Lead Youth Development Phase CoachSwansea City

JOB TITLE                                      Lead Youth Development Phase Coach

DEPARTMENT                                Academy

RESPONSIBLE TO                          Head of Coaching (Direct)

DIRECT REPORTS                          Youth Development Phase Coaches

SALARY                                         Competitive

CONTRACT                                    Full-time, 40 hours a week

WORK FLEXIBILITY                        The position will involve working irregular hours; evenings, weekends and bank holidays)

Purpose of Role

To be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of coaching, player development and coach support across the Youth Development Phase (U13-U16). The role combines hands-on coaching with phase-wide leadership, ensuring a consistent, high-quality and age appropriate programme that aligns with the club’s playing philosophy and long-term player development plan.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Coaching

• Plan, deliver and evaluate high-quality training sessions that align with the Academy’s game principles and player development philosophy to age groups across the YDP.
• Act as the lead coach for a designated YDP age group, taking responsibility for matchday coaching, team selection and in-game management.
• Ensure coaches within the YDP are delivering sessions that align with the Academy’s game principles and player development philosophy.
• Ensure all coaching content reflects current best practice in long-term player and athletic development.

Operations & Logistics

• Coordinate the weekly and seasonal training, fixture and tournament schedule for the YDP, liaising with the operations department.
• Coordinate 6-weekly reviews for YDP players and parents/guardians and player progress meetings with YDP coaches and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure appropriate staffing ratios for all training sessions and matches in the YDP.

Coach Mentoring & Support

• Line manage, mentor and support the ongoing development of YDP coaches, including regular 1:1s, observations and feedback.
• Design and deliver internal CPD sessions and workshops to upskill coaching staff.
• Work with the Head of Coaching to support coaches in their qualification pathway (e.g. UEFA coaching badges) and identify development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, reflective coaching culture, encouraging peer observation and shared best practice across the phase.
• Conduct performance with reviews and contribute to the recruitment of new coaching staff within the YDP.
• Take overall responsibility for planning and implementation of players’ Individual Development Plans (IDPs) across the YDP, ensuring consistency of approach across all coaches within the YDP.
• Work closely with Foundation Phase and Professional Development Phase leads to ensure a coherent and aligned approach to player pathway and development.
• Lead player review meetings with parents/guardians and players, communicating progress, targets, action points and how we will support.
• Collaborate regularly with the wider multidisciplinary team to support the holistic development of each player.
• Monitor and report on player progress against club and phase benchmarks, delivering this information in succession planning and player progress meetings.
• Collaborate with the Head of Recruitment on talent identification and player recruitment/retention decisions within the YDP.

Player Development

About The Candidate

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum UEFA A Licence
• Hold FA Advanced Youth Award
• Minimum of 3 years working within an EPPP Academy environment
• Experience mentoring, line managing and leading other coaches
• Strong understanding of long-term player development principles and age-appropriate coaching methodology
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage players, parents and staff effectively
• Up to date safeguarding certification and enhanced background check (e.g. DBS)
• First Aid certification (e.g. EFAiF or FRS Level 2)
• Degree in Sports Coaching or Teaching.
• Experience delivering workshops or CPD sessions to coaching staff and parents
• Full UK Driving License
• Knowledge of EPPP system and audit process
• Continue to challenge, learn and set standards within the coaching department
• Creative and open-minded
• Being proactive in organization
• Attentive to detail and driven to succeed
• To always maintain a flexible approach to work
• To build and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally