PREMIER LEAGUE COACH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: The successful candidate will divide their time between their Bristol City Football Club employment and their individual development plan which includes enrolment to the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme

Background

Professional football must better reflect modern Britain. Bristol City Football Club in partnership with the Premier League, Professional Footballers Association (PFA), and English Football League (EFL) are seeking to improve the diversity of football coaches in the professional game to make this area more representative of society and the playing population. As part of our commitment to improving diversity, we are proud to be able to support the Professional Player to Coach Scheme, Season 2024/2025, by providing a high-quality fixed-term employment opportunity to develop under-represented groups within the football industry. The scheme is open to PFA members who are currently under-represented within English professional football coaching workforce. Men and Women coaches from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds. We believe that having greater diversity helps the whole club to perform better both on and off the pitch.

What is the Professional Player to Coach Scheme?

PPCS provides a 23-month fixed-term employment opportunity and development programme for the successful candidate. The club will act as the ‘base’ of employment and the individual will work across a variety of football functions within the club to broaden their learning experience.

The fixed-term employment opportunity will include coaching and observation across the Academy, and collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams. Successful applicants will enter the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme which is accredited by Leeds Beckett University. Upon successful completion of the programme, coaches will receive a Diploma in Professional Football Coaching. The development programme includes mentoring, workshops, peer learning, projects, and need-led access to FA/UEFA coaching qualifications.

Objectives of the Scheme

To increase the number of former professional players from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds in full-time coaching positions in English professional football
To provide coaches on the scheme with a fixed-term employment contract and development opportunities within a Premier League or EFL clubs
To substantially improve long-term employment prospects for coaches who complete the scheme
To provide each of the coaches with their own development programme to ensure that they are appropriately supported to become successful coaches and visible role models
To assist in diversifying the workforce at Premier League and EFL clubs, promoting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion

Responsibilities

Assist and lead the coaching and individual development of players within a specific age group cell.
Assist and lead match day organisation of squads and teams relevant to your cell.
Assist and lead the match day for the teams within the cell.
Ensure all sessions are logically planned against the coaching curriculum, with clear learning objectives, applicable to each individual.
Responsible for ensuring all players have comprehensive understanding of their individual tailored learning objectives applicable to both training and matches.
Contribute towards all players within the club receiving comprehensive, 6 week (informal) and 12 week (formal) reviews as per the Academy’s required format and clearly relate to their learning objectives.
Demonstrate the ability to adapt curriculum practice to the needs of the individual and group.

Ensure within the club:

The delivery of coaching is based on evidence based principles that ensure effective learning environments within coaching sessions and games.
Coaches create an environment in order to increase players independence and reduce coach dependency
Coaches are given guidelines regarding feedback methods to facilitate player learning and skill acquisition
Coaches create realistic game-related problem solving situations for players
Coaches create conditions to encourage Fair Play, Team work and Leadership among players
The coaches clearly understand the club position related to the development of ‘winning’ within development and how it should be incorporated into the learning environment.
Each coach is working towards understanding the implications of relative age effect, early and late development.
Session content demonstrates the club principles as set out in playing and coaching philosophies.
A range of review methods and sources are used appropriately to ensure session learning objectives are being met.
The coaches develop game plans linked to the playing and coaching philosophy to ensure continuity
Coaches deliver game plans and instruction during matches in line with the Academy’s coaching philosophy
Team and individual learning objectives from games are reviewed to track progress, focus effort and stimulate learning
Time is allocated for game reviews
Reviews are done in a meaningful way that players engage with and respond to
Players are aware of how game plans connect to the wider curriculum
Game plans are adapted when taking into account insights generated through reviews
Integrates appropriate psycho/social/physical inputs
Has age-specific learning aims linked to the playing style for each age group
Demonstrates an understanding of the principles of skill acquisition of players at different ages, which is clearly integrated into the delivery of each session.
A process that ensures a smooth transition and formal handover takes place and that player progress is not adversely affected due to a change in coach, age group or between cells.

Delivery Standards:

Ensure coaches within the cell meet delivery standards in the following areas (non-exhaustive):

Planning, preparation and review, Dress, Behaviour, Referees, Parents, Opposition, Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, autonomy, use of appropriate learning aids to elevate coaching messages, appropriate application of safeguarding practice, take part in regular review of coaching principles.
Person Specification

BACKGROUND

This is a positive action scheme aimed at addressing some currently under-represented groups within the English professional football coaching workforce. PPCS is open to PFA members who are Men and Women from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds. Applications will only be accepted from individuals from these backgrounds

EXPERIENCE

PFA member
Coaches must not have previous experience of holding a full-time coaching role in a Premier League or EFL Club

Desirable

Experience of delivering effective and engaging coaching and player development support to children and young people (e.g. in education, grassroots, community coaching, or part-time development centre or Academy setting)
Experience of coaching a team or group of players on a regular basis
Experience of holistic youth development activities within, or beyond sport

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

UEFA B Licence
Current FA Safeguarding Certificate (Prior to commencing role)
Enhanced DBS Clearance (Prior to commencing role)
Emergency First Aid Certificate (Prior to commencing role)

Desirable

UEFA A Licence

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Drive to become a football coach in English professional football and to help individual players, and teams, to successfully develop and perform
Passion to create developmentally appropriate learning environments for players
Commitment to fulfilling duty of care for children, young people, and adults in healthy, high performing environment
Exceptional interpersonal skills, and relationship building expertise.
Resilience for the everyday rigours of high-performance football environments
High potential to be a world-class football coach and visible role model.