Organisation Derby County Football Club Salary Competitive salary, dependent on experience, up to £25,000 per annum. Location Derby Contract type Permanent (Full time) Closing date 4 August 2024 Job Description Academy Performance Coach
Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season, and is under the management of Head Coach Paul Warne. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.
Derby County Football Club are looking for an experienced Performance Coach to join our Academy Medicine and Physical Performance Team at our Category One Academy in the Professional Development Phase as an Academy Performance Coach.
The successful candidate will manage and organise the Academy Performance programme (PDP), supporting the Senior Academy Performance Coach with a specific delivery focus to the Professional Development Phase (PDP).
Working closely with and under the support of the Senior Academy Performance Coach and Lead Academy Performance Coach, the Academy Performance Coach will be responsible for programming and delivering all athletic conditioning to the PDP Phase under the Lead Academy Performance Coach's direction.
The Academy Performance Coach will oversee the implementation and delivery of the Academy Performance Plan (APP) (including the long-term athletic development (LTAD) plan) for the Academy PDP in conjunction with the Senior Physical Performance Coach.
Key Responsibilities:
•To programme and deliver PDP Phase performance strategies under the direction of the Lead Academy Performance Coach and the Senior Academy Performance Coach.
•Collaborate with the Senior Academy Performance Coach, aligning programming with synonymous athletic development methodologies.
•Delivery of physical and physiological testing for PDP Phase players, following the APP.
•Support the Lead Academy Performance Coach in designing and implementing the long-term athletic Development (LTAD) plan for the PDP Phase.
•Support the nutritional strategies that complement and support the required conditioning adaptations.
•Support the Senior Academy Performance Coach in designing and collecting all Academy individual and team performance testing. This includes but is not limited to on-field assessments, weight room strength/power profiling, Anthropometric/Maturation monitoring, necessary Physiological testing, etc.
•Work with the wider medical team to provide an integrated approach to performance enhancement regarding injury rehabilitation and return to training/play criteria.
•To work in conjunction with the medical team, when necessary, in delivering athletic rehabilitation to injured players and lead on return to play components, both on and off the pitch.
•Note and record each player's athletic progress and physical development, understanding his specific requirements and subsequently influencing the programming afterwards.
•Understand how to safely maximise the resources available at Derby County Football Club, particularly regarding recovery and regeneration sessions.
•Provide Athletic Development education and in-service training to Academy coaching staff.
Personal characteristics and experience:
•Previous experience in providing Strength and Conditioning support to players, athletes or coaches to improve performance.
•Experience in developing, implementing and evaluating strength and conditioning programmes.
•Knowledge of and ability to construct strength, power and endurance-based gym and field-based training programmes.
•Knowledge of and ability to coach and integrate football skills and techniques into strength and conditioning sessions where appropriate.
•Ability to implement innovative ideas, problem solve, make decisions and work under pressure within strict time frames.
•Good IT skills with the ability to use computer-based programmes.
•Recent and relevant experience in a professional sports performance environment.
•Documented evidence of CPD.
•Previous postgraduate experience in professional sport.
Essential Qualifications
•Undergraduate degree in Sports Science (or other relevant discipline).
•Postgraduate degree in Sports Science (or other relevant discipline).
•UKSCA accreditation or industry-recognised equivalent, i.e. ASCA.
oOr have attended workshops run by the UK Strength and Conditioning Association and be able to achieve accreditation (or industry-recognised equivalent) within six months.
•BASES accreditation (or working towards).
Desirable Qualifications
•UEFA B Licence.
Competitive salary, dependent on experience, up to £25,000 per annum.
The role is full-time, working 35 hours per week. Due to the demands of a professional football environment, working evenings and weekends is required.
Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress. Our core values are:
•We are proud of who we are and what we do
•We are positive, inspired and passionate
•We are ambitious and driven
•We are prepared, honest and humble
•We are the heartbeat of our community
•We are the club of opportunity
Derby County employee benefits include:
•25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
•Two complimentary staff season tickets
•Two complimentary staff away memberships
•20% discount at DCFC Megastore
•Company Pension with Aviva
•Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
•Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
•Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’
•Training and development opportunities
•Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
•Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm
Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.
Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.