Job description
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: U15/U16 Youth Development Phase Coach
DEPARTMENT: Academy
REPORTS TO: Academy Manager- Football / Head of Coach Development / Head of Player
Development
LOCATION: Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, Compton Park
HOURS: 37.5 hours per week including evening and weekend work
DATE: April 2023
We are Wolves. Progressive, determined, bright, unified and humble. A pack that is hungry for
success. Wolves is one of the fastest growing professional football clubs in the UK, and also boasts
one of the richest histories in the beautiful game.
Formed in 1877, Wolves was a founder member of the Football League, and was one of the
country’s most successful sides in the fifties and sixties. During a two decade spell the Black
Country’s most decorated side won three First Division titles and one of its four FA Cups.
Fast forward to 2022, three seasons at Molineux saw Wolves clinch the Sky Bet Championship
trophy with 99 points, followed by a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, which included
memorable wins over Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal. The next
season saw the team complete a memorable double over the reigning champions, equal the
previous season’s seventh place finish and reach the quarter finals of the Europa League all as part
of the ‘longest season’ in league history, either starting before or finishing after all other teams.
But this post is about not what we have done, but what we will achieve next.
We take seriously our commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and to
ensuring that Wolves is free from discrimination and harassment.
Job purpose
- The Youth Development Phase Coach will coach and develop the U15/U16 players and groups
Development in accordance with the Wolves culture and philosophy.
Key responsibilities
- Be an ambassador of the Wolves culture and philosophy.
- Responsibility to coach and develop players across the U15/U16 age groups within the
- Responsibility for coaching of the squad in consultation with the Academy Manager- Football,
- Responsibility for ensuring that your squad operates in accordance with FA/FAPL and PL rules
- To provide a session planner before every training session including team/individual
- To ensure that equipment is sufficient and safe for training and ensure that all equipment is
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- Completion of the training register for all players, including session and player evaluation of
- Completion of the match report within 24 hours of the fixture on the online management tool
- To complete 6-8 weekly multi-disciplinary reviews for each player, providing short, medium
- To attend multi-disciplinary meetings.
- To coach and support the age group across the U15/U16 academy programme.
- Responsibility for co-ordinating the team sheets and match arrangements on match days.
- To be committed to attending the coach development days/evenings as part of your continual
- To ensure that all qualifications are re-validated as required every three years from date of
- To complete individual match objectives per game.
- Responsibility for welfare of players – Child Protection.
- Where required, complete the mandatory qualifications and relevant Continued Professional
governing bodies (The Football League, The Football Association).
Individual Player Development
- Working alongside the Academy Team, to develop players, within the Academy System, in
- Understanding of player development and how this might differ across the 4-corner model.
- Being able to identify talent with the Academy System and work with the coaches to develop
the player’s individual needs and development plan.
Other Responsibilities
- To ensure that equipment is sufficient and safe for training and ensure that all equipment is
- Completion of the training register for all players, including session and player evaluation of
- Completion of the match report within 24 hours of the fixture on the online management tool
- Responsibility for co-ordinating the team sheets and match arrangements on match days.
- To be committed to the Coach Mentoring programme, involving video and written assessment
- To ensure that all qualifications are re-validated as required every three years from date of
- To complete individual match objectives per game.
- Responsibility for welfare of players – Child Protection.
- Where required, complete the mandatory qualifications and relevant Continued Professional
governing bodies (The Football League, The Football Association).
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Their personal growth as a Youth Development Phase Coach
- Undertake self-development to ensure knowledge in relation to all aspect of coaching and
- Build relationships throughout the Academy broader Club and community.
- Maintain/enhance football and cross sport coaching competence.
General responsibilities
- Compliance with Club policies.
- Compliance with Club’s health and safety procedures.
- Compliance with Club’s safeguarding policies.
- To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.
- To maintain professional conduct at all times.
Safeguarding
- This role involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults in a Regulated Activity (or in
required to apply all relevant policies and uphold the Club’s commitment to safeguarding
vulnerable people.
Key relationships
- To ensure that all player development is communicated to the multi-disciplinary
- To complete twice yearly multi-disciplinary progress reports for each player.
- Liaising with parents as required.
- Reporting directly to the Lead Youth Development U15/U16 Phase Coach, Head of Coach
- Ensure the well-being of Academy players at all times liaising with the Club’s Head of
Diversity and Equality
- To be responsible for your own behaviour and act in a manner that avoids and discourages
Relationships
- Maintain and enrich internal and external relationships.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: U15/U16 Youth Development Phase Coach
Knowledge: the level and breadth of knowledge to do the job e.g. understanding of a defined system,
method or procedure, legal or regulatory frameworks etc
Essential
- Evidence of understanding the Premier League Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) rules and
- Previous experience of working within an elite football academy environment at U15/U16 level.
- A proven track record of developing youth players within the EPPP system.
- A Licenced member of Football Association Coaches Club.
- Understanding of maturation and long-term athletic development.
- A strong understanding of key organisational and operational requirements, including safeguarding,
- Experience of working within an Academy multi-disciplinary team, to develop SMART targets.
- Knowledge and experience of reflective practice and personal development.
- An understanding of elite player behaviour and psychological aspects.
Desirable
- Experience at a Category 1 EPPP Academy.
Technical/work-based skills: skills specific to the job e.g. language competence, typing skills, coaching skills
etc
Essential
- Good understanding of the rules of the game.
- Good use of IT e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
- Ability to provide reflective feedback using PMA.
General skills and attributes: more general characteristics e.g. flexibility, communication skills, team working
etc
Essential
- Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or vulnerable adults and uphold generally
- Can work effectively within a team environment and also independently.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to effectively liaise with players, parents, coaches, staff and senior management, including
- Strong communication and public engagement skills.
- Availability for flexible working hours.
- Own transportation and clean driving licence.
- Takes responsibility for ensuring a high quality of work at all times.
- A genuine team player who leads from the front and will support and motivate other members of
- An adaptive individual who can cope well under high pressure situations.
- A proven ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects.
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- Hardworking and enthusiastic.
Experience: proven record of experience in a particular field, profession or specialism.
Essential
- Proven experience in a similar role.
- Member of F.A. Licensed Coaches Club.
- Working with children and/or vulnerable adults.
Qualifications: the level of educational, professional and/or occupational training required
Essential
- U.E.F.A - A Licence.
- F.A. Advanced Youth Award.
- Up to date FA Emergency First Aid Certificate.
- Post-holder must hold or obtain at the earliest opportunity the relevant safeguarding training (i.e.
- Post-holder will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level and cleared by the Wolves
Desirable
- Associate degree (college diploma or above).
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