Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach – Birmingham City

Due to the urgency of filling this vacancy, suitable candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply and the role will be closed as soon as a suitable candidate has been sourced.

We are looking for a Strength and Conditioning Coach working predominantly with the 9-16 age group to join our Sports Science & Medicine Team.

Scope of Duties

• Communicate and engage with staff, players, parents and guardians where appropriate.
• Attend all club and departmental professional development events.
• Actively engage in a fully functioning competency framework and integrated appraisal process.
• Continuously monitor the wellbeing of Academy players, liaising with the Safeguarding Services Manager.
• Ensure compliance with all the Policies and Procedures contained within the Staff Handbook, paying particular regard to the Equal Opportunities Policy and Health & Safety Policy and procedures at all times.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• The assessment, monitoring, analysis and reporting on team and individual player physical and physiological information using relevant technologies and interventions.
• Fully utilizing The PMA and SharePoint systems – analyse, store and monitor all relevant data, providing feedback to players and staff as relevant.
• Implement individual and group strength and conditioning programmes using appropriate periodised plans, modalities, loading and injury minimisation strategies.
• Supporting the Sports Medicine department with the design and implementation of Return to Play objective markers.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with the Head of Academy Sports Science and Medicine and all other Academy and First Team SS&M staff as appropriate.
• To liaise with other professionals as required (coaching, medical, sports science, and administration) to ensure a complete interdisciplinary support on service provision for players.
• Provide advice and support to staff and players as appropriate in areas of expertise.
• Deliver and sometimes lead the sports science programme to the highest standard possible, to the benefit of the individual, group or team.
• Deliver extra strength and conditioning clinics as deemed necessary by coaching staff, SS&M staff or player/parent referral to enhance player development and performance.
• Use objective markers to identify areas that need physical development or facilitate improved performance.
• To design and implement strategies to identify years from peak height velocity.
• To design and implement anthropometric strategies to estimate adult height.
• To be responsible for the design and dissemination of the gym curriculum throughout YDP and FDP phases.
• Design and delivery of activation/preparation sessions for individuals/groups/teams.
• Assist in the delivery of physical preparation session.
• Design and delivery of recovery strategies as appropriate in conjunction with Academy Sports Scientists.
• Delivery of rehabilitation sessions in conjunction with medical staff or as directed insuring modalities and loads are appropriate to the phase of training.
• Assessment, monitoring and analysis of player data in relation to physical and physiological aspects of performance.
• Provide direction and support where needed for sports science and medical staff within the Academy to ensure program delivery is of a high standard.
• Lead the gym-based conditioning for all injured players.
• Help coordinate the S&C program delivery across the YDP & FDP and provide direction for the program within the Academy.
• Support players in their understanding of lifestyle choices and in educating them on the role of sport science and S&C in supporting their performances.
• Review and update all academy staff on the S&C programme as necessary.
• Maintenance of a contemporary and appropriate database of all sport science/S&C information, which allows reporting on individuals, group or team information.
• Assist with the design of close-season programmes for players.
• Communicate and promote the Academy culture creating an elite environment for the development of young players.
• Have consistently high standards.

Individual Responsibilities:

• To provide leadership and guidance to the multi-disciplinary team, players and parents.
• Conduct a 10-week review identifying appropriate areas of physical excellence and areas which need developing.
• Deliver practical activities across the phases to enhance best practice.
• Collation and dissemination of the physical data for each phase to guide physical target setting throughout the programme.

Staff Development:

• Observation of the junior members of staff and S&C work placement students, to provide guidance.
• Delivery of at least 3 internal professional development events.
• Attend all club and departmental CPD events.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education/Qualifications

Essential:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant qualification or equivalent.
• First Aid Qualification.
• FA Child Welfare qualification.
• Current DBS clearance.

Desirable:

• MSc Strength & Conditioning.
• UKSCA Registered.

Experience

Essential

• Understanding of the Elite Player Performance Plan and the PMA application.
• Previous experience working within an elite football academy environment.
• Forward thinking mindset to developing the department and programme.

Skills & Abilities

Essential:

• Understands the key concepts of strength & conditioning as they pertain to football.
• Knowledge of peak height velocity, predicted height and methods used to assess both.
• Has developed an understanding of the application of strength & conditioning theoretical framework in an applied setting.
• Maintains an up-to-date understanding of key trends in strength & conditioning provision and the integration and implementation of new technologies to support the programme.
• Interpersonal skills – positive, motivated professional with high moral and ethical values.
• Can lead a group in various settings including on and off field activities and sessions.

Desirable:

• Experienced in the design and implementation of athletic development and performance plans.
• Previously been part a high-performance team in which all staff contributed to a development culture.
• An understanding of the performance and development continuum from youth to senior phases.
• Design and delivery of individual, group and team programs for conditioning & rehabilitation.

Personal Requirements:

• Flexible approach to working hours.
• Collaborative, knowledgeable and influential.
• Enthusiastic, inspirational and innovative.
• Good communicator who uses their initiative.

Terms of Appointment

• 37.5 hours per week.
• 20 days annual leave rising by 1 day per year up to a total of 25 (pro rata for part time hours).
• 8 statutory bank holidays.
• 6 months’ probation.

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