academy Physical Performance Coach to facilitate pitch based athletic development sessions for U9s-U16s age groups.
- Work closely with coaching staff to structure the training cycle/week and design training sessions to meet the physical development needs of all U15-U16 players, integrating with the football curriculum as much as possible.
- Perform growth and maturation assessments on all U9s-U16s players at regular intervals over the course of the season in line with club protocols and EPPP requirements, disseminating key information gathered to key stakeholders.
- Perform physical profiling on all U12s-U16s players over the course of the season, in line with EPPP requirements and club protocols.
- Contribute to U12s-U16s players individual learning plans (ILPs), ensuring selected players have appropriate physical ILPs based on athlete profiling data, positional profile gap analysis and coaching staff observations.
- Feedback growth and maturity status and physical performance testing data in a time efficient manner, in line with club protocols, to the wider MDT to support future player development activities
- Perform growth and maturation assessments and physical profiling on trialist players and feed information back to the MDT in a time efficient manner to help inform the recruitment process.
- Collect, analyse, report and feedback all training load information for the U15-U16 squad to the wider MDT in a time efficient fashion. Ensuring the relevant staff are informed of any action points resulting from such data as soon as possible.
- Work closely with the club nutritionist to support the delivery of the club’s nutritional education programme. Also ensure individuals requiring additional support from the club’s nutritionist are identified as soon as possible and communicated to the nutritionist along with any supporting/contextual data that would assist an individual consultation
This role is not limited to the duties listed above and will include additional duties outlined in the role jobs specification.
About The Candidate
Experience and Skills
- Undergraduate degree in Sport Science or related field (Essential)
- Postgraduate degree in Sport Science or related field (Desirable)
- Proven track record of supporting the physical development of youth athletes.
- BASES Accreditation (or enrolment/willingness to enrol on Supervised Experience Pathway) (Essential)
- Recognised Strength & Conditioning Accreditation (UKSCA, NSCA, ASCA) (Desirable)
- FA Coaching License (Desirable)
- Excellent knowledge of the physiological demands of elite football and fundamental training principles to support the athletic development of young players.
- Excellent knowledge of growth and maturation and its effect on youth athletes development.
- Capable of demonstrating a wide variety of on and off-field exercises in line with the desired technical model.
- Demonstrates a growth mindset, with a commitment to continuous learning, self-development, and supporting the development of others.
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Forward-thinking and able to identify opportunities to enhance performance and practice.
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Values collaboration and works effectively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
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Builds positive and professional relationships with colleagues, players, and key stakeholders.
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Engages, motivates, and inspires young athletes of varying ages and developmental stages.
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Works effectively both independently and as part of a team.
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Enjoys problem-solving and can apply creative and practical solutions to challenges.
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Demonstrates excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent IT Skills.
Willing to work flexibly where required on a 5 out of 7 day rota, including evening and weekend work.
About The Club
Please note that this post falls within the scope of ‘regulated activity’ and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exemptions) Act 1975.
MFC is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
MFC is also committed to the safeguarding of vulnerable groups.