About the role
We are looking for an individual with a track record of delivering strength and conditioning to elite youth athletes to join our Academy Team as a Head YDP Fitness Coach. You’ll be responsible for developing, managing and delivering an innovative age specific sport science programme in line with LFC Academy development principles.
You will work closely with the Lead coaches, medical and sport science teams to develop an integrated, age specific and individualised sport science programme which helps players achieve their football potential. You will ensure that the Academy (and the club) is seen as a leading provider of the best possible approaches to player fitness and conditioning. You will contribute to the maintenance and development of a world-class high-performance environment at the Academy.
What will you be doing?
- Create a strategy and innovative age specific framework for fitness across the YDP phase in line with EPPP.
- Lead, manage, deliver and evaluate gym and field based sessions for the YDP players, designed to enhance their athletic football abilities.
- Work closely with coaches to ensure the physical development requirements are optimised and integrated through the football curriculum.
- Appropriate integration of injured players into the football programme in consultation with the physiotherapists, rehab coaches and football coaches.
- Lead YDP Academy fitness research and work with other field specialists to enhance understanding and answer performance questions related to the adolescent physical development.
- Develop and implement age and maturation specific physical development programmes.
- Perform physical testing throughout the season in line with EPPP and club protocols.
- Monitoring growth and maturation of all players.
- Provide coaching staff with individual player physical development profiles.
- Work with coaches to provide individual development programmes based on physical profiles.
- Co-ordinate collection and interpretation of player training load monitoring data (GPS / HR).
- Assist with the practical implementation of appropriate nutrition & hydration strategies for young players.
- Contribute to the development of scientifically underpinned protocols for all aspects of sport science / strength and conditioning.
- Contribute the regular multi-disciplinary review of each player’s development/progress.
- Promote and contribute to a high-performance environment for Academy players.
- Promote elite habits in players to maximise their potential and ensure standards are consistently high.
- Liaise with appropriate fitness and coaching staff regarding players physical requirements when playing between age groups.
- Assist with mentoring junior practitioners and students within the sport science department.
- Uphold continual professional development, leading and contributing to age and sport specific research.
- Support academy and first team fitness staff when required to perform physical testing throughout the season.
Who are we looking for?
To be successful, you will hold a postgraduate degree in sports science or another relevant discipline and have a proven track record of delivering strength and conditioning to elite youth athletes. You will hold all qualifications required by the league including a UKSCA Strength and Conditioning qualification or will be willing to gain this qualification within an agreed timeframe. You will have a good knowledge of the physiological demands of football including approaches to monitoring and evaluating training loads especially in young and developing adults. With your understanding of the pressures and commitments required for young players involved in higher level youth football, you can create an ethos which promotes high aspirations and achievement for all.
Utilising your excellent interpersonal and communication skills, you can build positive, collaborative working relationships with all key stakeholders. As an excellent role model who works with integrity and enthusiasm, you will have a ‘can do’ attitude with a drive to continually improve the practice of the department and personal skills. You will be highly proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You must be able to work flexibly across the week including weekends and evenings and be able to travel both nationally and internationally.
Why should you apply?
This is a full-time permanent role working 35 hours per week on a flexible 5 from 7 days basis including evenings and weekends. Your main base will be our Academy, located in Kirkby.
To reward your hard work and commitment we offer a competitive salary, 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays and the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days) and a contributory pension scheme.
You will have access to our benefits kit bag where you can get high street discounts, and a selection of benefit schemes you can join. There are opportunities to get involved with volunteering through our LFC Foundation to give back to the local community.
At Liverpool Football Club, we have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and are always looking to making a positive difference in the communities that we operate within. We are proud of our achievements in this area; maintaining the Premier League Equality Standard Advanced Level, becoming a founding signatory of the Football Association’s Football Leadership Diversity Code and being recognised as a leader in this important area on and off the pitch. We take our responsibilities in this area seriously and through the work being done across the club, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our people and becoming an increasingly inclusive workplace for all. We are committed to hiring great people representative of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills across our entire business. If you share our enthusiasm and passion for inclusivity, then we want to hear from you.
Liverpool FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all Colleagues and Volunteers to share this commitment. This role is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check
