Academy Coach

About the role

Leicester City Football Club are excited to be recruiting for a talented and coach to lead the Club’s U11 age group and assist the U15 coach with the development and provision of a leading-edge programme that maximises the potential of the Academy’s young people.

Who we're looking for

The ideal candidate will have prior experience of working within a Category One Academy and be looking to develop themselves through a collaborative approach.

The successful individual will have natural enthusiasm for working with young people, laying the foundations of the Academy’s football philosophy, however, will also value and engage with the Multi-Disciplinary Team to ensure consistency and operational efficiency of the U11 and U15 phases.

Main objectives

As Lead U11 Coach:

• Organise and manage an enjoyable, creative, and effective U11 programme within the Foundation Phase.
•  Lead and support the U11 players’ development, ensuring alignment with the Academy’s systems, processes, and football programme.
• Co-ordinate with the Pre-Academy Lead Coach and Emerging Talent staff to ensure players transitioning into the U11s possess the required attributes and potential.

As Assistant U15 Coach:

• Assist in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of training sessions for the U15s, supporting the Lead Coach in executing the age-specific development programme.
•  Contribute to the development and progress of U15 players, ensuring alignment with the Academy’s objectives and performance plans.

General Duties Across Both Roles:

• Collaborate effectively with other Academy staff to maintain consistency in coaching and player development across age groups.
• Provide coaching support in other Academy sessions as required.

Main responsibilities

As Lead U11 Coach:

• Plan, deliver, and evaluate age-appropriate training sessions to prepare U11 players for progression into the Youth Development Phase.
• Manage all organisational arrangements for U11 players, including match schedules, training timetables, and player welfare.
• Monitor the development and progress of each U11 player, ensuring Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) are updated to meet their specific needs.
• Conduct 10-weekly player review processes, including games and individual development evaluations, and facilitate player-parent meetings.
• Co-ordinate the Academy’s review process for U11 players, providing retain and release recommendations to the Academy Management Team.
• Ensure adherence to all trialist procedures for U11 players and submit outcomes to the Academy Management Team.

As Assistant U15 Coach:

• Assist in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of training sessions for U15 players, ensuring alignment with the Academy’s football philosophy and performance objectives.
• Support the U15 Lead Coach in monitoring player development and implementing tailored Individual Learning Plans for U15 players.

General Responsibilities Across Both Roles:

• Conduct weekly planning meetings with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure the effective organisation and operation of both U11 and U15 phases.
• Fulfil all Academy Performance Plan (APP) and Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) requirements for both the U11 and U15 age groups.
• Ensure all Kit Man Labs records are accurate and up-to-date for players within both phases.
• Uphold the Academy’s values, policies, and procedures, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for players and staff.
• The job may require you to travel in the UK and overseas on occasion, including overnight.
• The job will require you to work unsociable hours including evenings, weekends, and Bank Holidays.
• The Employee must always carry out his/her responsibilities with due regard to the Club values and policies and procedures, in particular Health & Safety,
• Equality and Diversity, Confidentiality and regarding the Data Protection Act.

The above Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the Club.

Work with colleagues to identify opportunities to support and/or develop the diversity and inclusion within the team and wider Club.

Personal specification

Experience and qualifications

Essential:

Hold at least UEFA B or Youth Awards.

Experience of working in a Category 1 Academy.

Extensive experience of young player development in academy football.

Experience of communicating with multiple stakeholders including young people, parents and governing bodies.

Desirable:

Hold UEFA A and Advanced Youth Award.

Completed a Premier League development course such as ECAS, EHOC or EAM.

Competencies:

• Numerate with strong IT skills – applies logic to solve problems and has experience in the use of different software(s) to feedback actionable insights.
• Energy and enthusiasm – someone who is eager to drive the development of our players.
• Pro-active – highly organised, can work under pressure to deal with multiple tasks, and is forthcoming with ideas and assistance.
• Interpersonal skills – exhibits respect and understanding of others to build and maintain professional relationships with staff and players.
• Innovative – have curiosity and imagination to solve performance challenges and implement impactful developmental interventions.
• Diversity and inclusion – an inclusive person who fosters a diverse and respectful workplace where team members are valued for who they are.
• Personal development – eager to develop and progress both technically and in the softer skills of being an analyst.

Our Academy cultural framework:

Our identity:

LIKE A FOX WE ARE

Clever and creative by being intentionally open minded and purposefully innovative we will be leading edge in the development of our staff and players.

EMPATHETIC COLLABORATION

With empathy for each other we will relentlessly work in collaboration to drive up our standards and gain a competitive advantage.

Behaviours we expect:

ACT WITH INTEGRITY

Integrity is fundamental to what we do. In football there are no shortcuts, day in day out we are reliable, honest and make decisions in the best interest of the players and environment and not for personal gain.

MANAGED MAVERICKS

In being empowered and trusted to do our work we are also responsible and accountable. Whilst we will be creative and innovative it will not be at the expense of collaboration with others and the broader plan.

How we communicate:

LISTEN INTENTLY

Ideas and solutions come from everyone and everywhere. We must create a safe environment where everyone has a voice even if we disagree. Appropriate questioning and challenge are received positively.

Role requirements

• To comply and promote the Club’s policies and procedures to include Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity and GDPR compliance.
• Understanding of the governance, security and cyber security requirements including areas such as General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
•  To undertake required training including mandatory Club Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety and Safeguarding Induction.

This Job Description may be changed and amended from time to time at the discretion of the Club.

Leicester City Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to provide equality and fairness for all employees. Leicester City Football Club opposes all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. Please refer to our Equality and Diversity Policy for further information.

About the club

Knowing some of the history of Leicester City Football Club helps you appreciate the sense of community, spirit and family for which the Foxes are renowned for.

Formed in 1884, the Club was promoted to the Premier League in 2014 when the Foxes returned to the top tier as the Championship title-winners. In 2016, Leicester City became Premier League champions. This remarkable achievement qualified us for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the Club’s history, and we subsequently reached the quarterfinals.

The Club continued to build on that success and celebrated lifting the prestigious FA Cup in May 2021. Following relegation from the Premier League in 2023, the Club made it the top priority to get straight back up and did so as Championship title-winners in the 2023-2024 season.

Under the stewardship of King Power and the Club’s CEO Susan Whelan, Leicester City Football Club is deeply committed to the local community and its supporters and continually strives to ensure that every point of engagement with fans is truly world class including the experience on matchdays. Investment in the Club continues, with the 2021 opening of a new state-of-the-art training ground in North Leicestershire.

Benefits package

Leicester City Football Club offers a competitive salary and pension scheme with life assurance to all its permanent employees. Employees are able to benefit from free onsite parking as well as an onsite subsidised staff restaurant. Employees also benefit from up to 33 days’ annual leave including bank holidays.

One City. One Club. One Leicester.

How to apply

Click HERE, fill in your details and then click ‘Begin Application’ (bottom right).

Leicester City Football Club believes that football is for all, and we are committed to Diversity and Inclusion, where valuing the individual is our highest priority.

We are working to see equality across all areas of the Club and welcome applications from all areas of the community. We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff and welcome applicants seeking flexible hours.

If you have any requirements in regard to the recruitment process, please let us know; we are happy to support your needs.

Next Steps

Suitable candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply, the role will be shut down as soon as a suitable candidate has been sourced.