JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Academy Coach
DEPARTMENT: Academy
REPORTS TO: Academy Lead Phase Coach/ Head of Coach & Player Development
LOCATION: Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, Compton Park
HOURS: 37.5 hours per week, exact hours and days to be agreed, flexibility in this role is essential as
it includes evening and weekend work.
DATE: August 2025
We are Wolves. Progressive, determined, bright, unified and humble. A pack that is hungry for
success. Wolves is one of the fastest growing professional football clubs in the UK, and also boasts
one of the richest histories in the beautiful game.
Formed in 1877, Wolves was a founder member of the Football League, and was one of the country's
most successful sides in the fifties and sixties. During a two decade spell the Black Country's most
decorated side won three First Division titles and one of its four FA Cups.
Fast forward to 2019, where an incredible two seasons at Molineux has seen Wolves clinch the Sky
Bet Championship trophy with 99 points, followed by a seventh-place finish in the Premier League,
which included memorable wins over Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal.
But at Wolves it is all about what we will do, not what we have done. We don't simply look to the
future, we seize it.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and
adults at risk. We expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. This means that
the post-holder is required to apply all relevant policies and uphold the Club's commitment to
safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk.
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Job purpose
To be responsible for leading the coaching provision across an Academy age group, working
alongside the Phase Lead Coach, and Head of Coaching & Player Development in the organisation
and delivery of coaching and games programme in line with the Coaching Competency Framework,
Staff Development Plans, Players ILP's, and Academy Training Needs Analysis. This will include
delivery of all KPIs, as required by the EPPP programme. In addition, the successful candidate will
support all players within the phase across the 4 corners (Technical/Tactical, Physical, Psychological,
Social).
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Key responsibilities
* Be an ambassador of the W.O.L.V.E.S culture and philosophy.
* Lead the coaching provision, and manage the multi-disciplinary team for an age group within the
Academy.
* To be responsible for, and working alongside the Phase Lead Coach, and Head of Coaching & Player
Development in the organisation, implementation of the Coaching Competency Framework ,
Players ILP's, and having a major influence on the analysis & delivery of the Academy Coaching
Philosophy and individual pathway plan.
* Working with the Phase Lead Coach to ensure that all squads operate in accordance with FA/FAPL
and PL rules and regulations i.e. FAPL/PL Reporting, Team sheets.
* Review of all sessions and information on the online management tool (FIP), relevant for your age
group.
* Co-ordinate 6-weekly multi-disciplinary reviews for each player.
* To be committed to attend and deliver when required on the coach development days/evenings as
part of your continual professional development.
* Support with the organisation and delivery of the Coaching and Games Programme if your
agegroup/phase in line with Wolves values and behaviours.
* A clear understanding of the Club Philosophy and Academy Performance Plan.
* Multi-disciplinary communication to ensure the well-being and holistic development of Academy
Players specific to your age group/phase.
* Implementing and maintaining the Premier League's 'Elite Player Performance Plan' (EPPP) rules and
regulations for your specific age group/phase.
* To ensure administration duties linked to management of player development is met.
* To work and support with the recruitment team to identify potential players for the Academy
programme.
* To work and support across the U9-U16 Academy programme to ensure alignment is being met in
accordance with club philosophy and development.
* To work and support in the delivery of the Development Centre training and Games programme.
* To support and deliver on any club in service CPD events linked to the role.
Coaching Responsibilities
* Plan, deliver and evaluate every coaching session in accordance with the Club Philosophy, Coaching
Plan and Coach Competency Framework.
* Along with relevant support staff, ensure that the training programme is clearly planned with clear
objectives on a Macro, Meso and Micro level.
* Document each session plan prior to delivery of the coaching session, including individual and
team key coaching points and learning objectives for each player using the Football Intelligence
Platform (FIP).
* Evaluate coaching sessions, documenting achievement of learning objectives on the FIP.
* Through effective planning and delivery, ensure that all individual and team learning objectives are
linked to the Club Philosophy.
* Plan each coaching session in accordance with the individual player and team requirements of the
Sports Science and Medicine departments.
* Ensure that the Performance Clock is maintained and updated daily for each player on the FIP,
reflecting all training and game information.
* Ensure all sessions are delivered with a compliant approach to Health and Safety.
* Develop and maintain a positive learning environment to maximise each players learning potential
in line with the requirements of the Coach Competency Framework.
* To ensure that equipment is sufficient and safe for training and ensure that all equipment is correctly
put away following training.
* To be committed to the Coach Mentoring programme, involving video and written assessment as
part of your continual professional development.
Match Day
* Ensure that all teams play in line with the Club Football Philosophy Guide.
* To support with the organising and delivery of the Club's Games Programme.
* Document Match Day planning and evaluation using the FIP and Hudl analysis tool.
* Responsibility for co-ordinating the team sheets and match arrangements on match days.
* Document individual and team key coaching points in each Match Day plan that are linked to the
Club Football Philosophy and individual player aims on the FIP and Hudl analysis tool.
* Evaluation of the player's performance against the players individual aims.
* Emphasise individual and team learning objectives during pre-match, half time and post-match
team talks and player interaction.
* Ensure a warmup and cool down is conducted on each Match Day according to the Academy
Coaching Programme.
* Evaluate all matches, documenting achievement of learning objectives or action plan for next
coaching session/Match Day.
* Ensure that the Performance Clock is maintained and updated daily for each player on the FIP,
reflecting all training information.
* Exhibit touchline behaviour according to the Coach Competency Framework.
Performance Reviews
* Coordinate Player Performance Reviews for each player, involving MDT staff.
* Link Player Performance Reviews and individual learning plans to the learning outcomes of the
Academy Coaching Programme.
* Maintain all Performance Review information on the FIP and the Hudl analysis tool.
General Duties
* Work with the Lead Phase Coach, and Head of Coach & Player Development to ensure individual
coach development plan is in place with the appropriate CPD programme and coach competency
framework is being met.
* Attend special events, dinners, induction seminars
* To attend National and International tours, tournaments and events across the programme.
* To ensure and maintain coaching qualifications and CPD hours are met.
* Carry out any other reasonable duties.
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General responsibilities
* Compliance with Club policies.
* Compliance with the Club's health and safety procedures.
* Compliance with the Club's safeguarding policies.
* To promote the Club's values.
* To work consistently to embed equality & diversity into the Club.
* To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.
* To maintain professional conduct at all times.
* To ensure that all qualifications are re-validated as required every three years from date of
qualification.
Safeguarding
* This role involves working with children, young people, and adults at risk in a Regulated Activity.
This means that the post-holder is required to apply all relevant policies and uphold the Club's
commitment to safeguarding children, young people, and adults at risk.
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Key relationships
* Head of Academy – Football
* Head of Academy – Operations
* Head of Coach & Player Development
* Lead Phase Coach
* Age Group Academy Coaches
* Support Age Group Coach
* Lead Academy Goalkeeping Coaches
* Multi-disciplinary Team(s)
* Recruitment Staff
* Football Administration Department
* To ensure positive relationships with players, parents and host families
Person Specification
Job Title: Academy Coach
Knowledge: the level and breadth of knowledge to do the job e.g. understanding of a defined system,
method or procedure, legal or regulatory frameworks etc
Essential
* Evidence of understanding the Premier League Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) rules and
regulations.
* Previous experience of working and leading a phase within an elite football academy environment.
* A proven track record of developing youth players within the EPPP system.
* A Licenced member of Football Association Coaches Club.
* Understanding of maturation and long-term athletic development.
* A strong understanding of key organisational and operational requirements, including safeguarding,
HR and Health & Safety.
* Experience of working within an Academy multi-disciplinary team, to develop SMART targets.
* Knowledge and experience of reflective practice and personal development.
* An understanding of elite player behaviour and psychological aspects.
Desirable
* Experience at a Category 1 EPPP Academy.
Work-based skills: skills specific to the job e.g. language competence, coaching skills, etc
Essential
* Ability and experience to be able to work across the Academy Age Group Phases.
* Good understanding technical demands of elite football.
* Ability to connect with Academy players.
* Understand of appropriate coaching strategies.
* Ability to provide reflective feedback using FIP/Hudl.
General skills and attributes: more general characteristics e.g. flexibility, communication skills, team working
etc
Essential
* Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or vulnerable adults and uphold generally
accepted practice when working with those participants.
* Promote, adhere to and implement the Club's Equality Policy and to work consistently to embed
equality and diversity within Club.
* Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or vulnerable adults and uphold generally
accepted practice when working with those participants.
* Can work effectively within a team environment and also independently.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to effectively liaise with players, parents, coaches, staff and senior management, including
being able to deal effectively with situations/tasks, in both a methodical and creative way.
* Strong communication and public engagement skills.
* Availability for flexible working hours.
* Proven record of commitment to a long term project.
* Takes responsibility for ensuring a high quality of work at all times.
* A genuine team player who leads from the front and will support and motivate other members of
the team.
* An adaptive individual who can cope well under high pressure situations.
* A proven ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects.
* Hardworking and enthusiastic.
* A good understanding of how to use Microsoft Office.
Experience: proven record of experience in a particular field, profession or specialism.
Essential
* Proven experience in an Academy.
* Member of F.A. Licensed Coaches Club
* Working with children and/or vulnerable adults
Desirable
* Proven experience in a similar coaching role. (I.e Academy Football)
Qualifications: The level of educational, professional and/or occupational training required
Essential
* This position is subject to a satisfactory DBS check. The successful candidate must have a clear
and appropriate DBS certificate in place prior to commencing employment, in line with our
safeguarding obligations
* FA Advanced Youth Award
* UEFA B Licence
* FA Youth Award
* Up to date FA Emergency First Aid Certificate
* Post-holder must hold or obtain at the earliest opportunity the relevant safeguarding training (i.e.
FA Safeguarding Children Workshop)
Desirable
* UEFA A Licence
* Associate degree (college diploma or above)