Lead Physical Performance Coach

Birmingham City Football Club is actively seeking a full-time Academy Lead Physical Performance Coach to be responsible for leading the sports science division of the academy.

GENERAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Communicate and promote the Academy culture creating an elite environment for the development of young players.
• Have consistently high standards.
• Communicate and engage with parents/guardians where appropriate.
• Attend all professional development events.
• Actively engage in a fully functioning competency framework and integrated appraisal process.
• Monitor the wellbeing of Academy players at all times, liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• 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.

ROLE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• To act as a Lead Academy Sports Scientist.
• To coordinate and lead the sports science program for the academy.
• Design and delivery of activation/preparation/recovery sessions for individuals/groups/teams.
• Collaboration with first team staff with players between groups and keeping a track of progressions and load.
• To coordinate and complete physical testing as per the needs of the EPPP for all the u21s and oversee the academy sports science program.
• Delivery of rehabilitation sessions in conjunction with medical staff or as directed insuring modalities and loads are appropriate to the phase of training.
• Provide direction and support where needed for sports science & medical staff within the academy to ensure program delivery is of a high standard.
• Support players in their understanding of lifestyle choices and in educating them on the role of sports science and S&C in supporting their performances.
• The assessment, monitoring, analysis and reporting on team and individual player physical and physiological information using relevant technologies & interventions.
• Fully utilizing excel, PowerBi, The PMA & SharePoint systems – Analyse, store & monitor all relevant data, providing feedback to players/staff as relevant.
• Implement individual and group strength & conditioning programmes using appropriate periodised plans, modalities, loading and injury minimisation strategies.
• To be responsible for the design and dissemination of the gym curriculum throughout the academy with specific responsibility for the u21’s.
• Supporting the sports science & medicine department with the design and implementation of return to play objective markers.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with the Head of Academy Sports Science & Medicine and other Academy and First Team SS&M staff as appropriate.
• To liaise with other professionals as required (Coaching/medical/administrative) to ensure a complete interdisciplinary support on service provision for players.
• Provide advise and support to staff and players as appropriate in areas of exercise.
• Deliver the performance programme to the highest standard possible, to the benefit of the individual, group, or team.
• Use objective markers to identify areas that need physical development or facilitate improved performance.
• Have a working knowledge and assist schoolboy staff with “Years from peak height velocity” and implement anthropometric strategies to estimate adult height.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of work conducted with athletes and coaches on the PMA & SharePoint – To include monitoring of training loads and intensities through GPS and heart rate data, RPEs, wellbeing, hydration status, session content and session attendance, anthropometric data as well as on/off-field testing data.
• Review and update all academy staff on the performance (S&C and sports science) programme as necessary.
• Maintenance of a contemporary and appropriate database of all sport science/S&C information, which allows reporting on individuals/group/team information.
• Contribution to the player performance reviews within the PMA (5 weekly)
• Assist the Head of Academy Sports Science and Medicine with developing the responsibilities of interns whilst evaluating & monitoring their performance.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To provide leadership and guidance to the multi-disciplinary team, players and parents.
• Conduct a 5-week review identifying appropriate areas of physical excellence and areas which need developing.
• Deliver practical activities across the phases to enhance best practise.
• Collation and dissemination of the physical data for each phase to guide physical target setting throughout the programme.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

• To observe and guide junior members of staff and work placement students relevant to your role as academy Lead Sports Scientist.
• Delivery of at least 3 internal professional development events.
• Assists in the development of BCFC SS&M research profile to enhance player care and staff development.
• Attend all club and departmental CPD events.

The Executives in Sport Group are retained on behalf of Birmingham City FC to appoint a Lead Physical Performance Coach. All direct applications and CV's will be forwarded to The Executives in Sport Group.