FP Head Coach
Fulham
22 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
Motspur Park, United Kingdom
The Foundation Phase Head Coach Coach is responsible for leading the coaching programme for a designated age group, ensuring that all coaching, player development, and staff support activities are delivered in line with the Academy Performance Plan and the club's playing philosophy. The role will provide leadership and direction to coaches and support staff, creating a high-performance environment that maximises the development of Academy players both on and off the pitch.
The postholder will plan, prepare, deliver, and review high-quality coaching sessions and matchday activities, ensuring a consistent approach to player development that reflects the Academy's technical, tactical, physical, psychological, and social objectives. They will monitor player progress, contribute to individual development planning, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary staff to support each player's long-term growth and performance.
In addition, the role will play a key part in the ongoing development and implementation of the Academy Performance Plan, providing insights, feedback, and innovative ideas to support the continuous evolution of the Academy Technical Plan. The successful candidate will champion best practice in coaching, foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, and contribute to the achievement of the Academy's strategic objectives and long-term vision.
Responsibilities
The FP Head Coach must:
- Be player/person centred (individualised) in their approach to development.
- Have a strong understanding of coaching and player development principles, ensuring alignment in both beliefs and actions, with the Academy Performance Plan.
- Have experience of working with (ideally coaching, teaching, educating or supporting) young people and parents in an Academy or Educational setting.
- Hold appropriate and up to date qualifications to conform to Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) and Premier League Youth Development Rules (PLYDR) requirements.
- Remain up to date with the continual professional development requirements associated with all relevant licences held.
- Have broad awareness of the football industry’s governing policies and youth football protocols, in particular all relevant aspects of the Premier Leagues Youth Development Rules.
- Be diligent, hard-working, detail driven and (largely) intrinsically motivated by the Academy’s mission.
- Hold a forward thinking, positive and optimistic mindset and nature.
- Demonstrate and model high levels of professionalism in organisation, delivery and conduct.
- Be able to continuously demonstrate openness, inclusiveness and a willingness to collaborate within everyday behaviours.
- Show pro-activeness and be able to work around or overcome obstacles that others may find challenging.
- Have knowledge of regulations and expected practices in relation to working with young people, with particular reference to safeguarding, well-being and safety.
- Have high-level interpersonal skills, including being an effective and adaptable communicator.
- Demonstrate resilience towards the everyday rigours of high-performance environments.
- Be willing to hold honest and supportive conversations with parents, guardians or carers of Academy players.
- Be highly motivated and passionate about supporting players (and staff) to achieve development outcomes.
- Understand the importance of being a ‘confident custodian’ for an organisation with history and tradition.
Ideally, the FP Head Coach will:
- Hold the FA Talent Identification Level 1 qualification.
- Hold a higher education degree in coaching, analysis or sports science (or similar qualification).
Requirements
Preparing (‘be detail orientated when it comes to planning and preparation’)
- Lead the creation and ongoing development of both Individual Learning Plans (‘ILP’) and the Age Group Plan.
- Lead communication with players and families around the programme (training, fixtures and reviews).
- Lead the MDT to prepare and integrate their work, creating team and individual training plans.
- Lead the preparation of meaningful content for individual player reviews.
- Support the preparation of content for team and individual performance education delivery.
Delivering (‘be a uniquely outstanding deliverer to Academy players’)
- Lead the delivery of team training sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (Technical Plan (‘TP’)) specifically integrating team and individual outcomes into practice.
- Lead the delivery of individual training sessions (both inside and outside of team training sessions) in line with ILP commitments.
- Lead teams and individuals through fixtures, tours and tournaments, aligning the environment design and coaching behaviours to the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
- Lead the delivery of performance education sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
Reviewing (‘understanding that we develop through and from our everyday experiences)
- Lead the effective review of team training sessions in line with ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
- Lead the effective review of individual training sessions and their impact on player-coach relationships and player performance over time.
- Coordinate the review of team and individuals match performances in all games programme, tours and tournament fixtures.
- Coordinate the ongoing ‘rolling’ review of each players ILP, ensuring the creation of clear action plans, involving colleagues from different disciplinary backgrounds, through weekly MDT meetings.
- Record reflections on personal coaching performance (in both training and fixture environments) in line with the ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
- Lead the effective review of player review events and processes, ensuring improvements are actioned over time.
- Support the effective review of the performance education programme for the age group.
Benefits
We expect to close applications on 21st September, but if we receive a high level of interest, we may close the vacancy sooner. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
The postholder will plan, prepare, deliver, and review high-quality coaching sessions and matchday activities, ensuring a consistent approach to player development that reflects the Academy's technical, tactical, physical, psychological, and social objectives. They will monitor player progress, contribute to individual development planning, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary staff to support each player's long-term growth and performance.
In addition, the role will play a key part in the ongoing development and implementation of the Academy Performance Plan, providing insights, feedback, and innovative ideas to support the continuous evolution of the Academy Technical Plan. The successful candidate will champion best practice in coaching, foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, and contribute to the achievement of the Academy's strategic objectives and long-term vision.
Responsibilities
The FP Head Coach must:
- Be player/person centred (individualised) in their approach to development.
- Have a strong understanding of coaching and player development principles, ensuring alignment in both beliefs and actions, with the Academy Performance Plan.
- Have experience of working with (ideally coaching, teaching, educating or supporting) young people and parents in an Academy or Educational setting.
- Hold appropriate and up to date qualifications to conform to Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) and Premier League Youth Development Rules (PLYDR) requirements.
- Remain up to date with the continual professional development requirements associated with all relevant licences held.
- Have broad awareness of the football industry’s governing policies and youth football protocols, in particular all relevant aspects of the Premier Leagues Youth Development Rules.
- Be diligent, hard-working, detail driven and (largely) intrinsically motivated by the Academy’s mission.
- Hold a forward thinking, positive and optimistic mindset and nature.
- Demonstrate and model high levels of professionalism in organisation, delivery and conduct.
- Be able to continuously demonstrate openness, inclusiveness and a willingness to collaborate within everyday behaviours.
- Show pro-activeness and be able to work around or overcome obstacles that others may find challenging.
- Have knowledge of regulations and expected practices in relation to working with young people, with particular reference to safeguarding, well-being and safety.
- Have high-level interpersonal skills, including being an effective and adaptable communicator.
- Demonstrate resilience towards the everyday rigours of high-performance environments.
- Be willing to hold honest and supportive conversations with parents, guardians or carers of Academy players.
- Be highly motivated and passionate about supporting players (and staff) to achieve development outcomes.
- Understand the importance of being a ‘confident custodian’ for an organisation with history and tradition.
Ideally, the FP Head Coach will:
- Hold the FA Talent Identification Level 1 qualification.
- Hold a higher education degree in coaching, analysis or sports science (or similar qualification).
Requirements
Preparing (‘be detail orientated when it comes to planning and preparation’)
- Lead the creation and ongoing development of both Individual Learning Plans (‘ILP’) and the Age Group Plan.
- Lead communication with players and families around the programme (training, fixtures and reviews).
- Lead the MDT to prepare and integrate their work, creating team and individual training plans.
- Lead the preparation of meaningful content for individual player reviews.
- Support the preparation of content for team and individual performance education delivery.
Delivering (‘be a uniquely outstanding deliverer to Academy players’)
- Lead the delivery of team training sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (Technical Plan (‘TP’)) specifically integrating team and individual outcomes into practice.
- Lead the delivery of individual training sessions (both inside and outside of team training sessions) in line with ILP commitments.
- Lead teams and individuals through fixtures, tours and tournaments, aligning the environment design and coaching behaviours to the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
- Lead the delivery of performance education sessions in line with the expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
Reviewing (‘understanding that we develop through and from our everyday experiences)
- Lead the effective review of team training sessions in line with ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
- Lead the effective review of individual training sessions and their impact on player-coach relationships and player performance over time.
- Coordinate the review of team and individuals match performances in all games programme, tours and tournament fixtures.
- Coordinate the ongoing ‘rolling’ review of each players ILP, ensuring the creation of clear action plans, involving colleagues from different disciplinary backgrounds, through weekly MDT meetings.
- Record reflections on personal coaching performance (in both training and fixture environments) in line with the ‘reflection’ expectations outlined within the Academy Performance Plan (TP).
- Lead the effective review of player review events and processes, ensuring improvements are actioned over time.
- Support the effective review of the performance education programme for the age group.
Benefits
We expect to close applications on 21st September, but if we receive a high level of interest, we may close the vacancy sooner. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application at the earliest opportunity.